Ethics test for photographers

**Bob** · 9th August 2005, 03:41

This test only has one question, but it's a very important one. Bygiving an
honest answer, you will discover where you stand morally.

No one else will know, so you wont be fooling anyone but yourself if you
give anything but a truthful answer.

The test features an unlikely, completely fictional situation in which
you will have to make a decision.

Please read slowly and thoughtfully, giving due consideration to each
line.

Here's the situation:

You are in Florida; Miami to be specific.

There is chaos all around you caused by a hurricane with severeflooding.
This is a flood of biblical proportions. You are a photojournalist working
for a major newspaper, and you're caught in the middle of this epic
disaster. The situation is nearly hopeless. You're trying to shoot
career-making photos. There are houses and people swirling around you,
some disappearing under the water. Nature is unleashing all of its
destructive fury.

Suddenly, you see a man floundering in the water. He is fighting for his
life, trying not to be taken down with the debris. You move closer...somehow
the man looks familiar. You suddenly realize who it is. It's George W.
Bush, President of the United States!! At the same time you notice that the
raging waters are about to take him under... forever. You have two options; you can save the life of G.W. Bush, or you can shoot a dramatic Pulitzer Prize
winning photo, documenting the death of one of the world's most powerful
men.

So here's the question, and please give an honest answer:

Would you select high contrast colour film, or would you go with the classic
simplicity of black and white?

**Wellyman** · 9th August 2005, 05:51

I would use the high contrast colour and take a photo of george W. Bush drowning and take it and get it framed and put it on my wall with a little box saying "thank god he's gone!"

WM

**What?** · 9th August 2005, 06:27

Hmmmm difficult question. Would be leaning to Kodachrome 64 for picture quality, but in a hurricane the low light and fast action would lead to no prizes.

**Riff Raff** · 9th August 2005, 07:20

I think black and white would be best - adds to the dark and stormy look for sense of drama.

**placidfemme** · 9th August 2005, 07:38

Originally Posted by Bob

Would you select high contrast colour film, or would you go with the classic simplicity of black and white?

LMAO

I so didn't see that coming... I was gonna say "take the picture" hehe... colour film would be better... then you can see the redness in his face while he struggles... rep coming your way for this

**Drunken Monkey** · 9th August 2005, 08:10

Hmm, hurricane conditions would probably mean I wouldn't have enough light for the super colour depth of Fuji velvia 50 (boo to whomever said Kodachrome!).
B&W for the speed, resolution and old skool effect.

Although, just to be annoying, I'd probably shoot digital these days. You can always photoshop your colour image into B&W later...

PS - this reminds me very much of menace's amusing tale:

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=6253

**John** · 9th August 2005, 08:22

I'd try hit the prick with my camera, screw the photo - try kill him quicker.

**Flyingpony** · 9th August 2005, 08:23

Because there's lots of water around, my camera would be a waterproof unit and it'll probably have been made in 1942. Going with such a simple robust camera and how we want this photo to be timeless - it's going to be famous.
Black and white is the only way to go.

**placidfemme** · 9th August 2005, 08:27

Originally Posted by John

I'd try hit the prick with my camera, screw the photo - try kill him quicker.

lol and risk damaging your camera?

**John** · 9th August 2005, 08:40

Originally Posted by placidfemme

lol and risk damaging your camera?

risk, one would wonder the pleasure that you would get from killing bush as aposed to having some queer famous photo....

**enigma51** · 9th August 2005, 08:46

Originally Posted by John

risk, one would wonder the pleasure that you would get from killing bush as aposed to having some queer famous photo....

I will use the iso 400 high shutter speed (not to high as it will be dark maybe take the handel flash out) with a F5 (apeture) do it in color cause you can always print it black and white

**v.ros`** · 9th August 2005, 08:52

lol @ John.... hahahaha couldnt even Think of it that way..

i would push him inside the water and take an underwater picture of him...

**bugjuice** · 9th August 2005, 09:15

lol..
I'd be using a high-res digital camera, so that you could have the best of both worlds without having to scan it in. Then you could manipulate the wave taking him as a big shark or mouth or something..

**Badcat** · 9th August 2005, 09:15

Originally Posted by Bob

So here's the question, and please give an honest answer:

Would you select high contrast colour film, or would you go with the classic
simplicity of black and white?

i'd shoot it in digital RAW, nice flat tone curve.
and change it later to any look (B+W), change curves etc, later.
my rule of thumb - shoot as flat as poss - you can't put tonality back in...
k