Behind the Lens: The Rational and Ethical Considerations in Photojournalism

Student Reporter, Jan 15, 2025, 5:53 PM IST

Candlelight protest on the streets of Jalpaiguri (Credit: Debojyoti Chatterjee)

Surrounded by the stench of burning flesh, piles of human bodies being cremated by workers clad in PPE kits, and the crackling flames of pyres that burned day and night, Rajiv Arora, a photojournalist, stood frozen. The distant cries of relatives who could not say their final goodbyes echoed through the air. Amidst this mass cremation ground during the COVID-19 pandemic in Delhi, Arora’s camera felt both like a tool and a burden.

He faced a dilemma—should he capture the stark reality of dozens of bodies burning or shift his focus to the anguish of the family members mourning from afar? Every decision was weighed with the responsibility of how it would convey the overwhelming and unprecedented nature of the scene around him. The images he captured that day would not only tell a story but also shape public perception of an event that defied explanation.

The Threat of Misinformation

In today’s polarised world, where misinformation spreads rapidly, both photojournalists Rajiv Arora and Debojyoti Chatterjee (a freelancer who covered a protest march led by the doctor’s association in Jalpaiguri in light of the recent RG Kar Rape incident) stressed the importance of self-regulation. Images are easily taken out of context and used to support false narratives. Arora and Chatterjee called for stronger laws to prevent the misuse of images and urged individuals to fact-check and verify information before forwarding it. Misinformation, they warned, can have severe consequences, and it is critical for photojournalists to capture and share images as objectively as possible.

Mass cremation of dead bodies in New Delhi during COVID pandemic (Credit: Rajiv Arora)

The Silent Observer: Staying Invisible to the Scene

Both photojournalists pointed out that staying invisible and letting the scene unfold naturally is key. They stressed how important it is for a photojournalist to remain connected to the ground realities of an event without disrupting its flow.

A student holding placard ‘Justice, Protection and Proper Governance’ during RG Kar incident protests (Credit: Debojyoti Chatterjee)

Chatterjee recalled a pivotal moment during the protest. Other photographers were rushing to capture close-up shots of a speaker, but Chatterjee made a different decision. “I chose to stay back and capture the speaker amidst the crowd because it’s important to retain context. Who is he addressing? Why are they gathered here? The environment adds meaning to the moment,” he explained.

Pubic in Jalpaiguri taking to streets against the RG Kar rape incident (Credit: Debojyoti Chatterjee)

Ethical Boundaries and Human Dignity

During the pandemic, Arora faced a similar challenge while covering an oxygen langar at a gurdwara. “A woman was struggling to breathe, surrounded by a swarm of photographers,” he said. “I found that insensitive. I waited patiently and stood back, capturing her frustration from a distance.” For Arora, respecting the human dignity of his subjects is paramount. Developing a strong sense of personal ethics is crucial, marked by respect for the people before the lens.

Healthcare workers performing final rites during COVID pandemic (Credit: Rajiv Arora)

Juxtaposition for Deeper Meaning

For Arora, layering elements within a single frame is a key technique to convey complex narratives. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he used visual juxtapositions to enhance the depth of his images. PPE kits, burning fires, ambulances, oxygen cylinders—all of these symbols juxtaposed with the suffering of patients and the grief of their families told a story of the grim reality of the pandemic. “It was important to show the situation as it was, in its truest form, without trying to sensationalize it,” Arora said.

Capturing the Essence of a Movement

Chatterjee’s work during the protest in Jalpaiguri also focused on capturing the essence of the movement. He moved through the crowd, capturing the faces of people gathered for the candlelight vigil, ensuring their anger and demand for justice were documented. He aimed to ensure that the protesters’ narrative was retained in the images, showing the raw emotions on their faces as they held their candles high, demanding action.

Chatterjee also shared how he often made conscious decisions to isolate certain subjects, notably when they contributed to conveying the deeper meaning of a story. He recounted focusing on a young girl holding a placard during the protest. “She had a puzzled look on her face—a mix of innocence and fear. I decided to isolate her because that one image could capture the turmoil of a young girl questioning her safety and demanding her rights.”

A young girl questioning her absence of liberty (Credit: Debojyoti Chatterjee)

Balancing Editorial Appeal with Truth

Both Arora and Chatterjee underscored the grave responsibilities of a photojournalist. It’s easy to focus on images that may be editorially attractive, but true photojournalism must also capture the barebones truth of the event. Each image must reflect the reality of the moment without losing sight of the human aspects involved.

Written by: Pratham Basu, School of Communication and Media Studies, St Joseph’s University, Bengaluru