Today I made a pretty big decision. Well in my world it is important. Photo journalism...what are the rules? Like there are people that work for newspapers, there are some that are hardcore, national geographic being at the top of that list. Then you hear of the paparazzi. So just what are the rules, what is journalism and what is "cashing in on someones bad day?".

I had my first taste of it. A middle aged woman, purple house coat lady, we shall call her. She decides that for whatever reason, she is going to dangle off her 9th floor balcony. Oh course this creates a chain reaction...lookie-loos on the street corners, cops whizzing past at high speeds, a lone officer unrolling their standard yellow police tape around the base of the building. Polish that off with a few fire trucks and paramedics, and you have got yourself some entertainment. Or so you would have believed by the crowds on the street.

Am I innocent. Of course not. I picked up my camera. I took a shot or two then sat down. Did I really want to get a shot of someone dying? That "money shot" as she leaps off the building? Doesn't that mean I want her to jump?

I looked around the street, at the people sitting on the grass, binoculars poised over there eyes. I glanced to the right and saw the gatherers appearing on theirs balconies, including a 10 year old young girl. I was just as guilty.

All to watch this woman die. I put my camera away. Just not ready for that yet. Wouldn't know what to do with the picture...what are the rules?


*The woman wasn't a jumper after all..she was a person with some problems. A need for attention. She was safely pulled in by police almost 4 hours since someone noticed her.

Perhaps I do live in the ghetto...