Hi Everyone

I thought I would do a quick blog today to discuss the topic of moral decisions faced by professional photographers and other artists, this was prompted by a discussion I had on the recent trip by King Charles to Edinburgh for the crown jewel ceremony.  The question with this event for photographers in Edinburgh, is should they participate in this event if they are against the monarchy for example, or to use another example, if you are asked to photograph an event at a nuclear power station and you are against nuclear power, what should you do.  Now the answer as with most of these things is up to the individual and it is also a complex issue, so we are going to answer it with the words “ it depends”.  Here is my opinion for what it’s worth.  If you are a newspaper photographer in Scotland, you really have to go where you are sent and it should not be an issue, presumably you will only occasionally have to photograph things you don’t like.  I myself often had to photograph politicians I did not agree with but I showed the upmost professionalism as I always do.  If you are asked to work full time for a organisation you disagree with, then I would find this difficult to do ie a full time PR photographer for a political party you dislike intensely.  Now it gets complicated, if you are commissioned to do a one off photo job for conference photography in Scotland for instance and you are freelance and you really need the work, then it is up to you and unless it was something I really had a problem with, I would probably do it.  I also think that someone being asked to perform centre stage at an event ie a musician, like the recent one in Edinburgh, has a stronger moral reason to refuse, than a photographer or journalist, for instance due to the profile of the event and the importance of the performance. The attached photo is from a newspaper photography commission in Edinburgh at the G8 conference in 2005.  I had a problem with the futility of the G8 event and the politicians involved but I was sent out to do a job and I did it.  I was also more than happy to get some good demonstration photos, actually it turned out to be closer to a mini riot.
 

So there you have, my two cents worth, but I am sure you have your own opinion.

Until next time.

Kind Regards

Colin

www.colinwrightphotography.co.uk

www.edinburghphotographer.com