I want to vent and also to just talk about this, and this really seems like the best place to put my opinion out there.
I live in Vancouver. Last night, a group of people made stupid by being drunk, young, and in a large crowd rioted in our downtown and caused a lot of property damage. You may have seen it on the news. I'm so thankful that nobody died because of this stupidity but a lot of people were injured. It is so embarrassing and sad and it is not who we are here in Vancouver.
Something that is bothering me about this while looking at the news footage last night and today is this: Around every person committing an act of crime, idiocy, violence, and damage was a ring of other people who were taking pictures of the act.
I realize that our culture has become one of documenting everything we see and posting it to social media. It's the culture of YouTube and wanting to be seen in that million-hit video. What I am asking myself today is: does the act of observing a riot make you complicit in the riot itself? Some may believe that just taking photos of what's happening does not affect the outcome of the event, but I really think that these attention-seeking young males (and a few females, but it was mostly young men) act stupid and violent BECAUSE they are being watched.
Full disclosure here: I am a member of the "big" media - I'm a videographer for a TV station here. I won't deny that my profession has a role in all this as well. But there were perhaps 20-30 of us last night, and thousands of "amateurs". I was not at the riot in a professional or a personal capacity but I started work today at 2am and was in the middle of the aftermath.
One thing about all the photographers last night is that all those pictures will help the police to catch those who are responsible.
Your thoughts? Have you ever taken a photo of a crime in progress? Would you take your camera into a dangerous situation like this?
I have not heard of the incident that occurred in Vancouver, but if you are describing the incident as a "riot" then I believe the bystanders were better off documenting the destruction rather than trying to stop it. I'm sure that there were those videoing and taking photos, but there were probably many more calling in to the police. I know if I were around with a camera, phone, or other recording device and witnessed that, my first instinct would be to call for help, then try and document what was occurring to help the police. However, I would not want to put myself in the middle of a situation that could cause injury. That's just my thoughts on this.
I saw the photos - I was blown away. There was actually one photo I saw that was of a guy stealing an expensive purse from a store during a looting spree, and in the foreground there was someone taking a photo of it. So there were at least 2 people who were standing there taking a photo of the guy stealing during a riot. WTF?
I feel your pain for having the position you do -- even as an amateur, I don't know that I could ever do documentary or journalistic photography because I can't stand to see injustices occuring.
You're right about the photos being used as evidence though. That is a good thing. I did think it was funny to see a photo of a guy who was motioning to a police man and seemed to be saying, "I'm not rioting, I'm just taking photos."
This is exactly why I left the downtown core last night. I felt that the large crowds gathering to "document" the damage being done was a big part of the problem. I did not want to become part of that problem as well. I snapped a few shots of vandals tearing trees down, but then got the heck outta Dodge. The police were trying to do their job and clear out the area. This was greatly hindered by the masses of people following the groups of rioters around and filming/photographing them. I would love to provide more than the small bit of evidence I have to police of rioters in progress, but looking around last night, I saw that there would be more than ample documentation of that.
@lolanae@aj1268 I totally agree that taking pictures is much safer than trying to stop what's going on. People got hurt badly last night when they were trying to stop or reason with the mob. But my question is why be there at all? Why pay attention to these thugs at all?
@sdpace I think that because of my job I have little interest in photographing "news" in my spare time. I know that it's a huge adrenalin rush, though, to be in the middle of something uncontrolled and volatile. So I guess I can see the "why" for many hobbyist photogs that were documenting the riot. There were just so many of them that I think it became a part of the riot, rather than a disinterested observer.
I think this is a very interesting topic, with very personal and individual 'answers'...Part of me thinks it is a much more worthwhile endeavor to capture events that are happening that have a political bend to them (as opposed to 'senseless' violence....)...and yes, i understand this is all rather arbitrary. For me personally, i took front-line photos at the WTO riots in Seattle in 1999 and i distributed those photos because i thought it was important to get the word out and the visuals of police shooting pellets and tear gas at peaceful demonstrators - - but a riot due to someone losing a sporting event..?....i don't know - good discussion to have, though!
First, I watched a bit of “NHL on the Fly” today for hockey analysis and when the TV came on, Craig Button was saying what a wonderful city Vancouver is. He noted how well the city hosted the Olympics last year · http://www.olympic.org/vancouver-2010-winter-olympics · and how enthusiastic Vancouver has been about the Canucks this season. As for the few “idiots” — I think that's the word he used — they do not representative Vancouver, and no one should think they do. [We had such fun on a train trip this summer — http://365project.org/rhoing/365/2011-05-23 — that we are considering a couple out west for the future and Vancouver is a possibility. :) ]
Secondly, I'm with Paula W @pwallis : I would leave a dangerous or violent situation and leave it to the professionals with the training, equipment, authority and responsibility to restore order. I have no desire to be the guy who posts a million-hit video or photo to social network A, B, C,... So if I'm not going to be a part of the solution, then get outta Dodge lest I become part of a larger problem.
Damned if you do, and damned if you don't
I don't understand why people riot over a hockey game, there is a winner and a loser , that is what happens in a competition. If its my job , I would be there to shoot pictures, and if it was not my job I would not be there in the middle of a riot.
Actually, I live on a street where teens can gather in high numbers quickly and a few instigators can turn it from a calm (okay loud volume, but basically same behavior as the mall) group into a violent situation rather quickly. And YES, I go to my window, whip out my camera and shoot pictures and then video. I have given them to the Police to actually demand better police coverage during these situations. Would I go outside during this situation, not at all because the tension in the air really intimidates me.
Also for situations where the Police think there may be a riot, we grease our light poles and traffic lights and bus stops to keep people from causing more damage.
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I feel your pain for having the position you do -- even as an amateur, I don't know that I could ever do documentary or journalistic photography because I can't stand to see injustices occuring.
You're right about the photos being used as evidence though. That is a good thing. I did think it was funny to see a photo of a guy who was motioning to a police man and seemed to be saying, "I'm not rioting, I'm just taking photos."
:)
@sdpace I think that because of my job I have little interest in photographing "news" in my spare time. I know that it's a huge adrenalin rush, though, to be in the middle of something uncontrolled and volatile. So I guess I can see the "why" for many hobbyist photogs that were documenting the riot. There were just so many of them that I think it became a part of the riot, rather than a disinterested observer.
Besides without photog's at the scene we may have missed this jewel:
http://images.smh.com.au/2011/06/17/2434601/art-riot-420x0.jpg
Secondly, I'm with Paula W @pwallis : I would leave a dangerous or violent situation and leave it to the professionals with the training, equipment, authority and responsibility to restore order. I have no desire to be the guy who posts a million-hit video or photo to social network A, B, C,... So if I'm not going to be a part of the solution, then get outta Dodge lest I become part of a larger problem.
I don't understand why people riot over a hockey game, there is a winner and a loser , that is what happens in a competition. If its my job , I would be there to shoot pictures, and if it was not my job I would not be there in the middle of a riot.
Also for situations where the Police think there may be a riot, we grease our light poles and traffic lights and bus stops to keep people from causing more damage.