In this episode, we talk with Daniel Etter about truth and fiction. He discusses the differences between observation in photojournalism as opposed to the element of creation present in filmmaking. He discusses the rise of AI image-making and the associated risks. Finally, he describes how problems within photography are often representative of systemic problems requiring societal change on a wider level. What does photography ethics mean to Daniel?“Just being respectful and meeting people at eye level and being open to their experience and being open to their grief, and seeing what causes less or more harm to them. So, it’s just like respecting people. It’s like … do you want to show a dead boy and the grieving father, or not? And in some cases, if it was like somebody who’s killed in the road in an accident here, you’d probably say no because it doesn’t make any sense. But maybe the father is like ‘yeah show that because I want people to see.’ … We have to understand people and see if it’s justifiable to show certain things or not show certain things. And I think it comes down to respecting people equally.” (33:09)Links:Open letter to Meta about AIDaniel Etter, “Photos don’t always tell the whole truth. Is that a bad thing?” The Washington PostSarah Sentilles, “When We See Photographs of Some Dead Bodies and Not Others,” The New York Times Magazine

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“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.

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