Thoughts on the military and military activities of a diverse nature. Free-ranging and eclectic.

Sunday, December 10, 2006

Staged?

This is coolbert:

Contrast these two photographs.





The above photo of course is from a recent blog entry of mine. Shows a baby in distress, by itself. A baby in distress as a result of combat action by insurgents in the Central African Republic? The photo does accompany [in the New Duranty Times], the article about the fighting in the Central African Republic.




The above photo shows another baby in distress, also by itself. Also in distress as a result of military action. A baby in the middle of a bombed out railroad depot. This photo taken much earlier. 1937 - - Shanghai, China. A baby in distress as a result of the Japanese attack and saturation bombing of the main railroad depot in Shanghai.

The purpose of these two photographs is of course to get your instantaneous attention and infuriate you at the same time. Innocents who have done nothing wrong are the cruel victims of war.

With regard to the bombed out railroad photo, it has been suggested that this was a "staged" photo. That the baby was NOT found that way. Was taken from the parents and PLACED in the middle of the railroad tracks for dramatic photographic effect? Well, that could very well be the case. However, if you look carefully at the photo, the baby DOES appear to be worse for wear. Ripped clothes and wounded [??]. Maybe was actually in the depot when the attack occurred?

Staged, but perhaps not excessively so!!??

coolbert.

3 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

"Staged" war photography has been pretty common since the Civil War. Perhaps "enhanced" would be a better word.

I am pretty sure this one is "enhanced."

http://www.schoolhousevideo.org/Media/DevilsDen2.jpg

I recall reading somewhere that the photographer dragged the body into position. But I would not say that it is outright fraud. It is still an accurate depiction (at least to me) of the struggle that took place.

There have been charges and allegations back and forth about fake photos from the current war in Iraq by the US, the media, protestors, etc... Who knows if they are real or not? It all is part of the twilight struggle I guess.

However, visit ogrish.com. Those guys have video. If that stuff is faked, they will put Spielberg out of business.

12:34 PM

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

"Staged" war photography has been pretty common since the Civil War. Perhaps "enhanced" would be a better word.

I am pretty sure this one is "enhanced."

http://www.schoolhousevideo.org/Media/DevilsDen2.jpg

I recall reading somewhere that the photographer dragged the body into position. But I would not say that it is outright fraud. It is still an accurate depiction (at least to me) of the struggle that took place.

There have been charges and allegations back and forth about fake photos from the current war in Iraq by the US, the media, protestors, etc... Who knows if they are real or not? It all is part of the twilight struggle I guess.

However, visit ogrish.com. Those guys have video. If that stuff is faked, they will put Spielberg out of business. Not for the faint of heart.

12:34 PM

 
Blogger Albert said...

From Bert: That particular photo of Devil's Den was taken at Gettysburg in the aftermath of the battle. Is reputed to be a Confederate "sharpshooter" [sniper]. From the way the rifle is positioned, I would have to guess too that some alteration was done by the photographer. Nonetheless, the essence of what occurred was captured. That I would agree with. The same with the Shanghai photo.

Bert.

9:31 PM

 

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