> Wow! A question of ethics is coming from a dentist.
This looks like an insult to me so I will respond accordingly. What problem do you personally have with dentists? A bad experience perhaps? Are you implying that dentists are not ethical people or do not have the ability to judge the issue of ethics? Be careful with the statements you make and how they are perceived by others.
In addition to being a dentist as you so ‘eloquently’ pointed out I have also received additional post-graduation training in Maxillofacial Surgery and worked in a hospital for many years during my residency. I speak in the quality of a specialist who in the course of his career has treated many victims of such accidents and knows in what condition they arrive at a hospital. I’ve seen this up close and treated countless victims. Believe me, I am in a better position than you are to make that judgment.
> Since you were not there and thus do not know if there are any extenuating circumstances, perhaps you could try to commiserate with the photographer, who I am sure has his own set of troubling memories of the event.
In case you read carefully my post (and it appears you haven’t) you will notice that I mentioned many attenuating circumstances such as the fact that it takes most of us a certain time to react, the fact that it is impossible to judge the distance and the time from the photo and others.
The reason I mentioned Einstein’s quote was to illustrate how easy it is for us to use our present technology (and by technology I don’t mean only electronics but the state of development in which we find ourselves) to justify our actions.
Before I am dentist, again as you so eloquently pointed out, I am a human being. Dentistry is what I do for a leaving but it is not who I am. Before I am dentist and you a photographer we are all men (and women). As such, I feel we have certain obligations towards one another. There are stories of extreme acts of bravery everyday on the news such as the Navy Seal who died to help his team mates or the young men several months ago who had just returned from his tour of duty only to loose his life while saving a young woman from a plane crash. Not all of us have the ability to make that ultimate sacrifice for a cause but the situation at that platform suggests (and read it carefully because I am writing ‘suggests’) that it would have been possible for someone to save that man without risking his life in the process.
Be careful with the statements you make and what you write. Every forum has rules that enforce civil exchanges without the use of insults. I am sure the same applies to the Photoforum. Just as you have the right to share your opinions so do I.
Joseph.
On 12/10/12 1:36 PM, "Jan Faul" <jan@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Wow! A question of ethics is coming from a dentist.
Since you were not there and thus do not know if there are any extenuating circumstances, perhaps you could try to commiserate with the photographer, who I am sure has his own set of troubling memories of the event.
JAn
On Dec 10, 2012, at 2:51 PM, Joseph Chamberlain, D.D.S. wrote:
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 ".
Possibly this interviewer hadn't talked to many photojournalists?
I think most people have to learn to suppress their emotions somewhat to
be able to do that. It's a necessary part of the job. And some
problems are so big that you, on the ground there, can do literally
nothing significant to help -- except, maybe, possibly, taking pictures
that will educate people elsewhere about just how bad the problem is,
and get them to send more resources that direction.
Art Faul
The Artist Formerly Known as Prints
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Stills That Move: http://www.artfaul.com
Greens: http://www.inkjetprince.com
Camera Works - The Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/photo/battlefieldparks/front_qt.htm
ArtNet: http://www.artnet.com/artists/jan+w.-faul/
http://www.artiqueunderground.com/artist/69.
