Two new war photographs- were these "staged"?

[James Valastro]

This is an excellent quick look at photo journalism and fake photos. I would encourage everyone to see this 13 slide- slideshow.
http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2009/08/23/weekinreview/20090823_F...



A few days ago I was reading the NY Times and it had an article and a photo about women in combat roles in our current wars. The photo is of a women, in complete combat uniform, with a rifle, with an intense look on her face running past the photographer, on top of what I assume is a building or courtyard. Behind her are a few other (male I assume) solders sitting with their backs against the low, concrete wall... not looking like they are hiding from attack, but rather resting, waiting, and watching this women holding her rifle, with a look like she is in a combat situation, finger near the trigger (literally) as she sprints past. One of the "soldiers" in the background has photo camera in "his" lap. Hmmmmm.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/16/us/16women.html

NOW

Does anyone remember this photograph of the private contractor Blackwater security services in Iraq?

http://andrew1769.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/blackwater.jpg

When I saw this Blackwater photo months ago it looked and smelled to me like a staged and fabricated P/R. promo photograph.

Notice that the wall behind each of these "soldiers in combat" (in my opinion implied by the body language) , and the seams in the floor, and even the stains on the ground are extremely similar!! Hmmmmm. Is this the new "formula" to get an exciting action photograph during a war- but do it in a way that the actors, soldiers, and photographer are not really in harms way. Is it fair to construct action photographs? What if we could ask the soldiers in the background what was happening at that moment?

Any comments? Would anyone like to look further into these two photographs? Source, motivation, distribution, promotion etc.

Memefilms.org

[Alan Teasley]

This is an intriguing line of inquiry--about the authenticity of photographs presented as journalism, as opposed to "art." I've been involved with a project out of Duke University's Center for Documentary Studies called Literacy through Photography. Wendy Ewald is the photographer who founded this project. More info available at:

One of the first lessons Wendy teaches students is about framing--what's in the shot and what isn't. This is an issue with the original taking of the photo as well as with the arranging/printing of the photos. (You can learn more about her approach with students in her book I Wanna Take Me a Picture, available from Amazon at

Especially today, with the availability of digital photography and PhotoShop, the issue of authenticity is even more problematic. We may just have to rely on the ethics of the photographer and the publication. For example, I would trust a war photo in the New York Times more than one in the National Enquirer. I think students from grades 5 up could relate to lessons in this area.

Thanks for furthering the conversation, James.

[Ryan Goble]

Big Al - can you add the Amazon link - the book sounds great.