This Week in Photo · Alex Lindsay, Frederick Van Johnson

456: Please Shoot Responsibly

March 17, 2016·1 hr 10 min·5 clips

Derek Story shares his devastation over a landmark shipwreck burned for an Instagram photo.

This Week in Photo episode 456, "Please Shoot Responsibly," is hosted by Frederick Van Johnson with guests Derek Story of The Digital Story and Don Komarechka, a macro photographer. The episode examines photographer ethics, platform changes, and digital privacy. The hosts first dissect two incidents of irresponsible photography that damaged landmarks. A photographer using spinning steel wool for light painting accidentally set fire to the historic Point Reyes shipwreck in California while attempting to get an Instagram photo. In a separate case, landowners in Iceland closed access to the famous Solheimasandur DC-3 plane wreck on a black sand beach due to unacceptable visitor behavior from photographers. Derek Story expresses personal dismay, as the Point Reyes shipwreck is a sentimental location he visits with his family and for workshops. Don Komarechka notes the legal ambiguity of damaging an already abandoned wreck and criticizes the photographer for later claiming to be merely documenting others. The conversation shifts to the risks and ethics of creative photography, with Derek advocating for a "stuntman" approach involving meticulous planning and safety measures. Don shares personal anecdotes of calculated risks, like suspending his camera from an abandoned tower in Bulgaria, emphasizing that no harm came to people or property. The hosts conclude this segment by coining the phrase "please shoot responsibly" as a necessary ethos. The second major topic is Flickr's decision to restrict its auto-uploader feature to paying Pro members only. Derek Story, who is creating a Lynda.com course on Flickr, argues the platform remains valuable for its curated community and "Explore" page, which showcases high-quality work. He describes the auto-uploader as a tool for dumping photos into a private, one-terabyte "camera roll" for later curation. Don Komarechka criticizes Flickr for removing features rather than adding new ones to entice professional users. The hosts discuss the broader strategy of using different platforms for different purposes, like Instagram for daily life and Flickr for a polished portfolio. The final discussion covers the ongoing legal battle between Apple and the FBI over unlocking a terrorist's iPhone. The hosts reference an Apple executive's warning that future legal demands could force companies to remotely activate users' microphones or cameras for surveillance. They frame this as a looming privacy threat extending beyond terrorism cases into domestic disputes and immigration matters. A surprising insight is that the steel wool photography trend has led to multiple dangerous fires, including an incident in Valley of Fire where a photographer set trees ablaze but continued shooting. Derek Story points out a troubling trend of people performing dangerous stunts solely for social media attention. Don Komarechka reveals that his extreme photography risks, like throwing his camera in the air, are always calculated to ensure only gear—not people or property—is in jeopardy. The hosts agree that the desire for unique photos drives both creativity and recklessness. The tone is conversational and collegial, featuring friendly banter between the hosts about travel, workloads, and technical difficulties in recording the show. The style is analytical and opinionated, blending personal anecdotes with commentary on industry news. This episode would appeal to photographers concerned with ethics, platform viability, and digital rights, as well as hobbyists seeking advice on creative practices and online presence. Listeners with no interest in the business or ethical dimensions of photography might find the discussions too niche.

As heard by us

A practical look at photographer responsibility, Flickr's pro-only auto-uploader, and the choices that shape the field.

The episode treats photography as a question of responsibility as much as craft, moving from careless shooters to the way those choices land in the wider community.

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Why you'd press play

Press play if you want photography news with a working pro's sense of consequence.

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