Activity 5.1: Controversial image

Find an image from industry that has sparked controversy and discuss the reasons driving the response.

Activity 5.2: Photo essay ethics

Consider and prepare for the ethical considerations applicable to your photo essay shots.

Activity 5.1: Controversial image

The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras has always been controversial from it’s beginnings in 1978 on the Day of International Gay Solidarity, 24 June 1978. The Gay Solidarity Group, following a morning protest march and a public meeting. At 10pm that night, people began to assemble at Taylor Square, with the crowd surrounding a flatbed truck with a sound system playing Meg Christian’s Ode to a Gym Teacher and Tom Robinson’s Glad to be Gay as they set off down Oxford Street to Hyde Park. The picture above as featured in The Guardian newspaper was particularly concerned with AIDS remembrance with Paraders wearing nothing but Red Ribbons.

Activity 5.2: Photo essay ethics

Ethically with mine there will be nothing sexual even though it’s about sexuality essentially as my daughter is A) 13 almost 14 and B) it’s not exploitative it’s documenting her life.

We’ve gone over this extensively and discussed the images were both comfortable in crowd situations/street events and in studio also any shots in hospital will not feature faces of medical staff or include other patients for privacy and ethical reasons unless their parent/guardian consents and signs release, but i am not comfortable about featuring minors in hospital for any reason other than my own child who is on board with the project