by "Biased Plies" (biased-plies)
Published 05/02/2017 at 23:12
by "Biased Plies" (biased-plies)
Published 05/02/2017 at 23:12
Tags: Photography
STARS: 4
As is the one below. Unfortunately, both came at the cost of the subjects and persons behind the lenses when the mortar being fired detonated in the tube. Credit and all due respect to Specialist Hilda Clayton and the unnamed Afghan combat photogtapher and soldiers in training.
Original source:
"Nerd-Vol" (Nerd-Vol)
05/02/2017 at 23:18, STARS: 6
Wow, not sure how I feel about viewing a photo of someone just a tenth of a second before their death.
"Biased Plies" (biased-plies)
05/02/2017 at 23:22, STARS: 1
I wasn’t sure how I felt at first either. Sombre, I think is the correct way to describe it.
"dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford" (dtg11)
05/02/2017 at 23:26, STARS: 7
Could you consider a safety image? It’s rather disturbing.
"Shoop" (shoopdawoop993)
05/02/2017 at 23:28, STARS: 0
They blew my mind.
"Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo" (thetomselleck)
05/02/2017 at 23:30, STARS: 2
I mean... it’s a still frame of them dying. So it’s arguably worse?
"Nerd-Vol" (Nerd-Vol)
05/02/2017 at 23:31, STARS: 0
Is that an attempt at humor?
"Biased Plies" (biased-plies)
05/02/2017 at 23:32, STARS: 1
The implications of the photo are certainly very heavy and I did consider a safety image but chose not to because the photo(s) is(are) the focus of the post and I thought people could handle it.
If the consensus differs and the mods request it, I’ll make a change.
"Nerd-Vol" (Nerd-Vol)
05/02/2017 at 23:33, STARS: 0
I think you’re right. I certainly would of put up a buffer image.
"Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo" (thetomselleck)
05/02/2017 at 23:37, STARS: 7
Buffer image or maybe a different forum... An image of people being accidentally blown up just doesn’t seem thought-provoking. Just morbid.
"WilliamsSW" (williamssw)
05/02/2017 at 23:38, STARS: 7
I think a safety image would be appropriate here.
"Nerd-Vol" (Nerd-Vol)
05/02/2017 at 23:44, STARS: 3
I think a safety image is needed, along with a warning too.
"Biased Plies" (biased-plies)
05/02/2017 at 23:47, STARS: 2
Boo and hiss. In a post meant to be respectful of the sacrifice made by those involved I don’t really appreciate this attempt at humour.
"Xyl0c41n3" (i-am-xyl0c41n3)
05/02/2017 at 23:47, STARS: 4
I’m a photojournalist myself. I don’t have any issues with these photos personally, but according to the publication ethics of every publication I’ve ever worked for, these images should have a graphic warning written in the title, and hidden after the jump by using a safety image.
American media makes it a policy to not show the moment of someone’s death or of their uncovered, graphically injured corpse, except for in extraordinary circumstances.
The last such circumstance I can recall where a publication broke from that guideline and showed someone at the moment of their death was on Sept. 12, 2001 when The New York Times published The Falling Man, an image of a man plummeting from one of the World Trade Center towers.
These two images you’ve shared, while important, and while chilling, do not meet the criteria for being published without warnings and spacers. Especially since you’re basically just publishing them here to essentially say “Look! These people are dying in these photos. ............. And if you really want to kinda care about these strangers, here’s a link to their story.”
"Xyl0c41n3" (i-am-xyl0c41n3)
05/02/2017 at 23:50, STARS: 1
I’m a photojournalist. And I completely agree with you. This isn’t enlightening or educational, it’s goosenecking at a train wreck. It’s not ok.
"Biased Plies" (biased-plies)
05/02/2017 at 23:54, STARS: 0
I don’t know that I’d call it morbid. I don’t get any pleasure or satisfaction from these images, nor posting them. I posted to show respect to the sacrifice of those involved and the dangers they faced in service of their respectove countries.
I commend Specialist Clayton’s husband for allowing the photo’s release.
"Xyl0c41n3" (i-am-xyl0c41n3)
05/02/2017 at 23:55, STARS: 1
Mods have already made it clear numerous times. Enough so that it’s part of the Oppo handbook: graphic content gets a NSFW tag in the post title and a safety image.
http://oppositelock.kinja.com/a-slightly-revised-oppositelock-handbook-for-commenting-1750418920
"Gamecat235" (Gamecat235)
05/03/2017 at 00:01, STARS: 6
My thoughts are... the community seems to lean towards a safety image, and you acknowledged you contemplated it too. And I see both sides of this, and it is an amazing photo. And with enough time, and regular exposure, I could compare it to some of the more famous photos from Vietnam. But I think it feels a bit too real and new and shocking.
And I have NO idea what an appropriate safety image would be, but I would probably recommend one, based on nothing more than the response of the community.
However, thank you for sharing the thought provoking material. It’s not unwelcome, it just probably needs something to precede it...
"Biased Plies" (biased-plies)
05/03/2017 at 00:25, STARS: 5
I appreciate your insight here.
It is important to note that I am not coming to this from American media centric perspective and am not accustomed to those policies. The source I first came across these images on (globalnews.ca, article recommended by the news app on my phone) had the same lead image, no warning. Media in Canada and other countries in the world do not share such policies, it seems. As such, I haven’t felt obliged to cater to such sensibilities. It must be a small cultural difference in our otherwise quite similar societies.
As for your interpretation of how I’ve framed this. I don’t appreciate how you’ve made me out to be. I was and am respectful in the original post, the link was and is not an afterthought as you suggest, I didn’t want to waste words and simply let those who want the full story get straight to it.
Re: your other reply with the oppo handbook. I’d say that it isn’t as clear as you imply and that it is up for interpretation. The content has no gore, nor is it explicitly graphic until you’ve read the provided context.
All that said, I stated in a previous reply that I would add a safety image if there was a consensus asking for one. As there is, I will do so. Give me a minute or two to add something suitable and Kinja a few more to sort itself out.
Finally, you and I have had issues in the past and you had requested I not reply to you further. I have not done so since that was put to rest. As such, I ask that you do likewise from here on out.
"Biased Plies" (biased-plies)
05/03/2017 at 00:29, STARS: 1
Much appreciated. I’ve seen the consensus and was about to make the edit myself after typing a lengthy reply to Xyl0. Thanks for your input.
I’ve changed the lead image and warning for my own, I hope you don’t mind.
"Shoop" (shoopdawoop993)
05/03/2017 at 00:35, STARS: 0
Yeah, it was dumb, I’m sorry.
"phenotyp" (phenotyp)
05/03/2017 at 00:46, STARS: 1
Jesus fuck.
The mortar didn’t launch, and it blew up in the launchers’ faces.
Let’s not mince words.
"Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo" (thetomselleck)
05/03/2017 at 00:46, STARS: 0
You shall not be forgiven.
Ok, you’re forgiven.
"Rico" (ricorich)
05/03/2017 at 00:47, STARS: 1
That image is burned in my mind, I remember that like it was yesterday. For my mother, she actually watched people jump from those towers that morning and it took her months of therapy to cope with it.
Maybe I can agree that sometimes showing an image like that can be appropriate, in this case I also don’t agree.
"Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo" (thetomselleck)
05/03/2017 at 00:47, STARS: 1
My interpretation of the photo is not consistent with that sentiment, so we shall agree to disagree.
"Biased Plies" (biased-plies)
05/03/2017 at 00:49, STARS: 0
Apology accepted. Thanks.
"Biased Plies" (biased-plies)
05/03/2017 at 00:50, STARS: 0
That’s fair. I appreciate the reasonable discourse.
"Gamecat235" (Gamecat235)
05/03/2017 at 00:51, STARS: 1
Seemed like a reasonable approach, and no worries about managing your own content and post.
Have a good night!
"Viggen" (viggen37)
05/03/2017 at 01:45, STARS: 0
The photos inadvertently serve as a reminder that shit happens even during training and that it doesn’t matter what your job in the military is because an explosion won’t discriminate between an infantryman, mechanic, or combat photographer. My belated condolences to the family of SPC Clayton.
If someone finds that insensitive, oh well.
"facw" (facw)
05/03/2017 at 02:24, STARS: 1
The one that sticks in my mind (and which got an almost exclusively negative reaction) was the New York Post running a photo of a man about to be hit by a subway on their cover in 2012 (link doesn’t contain the cover image, but it’s not hard to find): https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/erik-wemple/wp/2012/12/05/new-york-post-subway-photo-what-does-the-new-york-post-say
It’s a powerful image, but it’s not really clear there was any reason to publish it (even setting aside questions about whether the photographer could have or should have tried to help the guy instead of reaching for his camera).
"Xyl0c41n3" (i-am-xyl0c41n3)
05/03/2017 at 02:30, STARS: 0
Linking this to myself because sunshine is the best disinfectant.
http://oppositelock.kinja.com/1794865394
"Frenchlicker" (frenchlicker)
05/03/2017 at 07:34, STARS: 1
I understand your views on the whole buffer image view here. I think having the buffer that says that sets a person up to think differently about the image. Whereas if it’s just there a more raw feeling is evoked.
"WilliamsSW" (williamssw)
05/03/2017 at 10:09, STARS: 1
Thanks for making the edit - I would echo everything that Gamecat235 said.