Photo Moral Dilemmas

I once thought that photography was just a simple endeavor. As long as you have a nice subject, you’ll have your desired image in one click of your camera. I never realized that being a photographer entails a big responsibility, more so, a MORAL responsibility.

I was once the photojournalist of our school publication way back in my high school days. During press conferences, where student writers compete in different areas such as editorial writing, feature writing, news writing, and photojournalism (of course!), we are asked to go around the streets to take photos for the contest. What I do then was to take pictures of everything that I came across in the streets, mostly beggars who pleaded for coins and foods and the undressed little children who were not aware about the dangers that might happen to them in the streets.

I prefer these subjects because they are obviously good subjects for the contest – they never lack the needed “spice of life”, they even have much of it. But, what comes out in the pictures is really pathetic. I should have considered if what they would feel if they see those pictures. Are they going to be happy? Are they going to be proud? No, I don’t think so. I should have practiced a little empathy within myself. I may found it interesting but this can already be a simple exploitation, in other people’s perspective.

In terms of your photo, I think it makes a world of difference that the photo is of your brother. It's a wonderful photo that captures the true heartfelt emotions in that situation. You were emotionally invested in that event, it was happening to you as much as it was happening to your brother, you have every right to use your camera to help yourself to understand it. You caused no harm and you did not impede aid to the injured person. You shouldn’t be guilty of anything.

After all, photography is all a matter of choice. The way a photographer, either an amateur or a professional, photographs someone could make others feel pity, remorse or even attracted. Remember that if someone gets mad at you for making a photo, it doesn't automatically mean your act was immoral. Indeed, being a photographer is not simple. With this great ability comes a greater responsibility.

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