What's in a good photographer?

johno

I'm always looking for the best shot, the best color and I want it to look sharp! I try to buy the best equipment I can afford and 90% of my shots are junk! huh?

Last night on the National Geographic Channel I caught a program called
National Geographic - Vietnam's Unseen War - Pictures from the Other Side Take a look at some of these unseen war photos just click the "next" button if you have the time to view some of the pictures and consider how blessed you are.

BTW, I think this was a time before zoom lenses... 50mm put you in the action. If you have a chance to catch this show, it's worth the time.

Remember, a history forgotten is a history repeated.

peace.
johno~

Antonio Correia

An impressive testemony.
Thank you for posting

Stormdancing

johno wrote:

Remember, a history forgotten is a history repeated.

peace.
johno~

These unfortunately are the kind of photos we would like to forget.
We cannot forget, with some 60,000 of our young people dead or MIA.
My brother came home, many of his friends did not.

I will try to catch this show. I remember....................

LittleLew

Stormdancing wrote:

These unfortunately are the kind of photos we would like to forget.
...

Another issue to consider. Contrary to photos published in the West, none of these pictures criticize the war or the behavior of their own soldiers. I was in Vietnam in 1968 and had the exprience of visiting a village the morning after all the village elders and their families had been hanged because they accepted medical care from us - in fact from my group.

You won't see pictures of that in the book - and you won't find much criticism of the government allowed even in modern Vietnam. I have been to Vietnam 3 times in the last 5 years and the repression of free thought is more subtle than Myanmar but just as prevalent. They were great soldiers and fought for a cause but they weren't all noble and free of fault.

Angelo

Great find John. I'm going to Tivo that show tonight!!!
Thanks for sharing.

gus

Thanks for posting that johno. I have a good friend whos job it was to go into their tunnels (got the job because he was fearless & the size of a jockey)..he has some wild stories about the booby traps.I will fwd the site to him.

Antonio Correia

LittleLew wrote:

Another issue to consider. Contrary to photos published in the West, none of these pictures criticize the war or the behavior of their own soldiers. I was in Vietnam in 1968 and had the exprience of visiting a village the morning after all the village elders and their families had been hanged because they accepted medical care from us - in fact from my group.

You won't see pictures of that in the book - and you won't find much criticism of the government allowed even in modern Vietnam. I have been to Vietnam 3 times in the last 5 years and the repression of free thought is more subtle than Myanmar but just as prevalent. They were great soldiers and fought for a cause but they weren't all noble and free of fault.

Magnific piece of text. Thank you. I wanted to place you as my friend in my home page but as you are very recent in Digital Grin I could not find your homepage...
Hope soon you will have one and post many photos. As good as your text. Though I am rather "new" here, let me tell you: Welcome ! I am sure the others agree.

johno

Great comments everyone.

My view of war has taken a change in the past few years. It is amazing what will drive a people passionate for a cause. War! Right, Wrong? Who can be free of this sin? I dare not wish this experience on any of our children, yet it stands on each of our doors and knocks. How do we answer? Do we hide under the table and pretend not to be home? Do we answer?

Freedom does have a price. I would pay it for my children, but I would rather my children not pay it for me.

peace.
johno~

ultravox

Johno, great link.
About your question, the photos are great. Please excuse me for using such a description when it comes to subject :cry, becouse it's nothing great about them nor nice, awesom, stuning or whatever anyone could consider.
IMHO, there is no such thing "What's in a good photographer?" when it's about war photos or such kind of events.
I think that even me, a lousy hobbist, could realize war photos that will be, someday, consider as good. And you know why I'm sure about it? It's becouse, regardless of my skills, abilities, equipment aso., THE MESSAGE will be so stong.
There are good photos and bad photos. Some are good just from the technical POV, some for the message within and a rare breed that are v.good becouse they excell with both.
But when it comes to subjects of that magnitude, I consider that the photographer is a HUMAN that puts behind his family, personal helth aso., "mearly" a timeless eye that records history. IMHO.
And you hnow what? The photos are great.

Antonio Correia

Extremes
Interesting question and subject.
Personnally I would like to read more posts about this.
All these kind of problem/questions make me think about the limits. Limits of freedom, of justice...
To distinguish from what is erotic and what is porno.
To distinguish from what is nice and what is uggly.
To distinguish from what is ...
Where is the line which seperates one from the other ?
Where is the line separating good and bad photography ?
Yes, that depends on the criteria and culture.
Let's put things in extremes: Dictatorship from the right or from the left is bad and iquals.
The "good" stands in the middle.
But... where ? Witch are the bounds, the limits ?
Here comes the so called common sense: Somewhere in the middle and good for all the people involved.
I post a link yesterday http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=31321 and I received quite interesting replies. Opposite. I as others, do not consider those photos offensive. But some do. A question of criteria. Who is right and who is wrong ?
Or are we both right/wrong ?
More posts please...
Regards.