The Ethics of Photojournalism

Questions have begun to raise debate in regards to professional photojournalism, of photographs that have been accused of being fabricated, manifested and post-processed. According the New York Times, images submitted to this years Press Photo competition, were disqualified due to a certain degree of alteration and manipulation. 

Contests, especially in a professional environment have the pressure on those involved to be the best of the best.  “We are pressured to do more and push the envelope-not so much for our vision but for our business model.”

World Press had a set of ethics that were very controlled and straight forward for all contestants to review and understand.  Technology has opened new doors for those to edit and assess their digital files.  But in other cases, many have used programs such as Photoshop to alter their photos, blurring their images of reality, skewing the actual meaning or originality. 

“Taking something out of the soda can while leaving the background clean is not cool.  But neither is cropping.  That is- for all intentions- the same thing, ethically.  And on that level- why is it O.K. to use flash and basically bring portable sun?  That is not “real” light.” 

An example of an image disqualified from the competition. Image Source: http://photobusinessforum.blogspot.com/2010/03/world-press-photo-disqualification-of.html

A photographer has the ability to adjust photographs with filters and other visual aesthetic techniques.  As a photojournalist, it is in the job description to highlight reality and life events to have the ability to tell stories individually.  “I believe that many of us adopted certain techniques, not to change the truth of what we are attempting to articulate,but to make our images stand out from the crowd.”

Is photography true? Is the work of a photojournalist, and some in particular, risk their lives to achieve, a fabrication?  Having the ability to create a different version of an image doesn’t necessarily make it a false interpretation, but yet just a new analytical interpretation of the world we all live in. Honesty and understanding are important ethical qualities that I can relate too with photojournalists.

Lars Boering, managing director of World Press Photo explained, “there is no indication that the rules are unclear to the participating photographers.”

An experienced photojournalist, who wished to remain anonymous, was disqualified from the competition last year due to a tampering of contrast in his photographs.   The images shadowing was too deep and the shadows were darkened, giving the quality a false representation. 

Landscape Photographer of the Year 2012 winner David Byrne, comparing EXIF data and gif animations of Byrne’s and determines the images have been heavily manipulated (with lighting tools). Image Source: http://www.digitalcameraworld.com/2012/11/02/landscape-photographer-of-the-year-2012-winner-disqualified/

“To be honest, I don’t think I broke the rules.  In the end it’s all in the hands of the judges and their sensitive’s and proclivities.”

My Own Personal Set of Ethics

by Megen Navone