Quotes that Happen in Real Life
I saw this quote online and cant help thinking about what happened to me during the Beijing Paralympics, as well as on a daily basis in my work.
A Canadian writer and photojournalist, Finbarr O’Reilly’s words: “If we only provide images that people want, then we are pandering to an audience instead of challenging them and pushing them to think differently. That is why the best photojournalism is often discomforting to look at”.
Here's the story....I shot this picture which I thought is interesting as it shows the readers how a chinese man He Junquan 何军权 who lost both upper limbs in a childhood accident is able to swim and be a Paralympic champion. He finishes his race by hitting his head against the electronic timer board. He came in 2nd in this race that I photographed, probably due to the disadvantage in his finishing, as the 1st swimmer edged him out by fractions of a second with his hand.
Its a picture that suit the story which my reporter was writting (on how he finished his race and how he swims). Unfortunately, I was criticised for sending a lousy picture which doesn't show his face. I was pissed off by this comment from my boss, who obviously missed the point of the picture and did not read the captions which I wrote before dismissing the picture. Try arguing with your boss over a long distance call and explaining whatever was already written in the caption, and you know what I mean. I am not a trouble maker, but this was a point which I have to make so that they can get it right, for the fact that I was there to see how they swam through a window underwater. a facecut of a swimmer without 2 upper limbs just doesn't work in this case. But that was the picture published.
This incident brings me to the 1st sentence in the quote. A news picture does not have to tell you everything in one glance. It has to make you think, and caption can be used to provide more information on it. Do you know where the girl is from or what she has gone through in Steve McCurry's famous Afghan girl picture? Its a portrait that captures your attention and makes you want to know more about it.
One of the 4 windows that allowed photographers to get amazing underwater shots of the swimmers. I was either alone or with a student volunteer during my time down here. Had a good chat with whoever is present (friendly student volunteer and a Spanish photographer who brought along very nice chewing gums) while waiting for the race to start.
A Canadian writer and photojournalist, Finbarr O’Reilly’s words: “If we only provide images that people want, then we are pandering to an audience instead of challenging them and pushing them to think differently. That is why the best photojournalism is often discomforting to look at”.
Here's the story....I shot this picture which I thought is interesting as it shows the readers how a chinese man He Junquan 何军权 who lost both upper limbs in a childhood accident is able to swim and be a Paralympic champion. He finishes his race by hitting his head against the electronic timer board. He came in 2nd in this race that I photographed, probably due to the disadvantage in his finishing, as the 1st swimmer edged him out by fractions of a second with his hand.
Its a picture that suit the story which my reporter was writting (on how he finished his race and how he swims). Unfortunately, I was criticised for sending a lousy picture which doesn't show his face. I was pissed off by this comment from my boss, who obviously missed the point of the picture and did not read the captions which I wrote before dismissing the picture. Try arguing with your boss over a long distance call and explaining whatever was already written in the caption, and you know what I mean. I am not a trouble maker, but this was a point which I have to make so that they can get it right, for the fact that I was there to see how they swam through a window underwater. a facecut of a swimmer without 2 upper limbs just doesn't work in this case. But that was the picture published.
This incident brings me to the 1st sentence in the quote. A news picture does not have to tell you everything in one glance. It has to make you think, and caption can be used to provide more information on it. Do you know where the girl is from or what she has gone through in Steve McCurry's famous Afghan girl picture? Its a portrait that captures your attention and makes you want to know more about it.
One of the 4 windows that allowed photographers to get amazing underwater shots of the swimmers. I was either alone or with a student volunteer during my time down here. Had a good chat with whoever is present (friendly student volunteer and a Spanish photographer who brought along very nice chewing gums) while waiting for the race to start.
posted by Kwang Peng at 9:16 AM
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