Have You Seen This? Photographer As Witness - A Portrait of Domestic Violence

[distantearlywarning]

Sara Naomi Lewkowicz, a photojournalist, has illustrated one couple's relationship as it descended into domestic violence - basically she was doing a story on them, and while she was with them one night, they had a fight, and the man became extremely violent towards the woman, was arrested for felony domestic violence, and she documented the whole thing in photos.

As a former survivor of domestic violence myself, this is just heartwrenching to look at. Obviously there is a question of ethics here (i.e., at what point does a journalist have a duty to stop documenting and get involved), but I also think it is very important for the general public to see exactly what violence against women looks like in our country, to be able to put a human face on an abstract concept. I think the victim is very brave.

Anyway, here is the link to the story:

"Domestic violence is often shielded from public view. Usually, we only hear it muffled through walls or see it manifested in the faded yellow and purple bruises of a woman who “walked into a wall” or “fell down the stairs.” Despite a movement to increase awareness of domestic violence, we still treat it as a private crime, as if it is none of our business."

"During my time as a freelance photojournalist and as a Master’s candidate at Ohio University, one of the biggest challenges of my career came in November of 2012, while working on a project about the stigma associated with being an ex-convict. Suddenly, an incident of domestic violence unexpectedly became my business."

Read more: http://lightbox.time.com/2013/02/27/photographer-as-witness-a-portrait-of-domestic-violence/#ixzz2M8FgKKdz



http://lightbox.time.com/2013/02/27/photographer-as-witness-a-portrait-of-domestic-violence/#1