I’ve often heard the “one death is a tragedy a million a statistic” (Stalin?) thing, but I still don’t understand why my gut turns inside out when I see the images of a single person taped up and rendered helpless, but whole trucks or fields full of people in the same condition doesn’t hit my heart the same way. I think it’s a failing on my part but maybe a common one. Thank you for this, as always, your writing and perspective are so valuable.
I appreciate you taking the time to read, I know it's not easy. I left a lot of disturbing photos out of this piece, simply because they were repetitive, which is the whole point. And yesterday a video surfaced from a stadium in Gaza.
Thank you for this, it's so insightful and it elicits so many feelings. I can't imagine how I would feel and act if in the places where these photographers do their work.
I have no idea how these photographers do what they do; their skill combined with a tenacity to photograph what they see is incredible. I find myself wondering about their mental health, seeing the worst of humanity must impact them. Thank you Patrick for tying these photos together with your words; it’s a difficult subject but an incredibly important one.
I believe the focus on mental health and addiction has improved but photographers, still, deal with the aftermath for the rest of their lives. Lynsey Addario's book (It's What I do) is really good if you're interested in reading more about it without all the machismo.
As usual.. someone’s ’stack found me ..’ Yours - Reminds of how my fave docu photos ‘find me’ or ambient light ‘shows them to me’ (illumination eh !) I’m the guy whose inspiration was/is W Eugene Smith but knew I lacked the courage. My niche was docu - yes - but not the realm & level of your perspectives ! I am a huge advocate of ‘fact / reality / veracity / altruism .. and certainly the advent of ‘bellingcat’ lends confidence that ‘good’ can kick ‘bad’s ass’ - if only we can recognize the Dire Need
Thus this ‘stack & a preceding one of yours, is taking on the ‘blurring, deceptions, framing, grooming etc among or within ‘the armamentarium of Propaganda & Yellow Journalism’ the ‘flooding the zone with shit’ per Steve Bannon - the ‘Weaponization of Human Tragedy’ via Alix Jones, Disaster Capitalism here in Canada, Polling as Electoral Propaganda ! As a hypermedia artist I crawl into photographs, seeking nuance, beauty, meaning, disorder, thought, measuring & sifting.. add annotation or caption & I have even more ‘evidence or clues’ even a scent or backtrail
Photography was my passport & pathway to live handheld & steadicam & any ‘sector’ - yet Press is my NoGo Zone .. - will be re-examining this & other ‘stacks of yours.. & if you suggest other authors most excellent.. ! Despite my complete absence from such photography, my extreme interest seems as natural as reading of Everest a la Into Thin Air.. or some of the Docu highlighted within my Stack ! 🏴☠️🦎🇨🇦
Hey, thanks for your reply. Gene Smith is one of my all time favorites and will definitely be getting into some of his work in the future. Glad you're here.
Incredibile Patrick. Dramatic, but your narrative makes of this article an essay. An applause.
Thanks so much - the photographers on the ground do all the work, I'm just trying to make sense of everything, visually.
I’ve often heard the “one death is a tragedy a million a statistic” (Stalin?) thing, but I still don’t understand why my gut turns inside out when I see the images of a single person taped up and rendered helpless, but whole trucks or fields full of people in the same condition doesn’t hit my heart the same way. I think it’s a failing on my part but maybe a common one. Thank you for this, as always, your writing and perspective are so valuable.
I appreciate you taking the time to read, I know it's not easy. I left a lot of disturbing photos out of this piece, simply because they were repetitive, which is the whole point. And yesterday a video surfaced from a stadium in Gaza.
Thank you for this, it's so insightful and it elicits so many feelings. I can't imagine how I would feel and act if in the places where these photographers do their work.
I have no idea how these photographers do what they do; their skill combined with a tenacity to photograph what they see is incredible. I find myself wondering about their mental health, seeing the worst of humanity must impact them. Thank you Patrick for tying these photos together with your words; it’s a difficult subject but an incredibly important one.
I believe the focus on mental health and addiction has improved but photographers, still, deal with the aftermath for the rest of their lives. Lynsey Addario's book (It's What I do) is really good if you're interested in reading more about it without all the machismo.
Thanks for the suggestion, I’ll take a look
As usual.. someone’s ’stack found me ..’ Yours - Reminds of how my fave docu photos ‘find me’ or ambient light ‘shows them to me’ (illumination eh !) I’m the guy whose inspiration was/is W Eugene Smith but knew I lacked the courage. My niche was docu - yes - but not the realm & level of your perspectives ! I am a huge advocate of ‘fact / reality / veracity / altruism .. and certainly the advent of ‘bellingcat’ lends confidence that ‘good’ can kick ‘bad’s ass’ - if only we can recognize the Dire Need
Thus this ‘stack & a preceding one of yours, is taking on the ‘blurring, deceptions, framing, grooming etc among or within ‘the armamentarium of Propaganda & Yellow Journalism’ the ‘flooding the zone with shit’ per Steve Bannon - the ‘Weaponization of Human Tragedy’ via Alix Jones, Disaster Capitalism here in Canada, Polling as Electoral Propaganda ! As a hypermedia artist I crawl into photographs, seeking nuance, beauty, meaning, disorder, thought, measuring & sifting.. add annotation or caption & I have even more ‘evidence or clues’ even a scent or backtrail
Photography was my passport & pathway to live handheld & steadicam & any ‘sector’ - yet Press is my NoGo Zone .. - will be re-examining this & other ‘stacks of yours.. & if you suggest other authors most excellent.. ! Despite my complete absence from such photography, my extreme interest seems as natural as reading of Everest a la Into Thin Air.. or some of the Docu highlighted within my Stack ! 🏴☠️🦎🇨🇦
Hey, thanks for your reply. Gene Smith is one of my all time favorites and will definitely be getting into some of his work in the future. Glad you're here.