What would you have done?

Something happened about a month ago that I can't get out of my mind and am just curious as to the responses from my fellow POTN'ers.

Returning to Phoenix from a weekend in the mountains, the traffic on the highway came to an abrupt halt on a steep uphill curve. Out of the corner of my eye a cloud of dust caught my attention and upon closer examination I saw a motorcycle laying in the median with its rear tire still turning. Ten feet away the injured or dead motorcyclist was laying in a concrete drainage ditch with his arms crossed on his chest while above him a frantic woman was screaming into a cell phone. My 5d MkII with a 24-105 was literally laying in my lap. All I had to do was stick it out the window and in one frame I could have gotten the dust, the motorcycle, the rider and the frantic woman in one incredibly dramatic photograph. I didn't, and I don't know exactly why. It may have been because the woman on the phone was looking straight at me with a fear I'd never seen before in anyone's face. My question: what would you have done?

Take the shot.

Hmm I probably would have taken the shot simply to document it if nothing else. Proof of what you saw when you arrived.

I wouldn't have

I'd get out and offer my help - and leave the camera in the car.

Take the shot. Then help if possible. However, in a case like this, I doubt there is anything you can do unless you're a doctor of some sort?

Todd Lambert wrote in post #9181670
Take the shot. Then help if possible. However, in a case like this, I doubt there is anything you can do unless you're a doctor of some sort?

ditto

T.D. wrote in post #9181645
I'd get out and offer my help - and leave the camera in the car.

Agreed, was there any question?

Lets look at it the other way. Your family member is severely injured and laying on the side of the road and someone drives by slowly and takes a picture. Wouldn't you consider them among the lowest form of life?

Think of it this way, you're a photographer, take the shot. Besides, like I said, with a motorcycle accident, there is very little that you can do on-site. Most motorcycle accidents are fatal for a reason - it's not the lack of help from ongoers. The OP mention that someone was already on the phone making the 911 call. What else is there to do?

I mean, I guess there are people who think/shoot with a journalistic viewpoint and those that don't. I'd take the shot (if like the OP stated, the camera is in my lap and ready to go). If I had to stop, get the camera out, etc.. then probably not, unless I felt the scene was so compelling, to do so.

tkbslc wrote in post #9181685
Agreed, was there any question?

Lets look at it the other way. Your family member is severely injured and laying on the side of the road and someone drives by slowly and takes a picture. Wouldn't you consider them among the lowest form of life?

The situation wasn't exactly like that. The highway (87--called the "Beeline") is VERY busy on Sunday afternoon's with people getting back to the city from the high country. Its not a rarely travelled back road. Others were coming to his aid from vehicles parked on the side of the road, they just hadn't time to get there yet. I know nothing about even rudimentary first aid and would have just gotten in the way. As a photographer and it was my loved one in the same position and someone got a picture---I don't think I would have a problem with that. You just gave me the answer to my question though in case it happens again in the future---how would I feel if it were my family member? Thanks for your answer. If I had it to do over again, I think I would take the shot.

The fact that you hesitated says that at your core, you don't consider yourself a "Photojournalist."

Not intending to say that you're not a Photographer but a true PJ can internalize the moment while outwardly apearing to detach themselves.

For the record, because I know the area you're describing, I'd have hesitated too. I think it's different when it's more or less in your own "backyard."
That could be a neighbor or a friend lying there and I'm under no obligation via paycheck or deadline to document that moment.

FlyingPhotog wrote in post #9181798
The fact that you hesitated says that at your core, you don't consider yourself a "Photojournalist."

Not intending to say that you're not a Photographer but a true PJ can internalize the moment while outwardly apearing to detach themselves.

For the record, because I know the area you're describing, I'd have hesitated too. I think it's different when it's more or less in your own "backyard."
That could be a neighbor or a friend lying there and I'm under no obligation via paycheck or deadline to document that moment.

You're spot on there. I'm just a hobbyist landscape/portraitist. Brings to mind another question: if I had gotten the shot, and it was dramatic as I see it in my minds eye, what to do with it? Do newspapers even print these pictures anymore? The AZ Republic only seems to print "lifestyle" pictures or use wirephoto's of major news events.

Help first. Not being an employee of TMZ, a shot of a woman screaming for help over an injured motorcycle rider in not my idea of capturing the "moment".

If I was the woman screaming for help I would not want some guy with a big camera taking pics of injured/dead spouse laying on the side of the road.

I don't think I'd take the shot.

DStanic wrote in post #9183235
If I was the woman screaming for help I would not want some guy with a big camera taking pics of injured/dead spouse laying on the side of the road.

I don't think I'd take the shot.

+1!

Come on man, unless it's your job, I think it would be extremely inconsiderate to be taking a picture of something injured, as if they were some kind of exhibit. Wreckage is fine but not an injured human being.