I had a conversation with a friend today about whether it's right to take photographs of people living in situations very different from ours, of poor people in poor places. While I've often despaired at the exploitive photography--poverty pornography--that abounds in our media, my friend reframed the issue for me. He told me it's not about "taking" a picture and robbing someone's identity for personal purposes. When done correctly, rather, photography is about communication: people tell their stories through what they show the camera. We don't take. They give.
This is Phalla, speaking to you from Cambodia--half a world away. She is blind, but at the end of my weeks with her, she wanted me to take her picture. She told me to show people at home, so they would know our friendship. She also asked for a copy, so she could show people. This photo is all I will ever see of her again.
What is she saying to you? What story is she telling?
No comments:
Post a Comment