Impact Photography

Richard Drew, The Falling Man, (2001)

Eddie Adams, Saigon Execution, (1968)

Henry Singer, 9/11: The Falling Man, (2012)

Kevin Carter, The Vulture and The Child, (1993)

Photographs are taken for many different reasons. Many of them being every day 'snaps' as I like to call them which we often take on our phones, send them to friends of virally share them on social networking sites. Many photographs are taken as memories...a day out, a funny moment or an occasion. However, what has really caught my eye this week are photographs which have an impact on ourselves and society.

Kevin Carter is the creator of one of these images, called 'The Vulture and The Child'. This image was taken in Sudan in 1993 whilst he was away with an aim of photographing the starving child making her way to a feeding centre. It was at that moment that a vulture landed close by. This image was published in the New York Times; creating an uproar of criticism and debate as to whether Carter should have saved the young girl or not. Despite winning a prize for this image in 1994, he could not celebrate due to the impact the image had on the world and guilt he was made to feel.

Similarly, reporting on the attack of the New York twin towers was Richard Drew, who captured the much spoke about image, 'The Falling Man'. Despite stating that the image made him feel like he had been 'punched in the stomach' and comparing it to the feeling he got when seeing Eddie Adams' famous shot of an execution in Vietnam (9/11:The Falling Man (documentary)); Michael Hirsch (Business editor for The Morning Call) still agreed for the image to be published to the country. However, after much uproar, it was concluded that this image would never be published again for the sake of the subject's family and that it was not the right image to represent the attack.

I find these images incredibly inspiring as they not only create an interest but as previously mentioned, they have an impact on everyone.

References.

Richard Drew, (2001), The Falling Man, Available at: http://www.esquire.com/features/ESQ0903-SEP_FALLINGMAN [Accessed, 20 March 2014]

Eddie Adams, (1968), Saigon Execution, Available at: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-1161074/EPHRAIM-HARDCASTLE-Pictures-lie--Saigon-execution-photographer-disturbed-use-image.html [Accessed, 23 March 2014]

Henry Singer, (2001), 9/11: The Falling Man, Available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3gbxJ4xUDE [Accessed, 21 March 2014]

Kevin Carter, (1993), The Vulture and The Child, Available at: http://iconicphotos.wordpress.com/2009/08/12/vulture-stalking-a-child/ [Accessed, 20 March 2014]