Photo Credibility

I am a photojournalist. As a photojournalist I maintain the highest level of integrity when I take photos of my subjects. Unless I'm photographing a model in the studio, or a portrait, I do not manipulate my subject or environment. I do not manipulate my images in unethical ways. I do color correct, crop and tone my images to give them the highest impact, but I do not delete anything or add anything that isn't in the picture. I, along with every other photojournalist in the field, am taught to maintain this high level photographic integrity. Unfortunatly there are those in the field who don't maintain their integrity and they unfortunately make it harder for the rest of us.

I bring this up because I talked to anther photojournalist friend of mine who told me that he wanted to make a statement on his website which basically read like the statement I made above. I asked him why would he do that, why would he feel he needs to state what is basically a given for people in our field. Dishonest photographers are the exception, but there are always going to be these people in are field. These people are always going to be there but they are the exception, not the rule, and I do not feel that any photographer has to state that they are an "honest" photographer, and that they do not manipulate their images.

Why? The ethos of photojournalists are that we don't manipulate our imagery, and this should be understood by all who view images. By stating this in a mission statement the photographer sets themselves up as an exception to other photographers. By standing up and saying "I do not manipulate images," you are basically saying that every other photographer is an image manipulator. No genuine photojournalist who adopts the tenants of a photojournalist should have to tell anyone what should be understood.

Also in the news profession there have been quite a few reports of reporters who faked stories, or just made up facts. Have you ever heard any reporter telling their readership that they are dishonest. No. They don't because people understand that these manipulators and dishonest people are the exception not the rule. As long as we identify these people and make them a public specticle then we as a bringers of the truth will be admonished of the wrongdoings of others.