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Photographs convey the emotion of a tragedy, but the images may
serve to wound as well as to heal. Such was the case with news
photos used after the Columbine shootings in April 1999. How do
we judge pictures that take us closer to the grief and shock of
people whose lives are directly touched by violence?
David Handschuh, the New York Daily News photographer
whose work is featured in this series, submitted four of his Columbine
pictures for the reactions of Jenny Wieland, co-founder of Mothers
Against Violence in America, and two journalists from the Herald,
a daily newspaper in Everett, Washington — Editor Stan Strick
and Rich Shulman, director of photography. Their comments and
the pictures follow.
ABOUT THE PICTURES
Strick & Shulman: In general, we thought all images
were acceptable for publication. The one issue we might be concerned
with would be the repetition of photos showing people grieving.
Wieland: This photographer's collection contained photos
that had both positive and negative impact, giving the viewers
thoughtful insights, and other photos which were not victim-sensitive,
and especially troubling as the subjects were children. It shows
both sides of the struggle between the media's pursuit of a story
and the importance of treating victims with dignity and respect.
Handschuh: The hardest assignment for any photographer
is to make an image of a grieving person, someone who has just
been thrust into the media spotlight by sole virtue of experiencing
a tragic loss. It's difficult for a visual journalist to raise
a camera in the faces of victims during a quiet, tearful memorial
service. Each click of the shutter sounds like a cannon shot going
off. Thoughtful photojournalists transport themselves into the
subject's shoes, wondering how we would react if put in the same
position. Image makers who do that often bring back the most moving
images.
Comments on Image One
 Strick & Shulman: The closeup photo of two people
grieving would probably be the first to go. It's a bit too close
and there's no context such as the two being part of a larger
crowd.
Wieland: I reacted very strongly to the photo with the
young blonde girl crying with tears running down her face. I assume
this was taken at a candlelight vigil, an event where the community
could come collectively to mourn and to grieve. As a coordinator
of vigils, I know they are usually planned to be a "safe place"
to show emotion. This showed a lack of dignity and respect for
those who were there. This child is in pain. We've got to remember
the horrible effects violence has on children. She needed a hug
and was getting one. It was not the moment the media should have
intruded.
Handschuh: Using technology such as long telephoto lenses,
we are able to capture these moments from afar, not by invading
the personal space of our subjects. The closeup of the hugging
mother and daughter was made with a 300 mm. telephoto lens from
a distance. It was during an outdoor, public memorial service
that was attended by 100,000 people. It was a private, personal
moment in the middle of a very public memorial.
Comments on Image Two
 Strick & Shulman: We particularly liked
the photo of the girl holding the flowers in the air ...
Wieland: The photo made me angry. This looks
like a gathering to remember the victims who were injured or killed.
These students appear to be in shock. They needed privacy to express
whatever they were feeling and should be given the dignity and
respect to do this privately.
Handschuh: The shot of the hugging teens with
the raised flowers was made at the same public memorial service.
The image compassionately and effectively communicates the personal
loss and the loss of the community.
Comments on Images Three and Four
Strick & Shulman: We particularly liked
these photos.
Wieland: I was impacted positively by the white
snow, the red rose, the handwritten notes of sympathy ... My initial
thoughts were — white snow, like the innocence of the victims;
red rose, honoring their lives; the handwriting, the heartfelt
words of those co-victims. This was a powerful photo that demonstrated
powerfully the loss felt by the Littleton community. Likewise,
the single cross with flowers representing one of the victims
was also powerful. The flowers symbolize mourning, loss, sadness.
The fact that Columbine High School was in the background made
for a moving picture.
Handschuh: The image of the flowers in the snow
and the flowers near the cross involve little or no human interaction
yet can provoke as strong an emotion and sense of loss as the
images with grieving friends.
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