Fall Final Extra Credit

1. Explain what happened to the man that was killed by the subway and how the photographer was able to take the photo.
The man in the image, Ki Suk Han, was at a subway station and he was trying to calm down another man who had been harassing other people who had been passing by. After his attempts to calm the man failed, the harasser pushed Ki Suk Han into the path of an oncoming subway. Being too weak to lift himself onto the platform, the man was struck by the subway and later died. The photographer who witnessed this all claims that he took the images in order to try and alert the subway with the flash of his camera. His attempts also failed and the subway was unable to stop in time to save Han's life.

2. Why did the photographer say he took the photo?
The photographer says he took the photo to warn the subway operator of the man in the tracks by using his flash.

3. Do you think the photographer should have taken the photo?
I do not think the photo should have been taken because it depicts a man who is about to meet his death. The overall feel of the image is morbid and in a way haunting, and it was very unethical to take this image.

4. Do the think the photographer did the best thing he could have done in this situation? Why or why not?
I do not think the photographer did the best thing he could have done in this awful situation because instead of flashing his camera he could have been trying to help the man out of the tracks. By choosing his camera over his ability to help lift a man out of the way of a subway, an innocent life was lost.

5. Do you agree or disagree with the decision to run the photo on the front page of the New York Post? Explain why or why not.
I definitely disagree with the decision of running the image on the front page. I do not agree because the image is haunting to view, and no one wants to start their day with a photo like that. Also, family, friends, and loved ones of Ki Suk Han would see that image and just cause them more grief.

6. What is more important to a photojournalist, capturing images of life as it happens or stopping bad things from happenings? Why or why not?
For a photojournalist, it is normally more important to capture images of life as it happens rather than stopping bad things from happening. This is because in most cases they can offer no help and their job is to document history as it happens. One the other hand, in some cases the human nature of helping other people will kick in and they will put their career on the sidelines for a few moments.

7. Do you think it is ever ethically acceptable for a photographer to involve himself/herself in a situation that he or she photographs? Explain why or why not.
I think that is is sometimes ethically acceptable for a photographer to involve himself in a situation. I believe this because in some cases it is necessary for them to do so like in the story of Ki Suk Han. The photographer got involved and was trying to save this man, but unfortunately his attempts failed.

8. Should photojournalists always avoid influencing events as they happen? Explain your answer?
For the most part, photojournalists should avoid influencing events as they happen because normally it is not okay for them to het involved in the situation. In some cases though, it is okay for them to influence events if it is a matter of life or death.

9. After reading the responses from the professional photographers, what stands out as the most appropriate response for a photographer in this situation?
The most appropriate response in this situation from the professional photographers was about how this image should not have been published due to the effect it would have on the family of Ki Suk Han. This brings into perspective how the actions of magazine companies can affect the lives around them. They need to be considerate of the mourning family members and friends.