I was asked the following questions by a viewer. This is my attempt to answer these very important questions:
“You really need to do a video on how you distance yourself from things like this. I am just getting into documentary and doing things that are nowhere near as disturbing and find it difficult. If I was there watching this poor person do that to themselves… I just don’t know. I am sure I would have to leave. How do you stay focused and continue?”
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Never feel the need to apologise for showing emotions Chuck. I think your war photographer friend is right: you have to just appreciate the good things. Also, take the breaks as you said you’ve done. And above all, as you allude to, there are no final answers. If one is to do ANY good at all as a documentary photographer (or anything else really) then it is not desirable to remain detached. I used to work with abused kids and one social worker I knew told me a quote..not sure who said it or when…”They (the kids) don’t need you to be detached, they need you to be completely and fully emotionally engaged with them. They need your heart, not some intellectual notion of care administered by unfeeling robots”. Words are not exact and I may have added my own bits over the years (it was a long long time ago), but it’s pretty close to where I think you are coming from. For me, it’s not possible to be detached if you are wanting to help people by your work. Kind of a contradiction in terms if that makes sense
Respect and thanks brother!
Thanks Paul.