Week 5: Power and Responsibilities

Laura Marsh, 2016

This week's topic is power and responsibilities, one of the forums asked us to consider our responsibilities within our own work, thinking about ethics and copyright. As my own practice is focused around the natural world, I did find it difficult in someway to contextualism my work this way. So, I referred to wedding photography, something I have done in the past. I have photographed a number of close friends and families weddings, but I treated them as a separate client in regards to the images I took. This means, I seek permission for certain images, followed what the couple wanted and avoided any images of children I was not related to (regarding family members). I also discussed my current research project and use of my images of deceased animals. You can read my response below.

I have two main considerations I have to take within my past and present photography. In the past I have been the photographer at various friends and family members weddings, these of course include children. I would always avoid including the faces of the children attending unless I had permission from the parents, if this was family then it was always okay, but even for my friends I would ask and check. Once the images were edited I never posted them on social media, but allowed the families to decide which images to show if they chose, as I don't agree with photographers publishing photos online before families do, unless they have permission. This avoids any children having their images used illegally and unfairly from anything I posted/published.

In my current practice, I have been photographing dead animals when I come across them on my walks, only now have I been 'brave' enough to share them, as I very aware that they could cause distress to anyone who views them, viewers may also find them distasteful or inappropriate, now due to educational reasons in my study, I feel able to share them.

Laura Marsh, 2019

Another topic we were asked to think about this week, was the images circulated of Alan Kurdi, a young 3 year old Syrian boy who drowned trying to reach the Greek island of Kos, in 2015. I remember seeing the press and news releases at the time, and found them hard to look at. The images reminded me of a personal event my family and I experienced, under different circumstances, but involved a relative. Alan Kurdi's image was used widely in the press and became familiar to the public for some time. I agree with the need to highlight the plight refuges have to go through, but I am torn when it comes to showing graphic images such as this, so widely. Press and news use I agree with as I suppose that is the purpose, to highlight these tragedies when they happen unfortunately, but should they be used widely by other outlets? I am unsure.