15 October 2009

New Rule Bans Some Afghanistan Casualty Photos

Wait. WHAT? No, thats correct.

A ground rules document issued in September states: "Media will not be allowed to photograph or record video of U.S. personnel killed in action."

So what are we suppose to photograph?

I understand if it were out of respect for the troops, it is a heavy thing to see, however some of the most compelling photos from war are the people, and what inevitable happens to them.

If we want to show the realities of war, and not what "Big Brother" wants us to see, we must show this unfortunate and very real happening.

The reason for this rule is a AP photographer captured a rare moment, a photo taken Aug 14, of a Marine hit by a rocket propelled grenade.



That is what the photojournalist is there for. Thats why the follow the troops. Thats the job. To document. I understand not publishing the photos for everyone to see and asking permission of the family if the photo is published. But this is something that needs to be done. Its not something that can be left out of history.

Do they think that if that soldier had said "Hey, if something happens do not take pictures of it." that the photographer would? I'm just saying, its not all black and white, and right and wrong have no place in war. Its all wrong, and someone has to document it.


2 comments:

David Allen Jones said...

Interesting article. Any reason your text jumped in size?

Chelsea Smith said...

I think when I posted it, it was only part of what it was. Then a friend of mine started a fb debate and so i put those points on here too. So I had to make the copied stuff and the original the same size. So I set it to normal. I guess everything else was small. Ill fix it.