Disturbing news about an important photojournalist ...

**clackers** · 12-13-2018, 09:28 PM

Prominent Chinese photographer Lu Guang taken by state after Xinjiang visit, says wife - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Paul the Sunman · 12-13-2018, 11:53 PM - **1 Like**

It barely crosses our minds that photography can be a subversive art. But those in power know it ... and fear it.

Let us hope for the best.

**clackers** · 12-14-2018, 12:01 AM

Originally posted by Paul the Sunman

It barely crosses our minds that photography can be a subversive art. But those in power know it ... and fear it.

Let us hope for the best.

Yes, Paul, Jamal Khashoggi wrote about why changes were needed in one society, this guy was showing it about another.

**PJ1** · 12-14-2018, 03:41 AM

I hope it all turns out OK. I believe that people such as high profile photojournalists are targeted because they act as a kind of focal point. They can scan across an issue and produce a series of images that describe it - bring it into focus (if you like). Then a whole lot of others can tap in and project it more widely, sharing and adding their own perspectives on sections of the issue. But there is the fundamental problem that we do not all see issues in the same light and sometimes what someone produces is going to offend those in power. The modern media (shared imagery, social media, etc) is a problem for all governments because they don't know how to control it - and hopefully they will never learn how. The internet means that they cannot stop us from knowing what they do and talking about it. As with the court suppression of the conviction of a high profile Australian in the last couple of days, everyone knows about it now thanks to the internet. And thanks to the internet we also know about and can discuss the case of Lu Guang. Probably all they succeed in doing is to create greater public awareness of his work..

IgorZ · 12-14-2018, 04:18 AM

Recently a Russian traveller/journalist /photographer went to Xinjiang and described the treatment of Muslims there, constant video surveillance, re-education camps etc. He published his account anonymously and changed some dates and circumstances so he could not be identified... So there is real concern on the part of those who speak out as to what might happen.

pathdoc · 12-14-2018, 06:10 AM

These are not free countries we're talking about. What else do you expect?

jcdoss · 12-14-2018, 07:26 AM

Originally posted by pathdoc

These are not free countries we're talking about. What else do you expect?

LOL!

Thanks for the article Clackers.

E-man · 12-14-2018, 08:16 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by pathdoc

These are not free countries we're talking about. What else do you expect?

All the more reason not to excuse or ignore it.

**BigMackCam** · 12-14-2018, 04:46 PM - **1 Like**

Folks - interesting thread though this undoubtedly is, it has the trappings of one that could become political in nature. You'll forgive me, I hope, if I ask in advance that we avoid any political commentary?

Thank you

**clackers** · 12-14-2018, 05:11 PM - **1 Like**

Yeah, just shut this right down if any governments are singled out. Please concentrate on the plight of this particular photographer and the hazards for photojournalists worldwide. If people want to do something generally, Amnesty International gratefully accepts donations.

Wheatfield · 12-15-2018, 10:28 AM - **2 Likes**

Originally posted by pathdoc

These are not free countries we're talking about. What else do you expect?

There is a worldwide movement at the moment to dismiss any news that doesn’t fit inside our bubbles as fake and,sadly, since journalists quite often go after the people who have their hands on the levers of power, they are becoming targets for anyone who wants to suppress the truth. This is equally true of countries we consider free or countries we do not.

stevebrot · 12-15-2018, 03:55 PM - **1 Like**

< self-edited comment of a political nature >

Steve

pakinjapan · 12-15-2018, 05:28 PM

I hope for the best for Mr. Lu Guang.
it take a lot of bravery sometime nerve to be a journalist standing on the truth side of the story inside a country like China.
I just watch on TV last night about how they put people data on the big-data server and give people score for just about anything... even what you often buy in a super market. Then using together with face, DNA and finger print recondition in real-time on public camera. You can pretty much see individual information of common people walking in public and captured by a security camera which is everywhere. I pretty sure they add non-chinese data into the database when they visit the country too.

People like Mr. Lu Guang might be tracked down by the very same system, but I wonder who will keep an eye on including evaluate and score those at the top of the government? beside that, if the system were hacked!!!

pathdoc · 12-16-2018, 05:31 AM

Originally posted by E-man

All the more reason not to excuse or ignore it.

You can not-ignore or not-excuse it all you like, but what are you going to DO about it?

JHfwp · 12-16-2018, 12:29 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by pathdoc

You can not-ignore or not-excuse it all you like, but what are you going to DO about it?

Spread the word. Share news of this story and, if nothing else, examine his photos to see what's got him in hot water.

12-13-2018, 09:28 PM	#1
clackers Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Melbourne Photos: Albums Posts: 16,397	Disturbing news about an important photojournalist ... Prominent Chinese photographer Lu Guang taken by state after Xinjiang visit, says wife - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

12-15-2018, 05:28 PM	#13
pakinjapan Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Tokyo Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,041	I hope for the best for Mr. Lu Guang. it take a lot of bravery sometime nerve to be a journalist standing on the truth side of the story inside a country like China. I just watch on TV last night about how they put people data on the big-data server and give people score for just about anything... even what you often buy in a super market. Then using together with face, DNA and finger print recondition in real-time on public camera. You can pretty much see individual information of common people walking in public and captured by a security camera which is everywhere. I pretty sure they add non-chinese data into the database when they visit the country too. People like Mr. Lu Guang might be tracked down by the very same system, but I wonder who will keep an eye on including evaluate and score those at the top of the government? beside that, if the system were hacked!!! Last edited by pakinjapan; 12-15-2018 at 05:33 PM.

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12-13-2018, 11:53 PM - 1 Like	#2
Paul the Sunman Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Melbourne Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,843	It barely crosses our minds that photography can be a subversive art. But those in power know it ... and fear it. Let us hope for the best.

12-14-2018, 12:01 AM	#3
clackers Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Melbourne Photos: Albums Posts: 16,397 Original Poster	Originally posted by Paul the Sunman It barely crosses our minds that photography can be a subversive art. But those in power know it ... and fear it. Let us hope for the best. Yes, Paul, Jamal Khashoggi wrote about why changes were needed in one society, this guy was showing it about another.

12-14-2018, 03:41 AM	#4
PJ1 Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Toowoomba, Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,484	I hope it all turns out OK. I believe that people such as high profile photojournalists are targeted because they act as a kind of focal point. They can scan across an issue and produce a series of images that describe it - bring it into focus (if you like). Then a whole lot of others can tap in and project it more widely, sharing and adding their own perspectives on sections of the issue. But there is the fundamental problem that we do not all see issues in the same light and sometimes what someone produces is going to offend those in power. The modern media (shared imagery, social media, etc) is a problem for all governments because they don't know how to control it - and hopefully they will never learn how. The internet means that they cannot stop us from knowing what they do and talking about it. As with the court suppression of the conviction of a high profile Australian in the last couple of days, everyone knows about it now thanks to the internet. And thanks to the internet we also know about and can discuss the case of Lu Guang. Probably all they succeed in doing is to create greater public awareness of his work..

12-14-2018, 04:18 AM	#5
IgorZ Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Ottawa Posts: 1,735	Recently a Russian traveller/journalist /photographer went to Xinjiang and described the treatment of Muslims there, constant video surveillance, re-education camps etc. He published his account anonymously and changed some dates and circumstances so he could not be identified... So there is real concern on the part of those who speak out as to what might happen.

12-14-2018, 06:10 AM	#6
pathdoc Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2015 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,381	These are not free countries we're talking about. What else do you expect?

12-14-2018, 07:26 AM	#7
jcdoss Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Ingelheim am Rhein, Germany Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,768	Originally posted by pathdoc These are not free countries we're talking about. What else do you expect? LOL! Thanks for the article Clackers.

12-14-2018, 08:16 AM - 1 Like	#8
E-man Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 678	Originally posted by pathdoc These are not free countries we're talking about. What else do you expect? All the more reason not to excuse or ignore it.

12-14-2018, 04:46 PM - 1 Like	#9
BigMackCam Digitiser of Film Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: North East of England Posts: 20,670	Folks - interesting thread though this undoubtedly is, it has the trappings of one that could become political in nature. You'll forgive me, I hope, if I ask in advance that we avoid any political commentary? Thank you

12-14-2018, 05:11 PM - 1 Like	#10
clackers Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Melbourne Photos: Albums Posts: 16,397 Original Poster	Yeah, just shut this right down if any governments are singled out. Please concentrate on the plight of this particular photographer and the hazards for photojournalists worldwide. If people want to do something generally, Amnesty International gratefully accepts donations.

12-15-2018, 10:28 AM - 2 Likes	#11
Wheatfield Moderator Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: The wheatfields of Canada Posts: 15,981	Originally posted by pathdoc These are not free countries we're talking about. What else do you expect? There is a worldwide movement at the moment to dismiss any news that doesn’t fit inside our bubbles as fake and,sadly, since journalists quite often go after the people who have their hands on the levers of power, they are becoming targets for anyone who wants to suppress the truth. This is equally true of countries we consider free or countries we do not.

12-15-2018, 03:55 PM - 1 Like	#12
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	< self-edited comment of a political nature > Steve

12-16-2018, 05:31 AM	#14
pathdoc Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2015 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,381	Originally posted by E-man All the more reason not to excuse or ignore it. You can not-ignore or not-excuse it all you like, but what are you going to DO about it?

12-16-2018, 12:29 PM - 1 Like	#15
JHfwp Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 876	Originally posted by pathdoc You can not-ignore or not-excuse it all you like, but what are you going to DO about it? Spread the word. Share news of this story and, if nothing else, examine his photos to see what's got him in hot water.