"The power of these photographs comes from the fact they are real moments in time captured as they happened, unchanged. To change any detail in any of these photographs diminishes their power and turns them into lies." -- John Long NPPA Ethics Co-Chair and Past President September 1999
"Photography
is not required to be real; it simply needs to be honest, even when done in
jest."
-- David
Griffin, Visuals Editor, The Washington Post, Feb 24, 2013
A LESSON FROM SEPT 11, 2001
Read more about Jamie's Sept 11 experience at The Immortal 9/11 Conspiracy
ETHICAL CASE STUDIES:
1. To Shoot or Not to Shoot:
The story of photographer Marcus Halevi who is haunted by his photographs of a drowning woman. From This American Life, Television show. Story produced by Josh Seftel.
2. To Act or Not to Act.
The story of Washington Post reporter Lauren Pond, and why she watched a snake-handler die. From May 21, 2012.
LECTURE: Photo ethics and the law. Topics covered: Your right to take photos in a public space, what constitutes invasion of privacy, who owns a photograph, and when should journalists intervene in news events.
IN CLASS EXERCISE:
Slide Show: "The Fallen"
Introduction to iMovie, as a tool for quick, simple slide
shows. There are any number of
programs that allow you to create slide shows for the web. One popular one is
"Soundslides," which you
can buy here, http://soundslides.com/ for
$69.95, or try out the free trial download. But I am a firm believer in the idea that "the best
software is the software you have," so we're using iMovie, (which comes
with all Macs), and is a powerful program that is, in many ways superior, to
sound slides.
Today's in-class lecture will include a demonstration of how
a simple, but powerful presentation can be made from a few images, along with
text and music.
HOMEWORK : Photo
Assignment #5
Take a series of pictures that will go together to make a
simple slide show. The
pictures should be of a theme or a single subject. You can make a show with as few as a half dozen shots,
or as many as two dozen. Assemble
the photos in iMovie and add a music track, either using the music available in
iMovie, or by downloaded royalty free music from iTunes. Do NOT use any music to which you do
not have the rights. If you
are the creative type, you can compose your own music in Garage Band, but you
are on your own with that. Avoid gimmicky or overly-showy transitions. Stick to straight cuts, dissolves or dips to black. Do not use the pre-produced "themes" in iMovie
The final slide show should include a title graphic. You may add captions is you want, and
may also include text between photos, as was done with the in class
exercise. The slide show should be
between 1:00 and 2:00.
Grading Criteria:
1. Does your slide show have a series of pictures on a
theme?
2. Are the pictures well-composed?
3. Are they arranged with text to tell a simple story?
4. Did you do some subtle moves on the photos (using the
so-called Ken Burns effect)?
5. Did you use
the moves to draw attention to certain aspects of your photos in a smart way?
6. Did you stick to cuts and straight dissolves for transitions?
7. Did you
successfully export your slideshow movie and post to the blog?
7 - 6 yeses A
5 - 4 yeses B
3 -
yeses C
2 -
yeses D
1 -0 F
Remember:
-- iMovie works with iPhoto, and iTunes. So photos in iPhoto library on the computer you are working on, and music must be in
the iTunes library are easy to add to your project. You can also drag pictures and music directly into your project window.
-- Use the iMovie crop tool (aka "Ken Burns effect) to do SUBTLE moves on your photos. Don't go overboard. Small slow moves are generally more
effective that big fast moves.
READINGS/RESOURCES:
Washington Post, Sept. 5, 2012: D.C. officer illegally seized camera phone, ACLU suit alleges
ACLU: Your Rights as a Photographer
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Legal Times Blog: D.C. Police Issue Order Affirming Public's Right to Photograph Officers
Criminalizing Photography
Photographing The Police The Kojo Nnamdi Show - WAMU - August 2, 2011 Photographing The Police
NPPA: Ethics in the Age of Digital Photography
