Ellis, the person who use photography to tell truth.
"Sometime photography can be much powerful than word!"
Q1. Short Intro
Hi. My name is Ellis E-l-l-i-s. I am studying at The Chinese University of Hong KongI am now working at an online media company called “Hong Kong In-media” as a part-time press.My main job is using photography and words to record social movement.
Q2. How do you view the relationship between Protest and Protest photographer?
I think there is a unique relationship between it.That the photographer and the person who is being captured (mean the protesters). I think protesters are the primary information, and I am the person who spread out that information. If there is no press near the information (protesters), then the information will never be spread out. My role is to record the information and choose the right information to provide to the audiences.
Q3. What do you want to show the audience through photography?
I think, as a press, that should have a moral responsibility. We need to follow the principle when we choose which information we should give to the audiences. We used photos…… real photos to tell viewers about the information when the movement begins until the end. Photography is also evidence to prove the information is correct. We are the people who tell the truth.
Q4. What is the core value of Protest photography?
Photography can show audiences the site of vision, the tension between the government and protesters, and the power division. Why did I say the site of vision? Not every people have participated in the movement. They may not experience in the front-line of the protest. If they want to about the protest……. However, using words to explain the real vision is complicated. Therefore, photography can be evidence to support the statement. Although fake news or fake photography (meaning composite image) does exist. However, compared to words, it has a low possibility of making phony photography. Somehow, the police may accuse the press about “Why don’t you shoot the protesters?”. However, I would genuinely say I do take shots of both sides. When I click on the shutter, I will think of balancing both sides and telling the truth to my audiences.
Q5. Have you ever thought of selling your photos?
So I am working for a media company now. Although the photos are shot by me, the company can also use my photos in commercial use. The company is an individual media company; therefore, they would not use my photos as commercial use. Thus, we allowed people to repost or share our news with others without any fees. I have heard that some of the Taiwan university students used my photos as a promotion use to elaborate the movement to Taiwan citizens. And I am appreciated that. So, if I am a freelance photographer, I will sell my photography to maintain my life. Therefore, I need to sell my photos to the news company. I agree with other freelance photographers. They will scan their photos or create a short video that sells it to news companies or other organizations. They will collect money for salary, and most of them will donate it to organizations helping protesters or arrested people. Maybe some people will say we are not neutral; however, I would say the press is my job, my profession. But when I am not working, my role is a Hong Konger, a hong kong citizen. Therefore, if I think this movement is correct, I will use my Hong Konger role to support it.
Q6. Have you ever been treated rudely when you are taking a photo?
I can tell you, yes! Both the protesters and the police have the same behaviors. For protesters, they may concern about when they are getting injured. The police will request the press to provide photography or video as evidence to find out who is in violation of the legislation. That is why protesters are afraid of the government, or the police will use our photography to prosecute them. “私了” is a term that means people solve the problem by using a violation and resolve it privately. They will use violate as the method to solve the problem with the “blue ribbon” or people who are indifferent opinions. We can see it often happened in the movement. The protesters may try to stop me from shooting by using an umbrella or shout at me to force me to delete the photos. However, it doesn’t happen often compared with the police. On the police side, we often see the police brutality problems on TV. They may use batons……. we can often see that they use batons to hit the protesters who are already arrested. Also, they may shoot lots of tear gas, which is not necessary. It is hard for us to shoot or record under this situation. On of the weapon they used the most is pepper spray. I do have experienced it before when I am shooting. We are not similar to a doctor, a nurse in which they have professional licenses. The police may query on your press card, and they may call us” fake press” or helper of protesters. I think my role is neutral in the movement, however, when people may feel that we are helping the opposite side. I think it is insulting me and my role.
Q7. Have you ever thought that it is dangerous when you are shooting protest photography?
I would say no matter mental or physical health is being damaged. Although we put on all the gear to protect ourselves. But no one can guarantee that we will not get injured in the protest. One example is in the 2019 September, an Indonesia journalist has been shot by the police on her left eye. The consequence is she loses her eyeball because of the shot. Many presses said that they have been facing different damages in the movement. For a long-term view, white terror is a big problem. We afraid of the freedom of the press will be suppressed in the future. The government may use a different method to limit the freedom of the media. For me, white terror is a significant problem compared with mental or physical damages.
Q8. What do you want to say to your supporters?
The value of the company I am working for is “the press should not be limit.” When we shot a photo or write a journal, we will think of how I can educate my audience to think critically and use a different angle to look. I hope that my audiences can give more opinions and supports me! Thank you.