Morality as a Photographer
My project description states that I had a planned photo shoot every week with a predetermined topic, that made my project seem like I was doing something to do with ethnography. If that were the case then my planned photo shoots would not have been a problem and I would have completed them more as planned. once I began my project the photo shoots I had planned for myself were of things that once I started going deeper into these social issues were plan I didn’t feel that taking those picture would have been ethical for me to try and show them as art.
The aim of my photography was more of me trying to lend my voice to homelessness as I saw it. I felt that if I followed through with the photo shoots that I had planned it would have been a terrible exploitation of homelessness. Instead, each week I chose a new topic for my photo shoot rather than sticking to my project description. The aim of some of my photos was to be my representation of society’s view on homelessness; some were my artistic documentation of my exploration into homelessness. None of my photos were mean to be ethnographical or public service announcements and it should have been made clearer. I have edited my project description and I can say that this is defiantly a good lesson that I needed to learn as a photographer. I am much more aware and conscious of who, what and when I take a photograph.
June 3rd, 2013 at 8:19 pm
I completely agree with everything you’ve said about changing your mind on subject matter. It’s tough as an aspiring photographer to see so many raw, striking images from so many different photographers throughout history then make yourself okay with going out and trying to replicate the feelings and emotions of those photos… those experiences.
I’ve seen so much street photography that I absolutely love and all I want to do is capture the same people in the same raw light. I want to try and create similar images of similar people in similar situations… it’s really tough to have the courage to take pictures of violence, brutality, sexuality — especially on the street. It’s especially difficult to have the balls to take photos of homeless people simply being in their environment.
Being a photographer is tricky, especially with the added pressures of photo release forms and infringement possibilities. Glad you’ve found your boundaries as a photographer at this point, always sucks to have your ideas turned on their head though.