crisis

[relativism]

(Preface: This post is about a story I covered for the Journal this weekend. This is not intended to draw more attention to a tragic and disputed story, it is in hopes that I can actually find some peace of mind through the feedback I am aiming to get from this. I will refrain from using his name, or his high school, to avoid further publicity.

Comments

[full_o_pride]

To be passionate about something means that you take everything it gives or requires, the good and the bad. Words can be turned, bent and even broken. A picture captures the soul of the moment, whether that soul be beautiful or ugly. Someday, someone, somewhere, will want to know the truth of what happened; will want to see it as if with their own eyes; without the distortions of time and memory. Your passion my not be of any use at the present, may even be rejected. But it still stands as a record of a families history and emotion. How many moments were captured of 9/11? of the war in Iraq? Of the Civil War? Few today remember what these pictures represent and fewer still even care that they were taken. For this family, this community, these pictures will mean something, as no picture of a war a half a world away could mean. Does this make taking the photos any easier? Not if you have a soul and consience. But it is necessary and will eventually be appreciated. No one wants to remember the bad times, but they help shape who we are as

[apricochetmvp]

I've seen some of the shots you've taken and you have a true gift with photography. You were doing what I think any good photojournalist would do in the same situation. That football referee has no idea how to do your job, just as I'm sure a lot of us don't know how to do his. Use this experience to help you grow as a journalist and a person. I know you're going to do great things with your career, but don't let one incident (sad though it may be) early in your career throw you off course. The great ones always find a way to learn and grow and I have no doubt that you're going to be one of the greats.

[vortical_one]

If you take a look at the qualities you have that contributed to your response to this situation, I think they would be persistence; a sort of personal responsibility or quest to dignify and commemorate the lives of others; curiosity; a belief in honesty, even when it's painful; a personal involvement or well-meaning interest you have in the others' lives - both friends' and strangers'; the need to educate and inform others so that similar tragedies don't happen elsewhere; courage; and commitment to your job and community. I think that these are qualities that you should feel proud of: they make you a good photographer and a kind person