Brent's World Forums

Here is the ethical dilemma for this week.

You are participating in a photo contest, and you see a photo that you really want to vote for. The photo is eye catching, and appealing but something doesn't sit quite right with you and it has nothing at all to do with the photo itself. It's the risk that may have been taken to get the shot, and you feel that by rewarding the photographer for taking that risk you might be encouraging others to take equally unnecessary risks.

Would you abstain from selecting that photo based on your ethical reservations, or realize that to get unique photos sometimes you have to take risks?

As I make it a point to post only my own content, I will describe the photo and use a photo I took of a static display for emphasis. (this is a monument, and was never part of active tracks.).
The photo in question, was of a woman laying down in the middle of a railroad track with a camera taking a photo of an unknown subject. From the freshness and volume of the track balast (This is the rocks placed on and around the railroad ties to keep them from moving.), and the lack of vegetation between the ties it appeared the section of track was most likely in use.

There have been numerous deaths from people being careless around railroad tracks, not to mention that the tracks are private property and the individuals could be subject to trespassing laws.

So what do you think? Would you not vote for picture that obviously caught your attention, or not?

It really would depend on the motivation behind said image. For esthetics... no.

Put, lift the motivation... Showing the brutality, such as https://bit.ly/3kWuX6P, during the Viet Nam war. The photo speaks volumes and educates us, even today.

To side with esthetics requires that I know the mind of the photographer. But, in the latter situation, I make my own decision about the subject of the photo, not the photographer.

Thus, not having ESP, or PCP, I can't know the mind of the photographer and must fail to judge the content, regardless of motivation.

Next philosophical question?

While I think we are mixing situations, we both agree of the power of photography.

I was referring to putting yourself and others in a dangerous situation for the sake of "Getting the shot." just for the sake of the shot or in this case entering in a contest.

War correspondents know the risks inherent with entering a war zone, and are performing the task professionally, whereas in my original post others way senselessly and naively put themselves in the same dangerous situation, just to try and get a similar photo.