Steven Lawson Photography
Can a photograph lie or mislead? it's an interesting subject.
Here is an example, taken on the streets of Glasgow.
I don't usually photograph homeless people, it doesn't feel right to me. But this exchange caught my eye.
It looks like the man is remonstrating with the young woman, but he's not, he was telling her where she could find help and shelter.
It made me realise that care is needed when taking or presenting street photographs.
#photography #streetphotography #ethics
Nov 14, 2022 at 7:45amWeb
Show threadAndrew Morgan 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿Nov 14, 2022

@stevenlawson
Thank you, photographs are snapshots without context, as you say it would be so easy to take the wrong impression from this image, I probably would have, the body language does give the impression of the person being asked to move on.

Thank you, really interesting toot

Show threadAstrophotoidNov 14, 2022
@stevenlawson Indeed. Indeed. Whilst not a street photograph, the famous Merkel / Trump G7 photo set is a really good case of this. I wonder how much we interpret images in the context of our own world view and experience as well. Your photograph is ambiguous enough to be read in several ways I think.
Show threadKatherine Bickford ☑️Nov 14, 2022
@stevenlawson A camera is a powerful tool that can accurately portray what is photographed, or intentionally or unintentionally distort our view of a moment in time.
Show threadSteven Lawson PhotographyNov 14, 2022
@katherine Indeed, so to my mind the responsibility lies with the photographer to present such moments honestly, otherwise it's all a lie.
Show threadSimon Detheridge Nov 14, 2022
@stevenlawson when I was a Greenpeace activist we got a lot of training on this. One moment can be the image that gets on the front pages, and if there's a way you can be taken to look angry, that's what will be used. Had to be extremely careful.
Show threadMiveyNov 14, 2022
@stevenlawson I don't think a photograph itself can be misleading. It shows nothing more or less than what was caught on film. But it is beyond doubt that the medium can be used to mislead. Phographs have long been an important tool for political propaganda and it continues to be a powerful medium in politics and news medium.
Show threadMoNov 14, 2022
@stevenlawson A lot of photos need context actually.
Show threadMr FoldyNov 14, 2022
@stevenlawson I followed you as soon as you said you don’t photograph homeless people. I agree, and for the same reasons.
Show threadGary James #cyclingtweepsNov 14, 2022
@stevenlawson It reminds me of a TV add from a few years ago where the same occurrence was filmed from different angles which painted a completely different picture. I wish I could remember what it was for.
Show threadCaledonia 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿Nov 14, 2022
@stevenlawson strangely enough I looked at the photograph before I read your narrative. My first instinct/gut feeling was not that he was remonstrating with the female but pointing something out.
Show threadJust LizNov 14, 2022
@stevenlawson I have a friend looking for a publisher of art based on people who are unsheltered (done with their permission) and poetry written based on the art. It's beautiful.
Show threadHoward ChengNov 14, 2022
@stevenlawson @streetPhotography Yes, definitely. I try and avoid sending anything which could be misinterpreted to agencies / editors. Or at least I try damn hard to make sure I get the captioning right if I send directly to some editors.
Show threadsergio_101 has moved!Nov 14, 2022
@stevenlawson just look at your profile. totally dig your work!
Show threadSteven Lawson PhotographyNov 14, 2022
@sergio_101 Thanks Sergio!
Show threadLydia Conwell Nov 14, 2022

@stevenlawson Well, yes, all media can be misleading ...

But I disagree. I don't think your photo looks like the man is antagonising the woman. His posture is vaguely threatening but he's loose, not tense. And her expression is not one of fear.

But, yes, photos can mislead, sure.

Show threadColorblind CowboyNov 14, 2022
@stevenlawson Good point. I don't know if the photograph lies so much as we bring our own notions to it. But certainly if a second later she was smiling and his arm was slightly flexed, we might tell a different story.
Show threadSeamus SilverNov 15, 2022
@stevenlawson nearly 50 years ago an old (ish) Irishman told me that pictures can help recall a feeling, or an emotion but they can never describe a time, only a moment.