It was a chilling week in New York City: a man was pushed onto the subway tracks in Manhattan and run over by an oncoming train, and freelance photographer R. Umar Abbasi (who was on assignment for the New York Post) was there to catch it on camera. The resulting photos will turn your stomach. All that and some more uplifting imagery in today’s Happy Hour.

Photographer captures man’s imminent death on camera, and is immediately faulted for not helping

There’s been a swirling and heated debate in New York this week about whether freelance photographer R. Umar Abbasi was right to photograph while Ki Suk Han was run over by a subway train. Han was pushed onto the tracks just as the train was entering the station, and the resulting photos show him trying to climb back onto the platform.

The media immediately launched an attach on Abbasi, asserting that he was wrong to snap photos while another man was near death. Abbasi has since gone on the press circuit to defend his actions, saying that he hoped the flash from his camera would alert the conductor of the oncoming train.

“I just started running. I had my camera up — it wasn’t even set to the right settings — and I just kept shooting and flashing, hoping the train driver would see something and be able to stop,” he said in an editorial for the Post.

The debate over whether photographers, and photojournalists in particular, are wrong in capturing dire moments like these instead of helping is not a new argument.  But as many people have already pointed out, attention should be put first on whoever pushed Han onto the tracks, and second on the Post for publishing such a crass and insensitive cover.

Gawker was quick to publish an interesting post that gets the opinion of several professional journalists and photographers, including PhotoShelter member and Pulitzer prize-winning photographer Vincent Laforet. “It’s very important for the public to remember that journalists play an important role and that they can often perform an important public service,” he says.

“The blame in this controversy lies directly with the New York Post for publishing such a callous, crude and truly tasteless headline while at the same time wrongly splashing the tragedy on the front page,” says fellow Pulitzer winner John Kaplan.

Images from the Gaza conflict

Documentary photographer Andrea Bruce covered the short but very deadly Gaza conflict, and walked away with some extremely memorable images. She photographs for the NOOR Foundation and currently divides her time between Kabul and Washington D.C. See a selection here and then view the full archive.

Harold Feinstein’s poster sale for Hurricane Sandy recovery

Coney Island, which was completely devastated during Hurricane Sandy, has a special place in Harold Feinstein’s heart. Not only is he a Coney Island native, but he also launched his photography career with images of the place. Feinstein is arguably one of the last classic mid-19th century New York photographers still with us today. To help benefit his hometown, Harold and the Aperture Gallery and offering two collections of imagery for sale, with 100% of net profits going to hurricane relief efforts.

Please join Harold on December 17th for a book signing party at the Aperture Gallery and Bookstore in New York. More information here.

Through My Eyes online exhibition by Gerry Walden

PhotoShelter member and UK-based freelance photographer Gerry Walden has a set of images currently being showcased in an online gallery by 591 photography. Gerry’s work has been recognized both in Europe and the United States in many one-man exhibitions. The images “capture life that others often pass by without noticing,” say the curators. See a few images here and then view the full exhibition of Through My Eyes.

 powerHouse portfolio review February 10, 2013

The powerHouse Books is holding its 9th annual portfolio reviews and publishing workshops on February 10, 2013. Each attendee gets five one-on-one reviews with leading experts in photography, art, media, and advertising. The portfolio review accepts about 100 photographers on a first-come, first-serve basis, so reserve your spot today!

Check out what NYC looks like from a bicycle

New York-based sports photographer Tom Olesnevich attached his Nikon D40 to the underside of his bicycle to showcase what the city looks like from the rear wheels. Only once did the camera detach and go tumbling down the street – luckily without any serious damage. (via PetaPixel)

 

 

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