Comments on: Me and the man with the iPad

By: ecm83

ecm83 — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 17:35:45 +0000

The problem with photojournalism sometimes is that as people in privileged countries often see pictures of suffering people in far off places, they may suffer from compassion fatigue. It is interesting what this anti-hunger campaign did to counter this phenomenon. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/14/busine ss/media/antihunger-campaign-forgoes-ima ges-of-starving-children.html

The truth is that photographs do not even begin to demonstrate the suffering of people. Words and images are the only thing people have to spread the word that there is inequality in the world, yet they are always remarkably inadequate. It is very easy to put up an immunity to being emotionally moved by such things. There is no guarantee that taking a photograph of someone suffering will help the person.

Therefore, it is extra important that photographers receive the permission of those they photograph, as those who are photographed may not feel the photos are worthwhile. Peoples’ dignity should always be respected.

By: panamerican

panamerican — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 11:13:52 +0000

This photography could be a metaphor of journalists’ and photograph’s job. Even without a suit, you’re just strangers, here for an instant, so distant and so far from what you see. A metaphor of what we all are in this mediatic world.

By: whulsbergen

whulsbergen — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 07:30:50 +0000

And then you realize that you’re not watching the circus. You’re part of it.

By: elektros

elektros — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 05:05:11 +0000

I’m not sure if you have reached the right conclusion, but at least you have expended some thought on the issue.

iPads are pricey, and I wouldn’t waste money on one (although I have been thinking of getting a much cheaper Android tablet), but as someone else pointed out, probably not as expensive as professional cameras. In fact I suspect the man in the suit came in what he was wearing and used what he had to take the picture, which is honest as far as it goes.

The loss of dignity comes, I think, in being shown to the world in reduced circumstances, to use an archaic but very accurate turn of phrase. That’s why they often don’t want pictures taken.

IME people who need help don’t usually give a hang about what you are wearing, but they may be embarassed by how they themselves look, which can range from what they are wearing to the outward signs of their emotional state. You are embarassed by this man’s suit and iPad, but I doubt if they are.

Of course, my only experience is from the urban homeless, not disaster victims, but they are all human beings.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 19:36:33 +0000

Thank you. You are difinately not like the gentleman with the iPad: I am touched by your humility. Yes, the story needs to be told but we need to respect the dignity of our subjects in our effort to bring their story to the world. This is something some western journalists never consider – they think it is okay when it comes to covering Africa. …and for your readers who do not understand, I appreciate their inability to comprehend what you are trying to put across – but what they should appreciate is that when you have lost everything, the only thing you have left is your human dignity and the last thing you want is to have cameras in your face to be shown to the world in that state. As for the guy with the iPad, i don’t know if he is a UN agency staff or a journalist, whatever the case, there is something like dressing for the assignment. Going to a refugee camp in Somalia in a suit says it all. I am not surprised he brought an iPad with. Even the line up of UN vehicles…. You did the right thing…your story speaks volumes.

By: Q.Hatshepsut

Q.Hatshepsut — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 20:21:39 +0000

Just once I would like to see the hoardes of journalists show up and give all their food and water on them to the people they’re interviewing, and do without, themselves, for 24 hours. Just 24 hours. At least pay these people for what you journalists are taking and making your living from.

By: Chicagodoc

Chicagodoc — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 17:12:52 +0000

…it’s a cycle. African governments know that drought is coming and they don’t prepare. Foreign charities working there talk about long-term plans to help people become self-sufficient but they’ve been failing to achieve them for 20 years. It’s as much about politics and war and poor economic policies as it is about no rain…

You have succinctly identified the problem. We talk too much and nobody plans. These people don’t need us to give them food and water. They need to be “taught how to fish”.

By: Tamatieland

Tamatieland — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 21:47:34 +0000

Thank you for this honest, insightful piece.

By: KeithBKNY

KeithBKNY — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 16:24:19 +0000

Why is an iPad evil? What about the expensive trucks the journo rode there in? Or the expensive dinner he had the night before? Or the expensive flight he’ll take with his virtuous notebook? It might feel awkward and hard to understand, but lives are lived differently all over the world, sadly. So would it really be somehow better if the man with the iPad just hid it? Robbing dignity is a lot more about this kind of condescension, I think–play poor when you’re among the poor. It’d be a lie. Hiding the water bottles or leaving the iPad at home because it makes YOU uncomfortable–these acts of concealing the truth from the poor (because why? they can’t handle it? C’mon, they can handle these difficult lives…) is actually much more offensive than shooting a photo with an iPad. Still, it’s something I think about too.

By: acmavm

acmavm — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 18:20:05 +0000

I don’t quite understand why telling the world of this tragedy and showing the misery of the victims should make one feel they’ve robbed someone of their dignity. But if it does the author should know.

What REALLY puzzles me is the lack of any kind of feeling in those that ‘speculate’ on grain and oil driving the prices up and directly adding to the mass starvation of the poorest of the poor, those people who’s dignity this article has ‘robbed’. I bet they’d trade that dignity for the food that is stolen from them by those ‘speculators’. I am also always surprised by the dearth of stories about those foul enough to ‘earn’ money that way.