Because I worked in these fields I knew the many lives these photos helped, and even may have saved to this day.
Could I have saved any of my subjects in another way,
... its not as though I have not considered this possibility, however low the chance. There is always a choice, mine was to make the photos.
Sudden death is shocking to most of us humans, long term suffering may be another matter. We have no control over the poor safety design/upgrade of this type of transportation - this is what the photo shows to my eye. Hopefully, long term, that frame will make a difference.
On Mon, Dec 10, 2012 at 4:44 PM, Joseph Chamberlain, D.D.S. <drjchamberlain@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
James,
My point exactly. You and I are in agreement.
Photography and photojournalism can't be used as an excuse for not making an
attempt to save that man.
This was the point for my question. How would you feel if your son or
daughter, father or mother, husband or wife, was in that situation and not a
single person including the photographer who was nearby made at least an
attempt to save him or her?
It is impossible to judge from the photo but the image seems to indicate
that the man was (1) Asian (likely of small built and weight), (2) in his
50s or older (judging from photos of his wife posted elsewhere) and (3) with
his chest at the level of platform and arms reaching over the floor of the
same platform. It would have taken a second for someone to pull him from
that position onto the platform and away from the track. Why didn't anyone
try? Assuming the 10 seconds being reported to be right, would 10 seconds be
enough to allow the photographer to run and rescue the man? I would think
so.
In most situations such as this one we seem to be caught off guard.
Sometimes we don't have enough time to fully understand what is going on
until after the incident has taken place. It takes our minds a certain
'reaction time' to process that something so surreal is in reality
happening. However, it would appear from the photo that the photographer was
quick to react and had good reflexes so much so that he prepared his
equipment in time to take the shot. The time it took him to prepare his
equipment (from when he started to prepare to the moment the shot was taken)
in addition to the distance in seconds between the man and the train as
depicted on then photo, is the total amount of time he had to make an
attempt to save the man. Would it have been sufficient?
Just try to draw a mental picture of what that man must have looked like
after the tragedy. Can you imagine the suffering and pain? Would you want a
to see a loved one die such horrible death because not a single human being
was caring enough to at least make an attempt to save his or her life?
I think we all have the obligation to at least try.
Joseph.
On 12/10/12 12:41 PM, "James Schenken" <jds@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> The question here is "Was the man savable." Could anyone have saved him in
> the circumstances.
>
> I couldn't tell how far the train was when the picture was taken. I couldn't
> tell how fast it was moving.
>
> So, did he have 3 seconds left or 15?
>
> I am reminded of a story of aquatic beaching one night when thousands were
> beached and dying. A young girl went along the beach picking them up one at a
> time and putting them back in the water. An observer, one of many at the
> beach that night, cried out "What are you doing, you can't save them".
>
> To which she replied, "Maybe not, but I can save this one and this one ...."
>
> Oscar Schindler couldn't save the millions who died at Nazi hands but he could
> save a few.
>
> We can't at this point say the man could have lived if someone had tried.
> What we can say is that nobody tried and he died.
>
> In reference to Kevin Carter, he couldn't save the thousands but he might have
> been able to save one. He didn't try and couldn't live with that.
>
> James
>>> Once must decide in such moments if he is a detached observer of, or an
>>> active participant in, life.
>>>
>>> Jeff
>>>> Then, let me ask all a simple question?
>>>>
>>>> How would you feel if the person on the tracks was your son, daughter,
>>>> husband, wife, father or mother? Would that change or perspective? Would
>>>> that change your answers?
>>>>
>>>> One of my favorite quotes that has never been more relevant as it is in the
>>>> world we live in now comes from Einstein:
>>>>
>>>> " Our technology has finally surpassed our humanity ".
