Photographer honored

[Richard Boulware]

About six weeks ago I posted information about the outstanding photography by Rocky Mountain News photographer Todd Heisler and his wonderful shots of U.S.Marines escorting the casket of a fallen Marine, back home...to America.

Today the Rocky Mountain New announces that Heisler's work has been honored by the World Press Photo competition...for his photo story, "Final Salute"!

The World Press Photo award winners can be seen at: www.worldpressphoto.nl

I mentioned before that I believe there is a good chance Heisler will win a Pulitzer for his work.

I have not changed my mind.

[Dan Jolicoeur]

I thought we were supposed to keep the political comments out of these threads? Or if it just ok when Bush bashing is involved?

[Mark Woods]

The government.
MW

[Walt Calahan]

The present administration still has an embargo on military images of caskets returning to American military bases. Once the casket leaves the government controlled location, the First Amendment rights of all citizens allows for press coverage.

Interesting Dan that you've used the words you used, because "hermit" was asking a question regarding rules set forth by the adminstration. I see no "Bush bashing" in "hermit's" words. You are right to ask or observe your first question "I thought we were supposed to keep the political comments out of these threads?", but from reading "hermits" words, I don't understand how you've jump to a conclusion of "Bush bashing?"

If it is because of Richard's sentence "I have not changed my mind", this I read as hasn't changed his mind about Heisler's chance of winning a Pulitzer, not hasn't changed his mind about the validity of the war.

Now I welcome support for your political beliefs, and strongly recommend you share them. But it is my belief that too many people quickly put words into others mouths by defensively saying "it's ok when Bush this or Bush that" instead of simply stating why they believe the photo embargo is legitimate - say "for the privacy of the family."

[Bill_1856]

Got a link to the photograph?

[Dan Jolicoeur]

Walter your correct; my second part of the response contributed to the problem i was trying to address. As for the photo embargo. I don't believe this is the place, off line I'll give you my views and you can share yours.

Cheers,

[Richard Boulware]

Mr. Calahans is correct in that my final comment on my post, is about Heisler's chances on winning a Pulitzer.

I do not believe, personally, that this board should contain political commentary and my post had nothing to do with politics.

To see Todd Heisler's shot, use Google and look for 'Time Magazine pictures of the year-2005'...where the viewer can vote. Seems others share my view in that Heisler is leading the pack and it's not even a close race. Look, and vote...you preference. Heisler's shot on the TIME website, is I believe, titled 'Heading Home'. IMHO a truly powerful image and a tribute to the photographers skill and insight. Rarely does a single photo ask such a powerful question symbolic of an 'age' or time in our American history.

Without being political, my view of this picture is....it depicts drama, and the present day conflict about 'Do you support the war'....combined with 'Do you support out troops'..or 'Do you support neither'? Heisler's question seems to be the hidden question embedded within this powerful image and we are only left to imagine that every person looking out the airliner windows, is asking that same question within themselves, and thus depicts one of the major political and philosophical questions about America in this time of our history.

[Dan Jolicoeur]

Richard I read thread you posted a few weeks ago, and viewed the photo on the link you placed. My comments were not direct toward that.

[Jeff Moore]

For those who wish to view the photographs, they are part of a larger presentation titled "Final Salute." The presentation includes a slide show, a video, and 24 pages of newspaper stories in PDF format.

If you have the time, I urge you to view the whole thing. Regardless of your political views on the war, this is a moving tributes to those who sacrifice so much.

The link is on the Rocky Mountain News website: http://denver.rockymountainnews.com/news/finalSalute/

[paulr]

Is there really a rule against political commentary or is it just against political commentary unrelated to photography?

A ban on all political commentary would rule out discussions about officials' policies toward photographers, first ammendment rights as applied to photography, photographs of political figures, any photojournalism and documentary work that has a political bent ...

someone discussing the federal government's embargo on a certain type of photography seems to have a place here. it's not like posting caricatures of bush or launching into pro/anti-whatever diatribes with no photographic content.

[Duane Polcou]

Was Heisler's picture made with a large format camera?

[tim atherton]

It would certainly be depressing if Heisler won a Pulitzer for his work. I'd have to agree with Michael - they a part of such a narrow, sanitized view of the world.

Indeed:

"Some of the other contest winners are much better photo-journalists (on both the level of subject-matter and the craft of photography), devoted to showing the blood and guts of reality within the context of war."

in both the World Press Photo and the Time POY there are far better (photojournalisitcally, aesthetically) and more meaningful and important photographs.

Finbarr O'Reilly's World Press Photo of the year, for example, is in a different league