The News Photographers' Stoicism
I don’t know how you can be a photographer without being a Stoic.
Stoicism emphasizes rationality, self-control, and virtue as the path to achieving personal excellence and peace. These principles can be particularly relevant and useful for photojournalists, who often face high-stress environments, ethical dilemmas, and the need to remain detached yet empathetic.
Stoicism teaches that it's not events themselves that are disturbing, but the views we take of them. For photojournalists, this means understanding personal biases and perceptions can color their work. Practicing objectivity and striving to see situations as they are without personal judgment can lead to more truthful and impactful photography.
Stoics practice daily self-reflection to assess and improve their virtues. Adopting the practice of reviewing each day’s work and decisions and considering questions like "Did my photos tell the truth?" and "How could I better serve my subjects and audience?"
Stoicism teaches acceptance of whatever happens as part of a natural order. For photojournalists, this could mean accepting that not every assignment will go as planned or that some stories may not have a clear resolution.
Stoics believe in acting as part of a larger community. Photojournalists practice this by working responsibly within their community and being aware of the impact their images have on subjects and viewers.
Stoicism is known for its emphasis on resilience. For photojournalists, this means persisting through challenging assignments, harsh conditions, and critical public scrutiny, finding inner strength to continue delivering important stories.
By integrating these Stoic principles, photojournalists can enhance their professionalism, ethical grounding, and personal well-being, all while contributing significantly to the societal function of journalism.
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