Images of luxury cruise liners docking at the Haitian port of Labadee immediately following the earthquake raised an uproar. Now the decision of two photographers to hold workshops amidst the chaos and death are stirring online debate on the ethics of photojournalism.
New Orleans resident and photographer Andy Levin, who documented the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, already had a photography workshop scheduled in Jacmel, Haiti, six months prior to the earthquake. After disaster struck, he quickly made his way to the island to assess whether the workshop was still feasible.
"I decided to go ahead with the workshop after traveling to Haiti myself with NYC Medics and assessing the situation," Levin said in an e-mail. "I thought that the workshop was doable, and Cyril at Tour Haiti, who I had contracted with for transport, wanted us to come."
Following Levin's announcement to continue as planned, freelance photographer Zoriah Miller introduced his own workshop. "I actually held a workshop in Haiti just weeks before the earthquake," Miller said, by e-mail. "I returned on my own after the earthquake to document and when I came back I had several e-mails from individuals who requested going to Haiti for a workshop."
BBC producer Benjamin Chesterton condemned the idea of Haitian workshops through his photography site duckrabbit. Having worked in Ethiopia and Kenya, his paramount concern was the health and safety of participants.
"I think the research shows," said Chesterton in an e-mail interview, "that about 5 to 7 percent of people working in these kinds of crisis will suffer post-traumatic [stress] syndrome. A much higher percentage will suffer depression and find it hard adapting when they return home. I think that's the normal psychological reaction."
As part of his vetting process, Miller will discuss the potential dangers and emotional side effects with applicants. "[D]uring the workshop," said Miller, "subjects such as dealing with witnessing trauma, PTSD, the effects of this job on a photojournalist's personal life etc., are discussed in detail (and are in all of my workshops, not just this one)." Students will sign release waivers and must have medical and evacuation insurance.
Levin trusts prospective attendees to understand the scenario. "They had all seen the news images, which although real, tend to exaggerate what has happened," he said. "There are no security issues, no one has felt threatened in the slightest."
Initial reactions to both workshops ranged from support to disgust. One obvious target for cynicism were the prices. Students of Levin would pay $1,500 for one a one-week course and Miller is charging $4,000 for his seven-day class. Neither program includes airfare, supplies, housing or food.
"I pay for the transportation which is extremely expensive," said Levin. "I have a van and a driver and he is Haitian and staying in the hotel with us. This workshop will not be profitable."
Originally Levin had proposed using his transportation to ferry supplies into the hardest hit areas, but has been forced to abandon this plan. "There is no way that I can coordinate that kind of thing, the needs are too massive," he said.
As for Miller, he will donate half of his admission fee to the Port-au-Prince Hospice Saint Joseph. "My travel and living expenses as well as expenses on the ground (local fixers, transportation. etc.) would come from the remaining 50 percent of the workshop tuition that is not donated to the hospice," he said. "Whatever is left after expenses is used to continue my documentary work around the world."
Chesterton noted that Miller's original announcement made no mention of fundraising. "In the case of Zoriah, he only pledged 50 percent after the outcry about the training, before that there was no mention of any money going to a charitable cause," said Chesterton.
As with cruise ships calling on Haitian ports that bring in money to the badly damaged economy as well as emergency supplies, there are certain benefits to these workshops for the local communities. "The project is adding $10,000 to the economy here. That is very important at this point," said Levin.
Relief efforts in Haiti have been widely criticized for inefficiency, infighting and poor logistics. Distributing basic supplies and medical care has proven to be a challenge for organizations. Both Levin and Miller would be accountable for ensuring their charges do not contribute to the chaos on the ground.
"We have learned that the U.N. is impeding efforts of USAid to get food into the camps, which are generally well-run, but have very large needs," said Levin, with regard to his initial workshop. He said that his group is "behaving with dignity and with compassion, and we have been welcomed here and Haitians want to talk to us."
Miller shares a similar optimism about not impeding aid efforts. "I would never bring myself or anyone else into a situation if I believed I would be exacerbating an already difficult situation or draining any of the already limited resources," he said. "In-depth preparation before the workshop will ensure that each student is prepared to be completely self-reliant while they are there, just like I am when I respond to such situations."
A more contentious point is what impression hordes of wandering students will have on the Haitian people. "You have to ask yourself what kind of person wants to spend $4,000 plus expenses to go to Haiti and stick their amateur lens in people's faces," said Chesterton. "Not only that, but how much responsibility do the workshop organizers feel for the actions of the people on their workshops?"
Chesterton also questions the ability of outsiders spending a relatively small amount of time in the country to get the story right. "It's my experience that local people welcome journalists who live and work amongst them," he said. "People in a crisis want to tell their story but the journalists flying in and out don't have the time to listen."
Levin disagrees. "I think it will look like we care, which we do, and that we are interested in really showing what is happening here -- there are no other press right now."
Personal investment is a viewpoint shared by Miller. "Haitians need to know that the world cares," he said. "If I ever had a student that did not show the utmost of respect and consideration for those they photograph, I would hand them their money and a plane ticket."
In the weeks following the earthquake, Haiti has been besieged with foreign journalists. Although classified as the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere, there is a local community of active photojournalists who could provide coverage if given the opportunity. "I blame a lot of the NGOs for failing to nurture local talent. They should be helping to build the media in these countries, not flying in talent that nobody but the picture editor has heard of," said Chesterton. "[T]he first photographs from Haiti [were] by a Haitian photographer and those are the ones that most people will remember."
Cooperation with local talent is not on Miller's agenda. "I work with local drivers and fixers but do not work with other media groups. My intention is to teach my students to work on their own with local contacts and to network with nongovernmental organizations, communities and individuals to produce accurate and high-quality documentation of a difficult subject matter."
The partnership Levin has arranged with Zanmi Lakay, a Haitian nonprofit that offers photography training in addition to youth services, is an example of how the workshops could give back to the community. Working alongside people is a more concrete method to establish bonds than through photographing them.
"I see a lot of validity in that. The kids will have a good time and that will have a positive impact on their life," said Chesterton, though he still questions the ability of relatively green photographers to handle these situations appropriately.
Both Levin and Miller remain unperturbed by negative reactions. "I understand that people are very emotional about Haiti, but frankly, the anger should be vented towards those who really caused this situation," Levin said. "The corrupt politicians, ineffective aid organizations, NGO that used to drive around Port-au-Prince in fancy SUVs, all of which have made an industry out of poverty here."
"I stand by my decision to offer this workshop 100 percent," said Miller. "The photojournalism community should be ashamed of itself for being so blind and having such a pathetic group mentality. In the time my critics have spent complaining about me and my offerings of workshops, they could have done something productive and maybe even helped the people they are so worried about me offending."
It remains to be seen if either Levin or Miller will emerge with their reputations unscathed. At worst, both are accused of profiteering, and at best, their intentions are considered well-meaning but inappropriate. "There's no doubt that photographers in these kinds of places upset many people on the ground," said Chesterton. "I don't mind that, most of them are very professional and do an important job, but upsetting people for the sake of a workshop is cruel."
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