ICONIC IMAGES OF THE FLOODS
Today's front page of The Straits Times in Singapore has what I consider to be one of the most iconic images to emerge so far from the floods which are gripping parts of Bangkok right now.
But as a former press photographer I cannot help feeling this image looks a bit staged. The monk looks like he's been asked to stand in the water - and if you look closer you can see the water doesn't extend all the way to the walls of the Grand Palace. Surely the monk would not need to pass through the water ordinarily? That said, I have no evidence to suggest the situation has been manipulated.
As for the front page headline and associated government advice for Singaporeans to leave Bangkok while the main international airport remains open - it does smack of a certain degree of sensationalism.
Bangkok and the floods have been dominating the news agenda in Singapore for more than a week now - and that only looks set to continue.
2 comments:
Does it matter if it was staged?
Absolutely, in my opinion. It would be the same as a journalist making up quotes for a story. Our duty as journalists (which includes photographers) is to report the truth.
Like I said I have no evidence to support this, however if this image was staged it would also likely breach the ethics code of many publishing companies.
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