Ethics in Photojournalism

Emergency scenes provide a plethora of photo opportunities for photographers but when is it right or ethically wrong to make an image? The answer lies within your own sense of morals and compassion for victims of any tragedy. Think of yourself in the position of the victims and ask would I want a bunch of cameras pointed at me?

There is a proper way to photograph rescues, car crashes and fires without adding extra hardships on the victims. First, do not interefere with the rescue operation as this will only irritate the rescuers but also may end up with you being removed from the scene by police and subject to arrest. Making a nuisance of yourself will not endear you to public safety officials and if you plan on working in the spot news field, these are the people you want on your side.

When approaching a scene be discrete and stay out of the way. Use of long lenses will help you capture excellent images while not causing a distraction to those working the scene. While it is true that you may photograph any subject that occurs on public property, photographing a deceased victim at a car crash is not news worthy and can appear insenisitive. A tasteful overview of the automobile with a eye catching subtitle is more effective in capturing a reader's attention then a very untasteful image of human carnage.

I have worked many scenes where fatalities and serious injuries have occured and I have had to make the decision where to take the shot or not. If I feel that the photo has no real value to a reader either as a human interest subject or educational value, I will not take the photo.

Photojournalism is the art of capturing moments in time so the next generation can learn. It must be approached with compassion, taste and with a strong set of personal ethics. We are journalists that use our cameras to tell a story that will have meaning for years to come. We are also human and must always place ourselves in the shoes of the subjects we are documenting.