I’ll be honest. I’m an opinionated individual and in instances where I do feel strongly about an issue, I hold very little back. I’ve re-read my post and I wouldn’t change a word. I know it is critical, and scathing at particular points. However, I saw it as my responsibility as a person to honour the agreement that I had made with the people I photographed. I had told them that their photographs were never to be published and I intend to see that through. I am not a person to renege promises.

The other issue I had with the idea of the book was also that the model releases required for the book were not organised before the event. To go up to people after the event and approach them with a model release to sign is best described as messy and disorganised. Besides appearing like a photographer that had tricked someone into having a photograph taken, there is the very possibility of someone feeling coerced into signing the model release. Furthermore, I photographed people whose natural instinct is to shy away from cameras for a myriad of reasons. I am definitely not going to betray the trust earned from this group, nor anyone else I photographed. There is nothing to be gained from profiteering from those less fortunate.

For those reasons, I did not stay quiet. I couldn’t. I was not going to be silent.

What Help-Portrait has achieved is immeasurable and it wouldn’t be possible without Jeremy Cowart. I do agree that he shows great leadership with this project, even moreso after admitting that the book was not a good idea and taking sole responsibility. You don’t see that often these days. You especially don’t see an apology with continued leadership. However great a person is, and no matter who they are, it doesn’t mean that they’re immune from criticism. I did not like the direction of where Help-Portrait was heading and spoke up.

From what I saw on twitter, facebook and e-mails, far harsher sentiments were expressed than what I wrote in my post. My post expressed my opinions and I was honest about what I had said of Jeremy. My post was not an attack on Jeremy. It was an attack on the concept of the book, Jeremy’s idea.

Even though a coffee table book would be filled with beautiful images that would be inspiring, that was not my priority. My priority was to keep my word and to protect the relationships I made with people on the day of Help-Portrait.

From a long way away over in south Ireland, not knowing you at all, I find it difficult to understand your style. I’d need to know you better to know whether you always adopt combative language, or whether this is a special case.

I too feel passionate about Help-Portrait and its authenticity, its “heart & soul”. I saw some difficult issues around the book. However, I’d come to trust Jeremy Cowart, and I know he was an honest decent person, at least as fine a character as myself. So far removed from the cut and thrust of the local community, I resolved to go with the flow. If I’d been in Nashville, or probably anywhere in USA I’d have weighed in with my view.

You make a great point I think when you extol the virtue of photographs taken around the event. They’re the shots I most wanted to see because they documented the experience.

There is I think a role for a coffee table book. It could be a thing of beauty in itself. This is a historic or history making movement and it deserves such an artifact surely.

I have a good lot of experience of practising the skill of cutting people down to size. Jeremy Cowart is someone I feel deserves to be honoured for not only having the idea but also the commitment and skill to catalyze it into being. If only I had achieved half as much with my good ideas.

There is noone so tough that they can take everything on the chin. Jeremy would never plead this but I ask all who read your words to be careful with the way they express themselves because there is no guarantee that there will always be a Jeremy to lead us.

We footsoldiers of the Help-Portrait movement are vital. We do things locally and we depend on leadership we love and feel trust in. The challenge that the book idea offered us all has surely made us all aware of how much we have adopted Help-Portrait as our own. The controversy has strengthened the movement in ways that won’t become clear until much later, I’d say.

Imagine strangers linked in an enterprise across so many seas. Written with great fondness,
@omaniblog

Currently I am putting together a project for 2010. I know it’s only January but I know I’ve got a bit of groundwork to do at the moment. All I can say is that it will be pretty awesome if it all works out.

If there is a book one day, I hope in some way it can bring meaning to the very people who made it possible. I’m not talking about the photographers or make up artists.

I honestly do think that Jeremy Cowart was sincere in his apology which can be read here.

As Trudy has stated, photography isn’t the only way that a photographer can give. I often empty my wallet of loose change into the tins of charities collecting money without realising that I need that loose change to fill a hungry parking meter. That is a small insignificant concern compared to worrying about where the next meal will come from, if at all.

During 2009, I became involved in projects donating my time and skills to give back to the community. In 2010, I am continuing this by actively dedicating time in my schedule to allow for this.

[So far in what I have seen and experienced in almost three decades on this planet, awareness has not provided a warm meal, roof over heads or even a sense of belonging for people. Awareness has not provided answers. People can be as aware as they like about issues but it’s about time people started doing something practical for those who are in need of help.]

All I saw was a famous photographer with an idea of how to become more famous. If he said his own staff was hesitant then that should have been signal enough not to proceed with announcing it to the greater public. However, even when we are truly good people at heart, we can become blind for a second…we’re all human and we make that mistake. So many people get notoriety at the expense of someone less fortunate and through their need to spread “awareness.” What awareness are we providing though? Is there anyone truly unaware of homelessness, poverty and domestic violence? Still, I am glad he was big about it and apologized. I am sure he feels terrible about this blunder.

I think 2010 has to be the year to turn awareness into action. Maybe what we have to do is take our photographers’ hats off…don’t photograph these people…help feed them, clothe them, teach them how to read if they cannot and donate $. I think some of the best feeling I have had was donating $ especially because I have very little of it. LOL. When you give when you really cannot afford it, I believe that is when it is truly blessed. Just because we are photographers doesn’t mean that photography has to be our way to give.

Great blog post, thanks for sharing.