How far should we go?

Within the world of photography there is a clear divide between straight photography and the pictorialists.  One holds never to manipulate an image and the other to distort it out of reality.  For me this is a difficult line.   When an image becomes a piece of art does it change the reality of the struggles of those in it?  Not always, becomes my answer.  Now, if we remove vital details for sure it crosses the line, but if the image becomes more compelling, more striking, has more emotional impact without changing the reality then I think it is worth it.

This image of Syrian refugees was in my mind before I left home – that I found it was an amazing moment.  The girl in the foreground is Miriam.  After a bombing raid she had been injured in the face and when this photo was taken the doctors had just observed that she could smile again.  As refugees, the family long to return home to their farm and live in peace, but there is still no end in sight for this ongoing conflict leaving over nine million displaced from their homes.

Now, for me the question, 'How far should we go?' is compelling for another reason too.  I remember a story I once heard about two sons.  They were both asked by their father to go out and do some work.  One said, “Sure Dad, you’ve got it.”  The other was not enthusiastic and said so.  And so the story unfolds, the one with the positive words got distracted and never got to the task, but the other quietly got to it and worked hard until the job was complete.  We all know that words are cheap and that it is what we do that matters.  And so I ask this question first to myself.  I hope my answer always remains the same, "To the ends of the earth, Dad.”