On Photography

Photography

Driving around Ft. Portal and Uganda in general you see so many things, it’s very hard to process all at once. Because everything is so new and unique, we have the natural urge to take pictures of everything we can. I have learned, thanks to my friend Natalie, that although pictures are important, it is better to live life in full view rather than from the lens of a camera. So I sat on the bus and watched the endless number of faces go by.

I realized on one hand, photography is magic – it can capture the exact moment when your mind has told you something is interesting, without even having time to understand why, and capture it so that you can contemplate it later with a crystal clear image. It’s man’s closest equivalent to stopping time, and at each new sight, we definitely wanted the time to stop.

But on the other hand, photography can be a trespass of the soul if not treaded lightly. The idea of the “ugly American” is not something I want attached to me, and it is so disappointing when one person, or even myself at those crucial, ethically questionable times, can ruin the whole moment. I also knew of the ancient tribal beliefs that a picture takes away part of one’s soul – but I always thought that was an urban legend designed to prevent outsiders from intruding on indigenous people. I thought about it more in depth, and I began to realize the importance of understanding the perspective of the person, animal, spirit or thing on the other side of the lens. They do not understand the reason you are taking the picture, and they may never knew what you will do with it. For me, I could theoretically justify taking photos because I am trying to directly impact their city, their country and their way of life, and the photographs serve as an important way of reaching reach the people who have the means and need the understandings to support our goals. But when it comes down to it, will I ever meet or see that particular person who I photographed again, and will they ever reap the benefits of our projects in their lifetime? Maybe, maybe not. After the picture is taken, however, the photographer immediately has the upper hand. He will always have something of yours, and you have no obligation, other than your coconscious, to give something in return. That is the best explanation I can come up with for the ancient belief that a picture steals a part of one’s soul. Personal memories and school projects are no excuse for forcing others to sell a piece of their soul without even having the right to say no. It is a spiritual lesson every photographer needs to know and something that weighs on my conscious every time I turn on my camera.

My method is simple. Before I take a photo of someone directly in the face, I ask them if it is okay. I try and get the best shots in a short amount of time, and when I am finished, especially if it is of a child, I show them the picture on the small camera screen in return. That gives them something in return – a view of the modern world, which may seem like magic to them.

Today Chelsie made friends with the children who lived across the fence from us. We had heard the children playing and I think they came up to this small crack in the brush where you could peek in to our compound through the fence. Chelsie showed me her pictures and I wanted to go get some, especially since the African children made for the best photos. They were adorable. We greeted the children – learning their names and telling them ours – and I asked the older sister if I could take pictures. She gracefully said yes and I snapped a few. Then Lisa came up behind and did the same. Then Chelsie took out her camera and took a thousand more. At first the children smiled and laughed, but then it became very awkward and I got the bad feeling in my stomach again. Luckily we had candy and gave them a million pieces, but I thought that sent a bad lesson – do a trick and get a treat, like a monkey or an animal. These people were no zoo exhibit, and we were no foreign tourists on safari. I said goodbye and walked away, still harping on the issue.