Get the shot or save a life?

[Lonnie]

A deranged man pushes an innocent victim onto the subway tracks in-front of an approaching train. A photographer documents the mans death. Did he do the right thing? Discuss.

Original story in the NY post.
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/m...j6cTeyxHns2VNP

Further discussion...
http://www.slrlounge.com/pulitzer-ph...t-subway-photo

http://www.imediaethics.org/News/364...way_photo_.php

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/1...n_2243739.html

FWIW, it appears there's an open door on the far side of the tracks...

[smmokan]

Heh, I just saw this on one of the morning "news" shows. Interesting dilemma. My first thought when I saw the original picture- is that he's too far away and that train is hauling ass. As we all know, pictures seem to freeze action too well for viewers to get a sense of reality- I bet the time lapsed between that picture and impact was around a second. How long did he have from the time the guy was pushed until the train crushed him?

That being said, I would have done everything in my power to help the guy... without risking my own life. Different story if it was a loved one, of course. I don't know if he could have reached in to grab the guy's hand in time, or if that would have helped. Where was everyone else? That picture makes it look like the subway station was empty- when in fact there were reportedly hundreds of people around.

I think this situation is akin to recent Everest tragedies and public outcry as a result of people being left to die on the mountain- unless you're there, no one truly knows what could have or would have happened.

[Lone Star]

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/a...ZlBR6wi2tQALyH

[single]

It doesn't sound like it was a get the shot or save a life moment. The photog did what he could to try to save the dude by using his flash to get the operator to look. It looks like the situation was pretty far from the photographers position, and he said he was running. From the picture it doesn't seem like he was just standing there composing, because its a pretty shitty shot. /armchair journalism

What is weird is the headlines of that paper. "Doomed". What do you think the family thinks of that?

[toast2266]

Isn't there usually space under the subway platforms where someone could duck into to avoid getting hit?

Doesn't sound to me like there's anything the photog could have done, although publishing the photos (especially with "Doomed" in big letters) was a shitty move on the NYP's part.

[Lonnie]

Maybe I should have phrased it better, but what would YOU do in a similar situation?

[nfaust]

Isn't there usually space under the subway platforms where someone could duck into to avoid getting hit?

Generally, no. It's a pretty tight fit under there and I think it would be tough to hold yourself on a ledge, flat up against a wall.

Red/white stripes on the wall, etc, indicate no clearance between the train and the wall.


From what I've read, I think your best bet is to run away from the train waving your arms as much as possible, and hope people on the platform are running towards the train doing the same. It would be very difficult to pull yourself back up onto the platform, given the overhang and height.

[Tippster]

Honestly he should have been trying to get a shot of the asshole who pushed the guy.

[mtcham]

The world is full of cowards, that platform had many. Disturbing that there wasn't one person that could react!

Saw the photog on a talk show and honestly I'm not sure he could have physically pulled the guy out.

Lonnie-I would have shot the picture then jerked his ass out. What an easy way to be a hero for a day.

[systemoverblow'd]

It's called the Genovese syndrome. The more people around the less likely you are to get helped. It's been studied plenty.

[kathleenturneroverdrive]

Of course everyone would say they'd save a life over a shot, but unless you were there we really have no idea if that was even possible.

Interesting thing about Genovese syndrome is that the original story from the New York Times was actually proved to be mostly false. All I can find on it is that blog link, but I think the whole thing was outlined in Superfreakonomics.

[systemoverblow'd]

Interesting thing about Genovese syndrome is that the original story from the New York Times was actually proved to be mostly false. All I can find on it is that blog link, but I think the whole thing was outlined in Superfreakonomics.

While the story that sparked the study may be bullshit it doesn't change the fact the bystander effect is "one of the strongest and most replicable effects in social psychology" as studied.

[smmokan]

I think I can honestly say that I wouldn't have even thought about getting a picture of the situation... I would have tried to save the guy. Since the guy is a photo-journalist, that's the first thing that popped into his head. It would probably have been the last thing that popped into mine.

[Lonnie]

Since the guy is a photo-journalist, that's the first thing that popped into his head.

Just a wee bit of a quibble, he's a free lance photographer. It's not exactly the same thing. But I understand where you're coming from.

[smmokan]

Hopefully I won't get this thread too far off-track, but if anyone has HBO On Demand, check out the "Witness" documentary series. Some pretty powerful and thought-provoking stuff (although it is overdone at some points).

[mtcham]

Of course everyone would say they'd save a life over a shot, but unless you were there we really have no idea if that was even possible.

Agreed, but the guy was on the track for close to 22 seconds. That's a long time and IMO the only reasonable factor for people not helping is the guy who pushed him didn't leave and threatened others. From the photo, lifting him out shouldn't have been a problem as the guy was fairly small.

[45hill]

Isn't there usually space under the subway platforms where someone could duck into to avoid getting hit?

Doesn't sound to me like there's anything the photog could have done, although publishing the photos (especially with "Doomed" in big letters) was a shitty move on the NYP's part.

Yes. There is usually plenty of room under the platform and you are able to lay between the rails with enough clearance allowing the train to pass above you. At least that is the case for SEPTA and PATCO, the two transit companies I worked for.