My college journalism professor, Jack S Smith, was chief editor of the Associated Press in London during WWII and news editor for the Today Show until his retirement in 1980. I was photo editor of the college newspaper and D-76 pumped through my veins. It was one of my career fantasies to be a photojournalist... complete with safari jacket and a couple black bodied Nikons hanging around my neck and a Lucky Strike hanging outta my mouth.
We were discussing ethics in journalism one day when I asked Jack what purpose was served by sticking a camera lens in the face of a grieving mother who lost her son in a tragic accident. Jack said it was news and that years after the initial story, that image would still be around... telling its story. I thought of Capa, Weegee, W Eugene Smith and other photographers who had to stick a lens in a grieving face and I understood Jack. I also understood I didn't have that ability.
Years ago, I was asked to take photos of my mother in law's Christmas Tea. And long after the tea...the images are still around. Haven't had any hits Googling, "Christmas Tea Photographer Job" yet, but I'll keep trying.
a particularly striking achievement: the capture of preponderant feigned surprise. pure anthropology here.
ReplyDeleteI suspect those suburban Chicago broads were knocking back more sherry than tea,no?
ReplyDeleteHey, those are really good shots. I picture the cigarette and the vest at this gathering and I have to smile.
ReplyDeleteI think I remember reading that toward the end of WWII, once people back home started seeing photos of dead GIs on Pacific beaches, they wanted it over a lot sooner. Until that point the military was able to keep a lid on it...but just barely.
-DB
The milieu you escaped from Tin Tin? Haute Bourgeoisie in middle America.
ReplyDeleteJoe,
ReplyDeleteYou prig. How fucking dare you.
Thought I'd give this blog one more try before dropping it from my bookmarks. But I found more of the same; photos of old women and old clothes, a continued longing for the 80's and the usual nod to your "daddy issues". It may be good therapy but its tiresome reading.
ReplyDeleteTintIn have you caught 'Witness' on HBO? series about photojournalism in war-torn places. I saw the one from Juarez and it addressed just this issue... “I wasn’t there to mourn form him, I wasn’t there to console his family, I wasn’t there to, you know…. I was there to document it. It’s a piece of history."
ReplyDeleteAnon- Sorry it took you so long to make up your mind. Not sure what my daddy had to do with this but then I'm pretty sure I don't care what you think.
ReplyDeleteAmatourist- Have not seen it but will look out for it. Since that class, have read a number of photojournalist memoirs and they agree with your comment.
There is something about these that I really like. I think that you captured real enjoyment in their faces as they were catching up with old friends.
ReplyDelete-Maybe I'll try a little harder at the next Christmas party...
Looks like they're having fun, and the tree is pretty. Isn't it funny how something of the utmost importance to one person can be stifling tedium to another?
ReplyDeleteJulia- Thank you for putting that in a far better way than I did.
ReplyDeleteCatching up with old friends is tedious? Y'all suck. Really.
ReplyDeleteTrailer Trad- I think you're missing something here...
ReplyDelete