Shattered Lens: Part 4 – Lighting Candles, Inflaming Bias
February 24, 2011 13:10 by Simon PloskerIn Part 3 of our Shattered Lens study, we highlighted how wire service photographers use clever photographic techniques to present a false impression that enhances images of Palestinian “suffering”. In that particular case, we focused on the use of bars. In this chapter we see how candles are employed as a similar prop.
In 2008, HonestReporting highlighted how Hamas used stage-managed candlelit protests during power blackouts in Gaza for cynical propaganda purposes.
Fast forward to 2010 and candles are still the image of choice for Hamas to paint a picture of Gaza under siege and suffering from electrical shortages, which can be blamed solely on Israel.
During the period of our study, Palestinians holding candles appeared regularly. One case in particular, however, deserves special attention. It was uncovered initially by blogger Elder of Zion and highlights a stunning discrepancy in captions between Reuters and Getty Images of the same event.
On June 25, a power plant in Gaza was shut down despite Israel’s willingness to send the necessary fuel. Instead Hamas and Fatah argued over who should pay. Gazans then protested the shutdown.
Getty filed the following photo and caption of the protest:
Palestinian girls hold candles during a march in protest against the lack of fuel to Gaza’s power station, and the continued power outages in the city, on June 25, 2010 in Gaza City.
Reuters covered the same protest and issued photos of the same girl as above, but the caption expressed a radically different motive for the protest.
Notice the caption: Palestinian children hold candles during a protest in Gaza City calling for an end to Israel’s blockade on the Gaza Strip June 25, 2010. (Emphasis added)
It is also worth noting that the Reuters photo that claims the protest was against Israel’s blockade was credited to Mohammed Salem, who happens to be the same photographer who took the infamous Hamas propaganda photos in 2008 mentioned above.
The continuous use of candles in photos creates the false impression of the Gaza Strip in perpetual darkness as a result of Israel’s blockade. Below are some more examples of this phenomenon:
Read the whole of the Shattered Lens series:
CLICK HERE TO RETURN TO THE SHATTERED LENS INTRODUCTION
CLICK HERE TO VIEW PART 1 - THE GAZA FLOTILLA
CLICK HERE TO VIEW PART 5 – BRING OUT YOUR DEAD
CLICK HERE TO VIEW PART 6 – PHOTO BIAS IN DEPICTIONS OF THE IDF
Elder of Ziyon
5:59 pm
Feb 24, 2011
Thanks for the link, but could you please spell my name right? (It’s turning into a pet peeve of mine…)
Thanks!
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Brent Pudsey
1:30 am
Feb 25, 2011
There is a tremendous amount of hate and strife in the Middle East as uprisings occur and protests against corruption and evil have made it to light. All over territories controlled by strong governments , there is a cry for a voice to be heard. Into this conflict it must be remembered that no one side of any political situation be it the protesters of the governments of Egypt , Tunisa or Yemen for example , is totally innocent. Thus the media is wrong to portray Israel as the nation that desires it wishes at any cost and who exercises her sovereignty in a complete disregard for anyone else. Israel is being attacked by various political groups like Hamas and as a result has shown agression back to them. By focusing on the actions of Palestinian children , they are choosing only to show the viewpoint of the Palestinians in this conflict. It must be remembered that there are Palestinians who care about Israelis and Israelies who care about Palestinians. This is seen in the Book , I shall not hate , the journey of a Palestinian doctor in Gaza”.
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Tailynn
9:00 am
Jan 18, 2012
Your answer lifts the itneillegnce of the debate.
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PAthena
6:35 am
Feb 25, 2011
The Arabs in Gaza are miscalled “Palestinians.” The name Palestina was given to Judea by the Roman Emperor Hadrian in 135 A.D., after defeating the last Jewish uprising under Bar Kochba, in order to eradicate all memory of Judea (he also outlawed Judaism). Since that time, “Palestine” has been synonymous with “land of the Jews” or “the Holy Land” (since Jesus was a Jew), and “Palestinian” with “Jew.” That is why the Zionists wanted to go to “Palestine” and Great Britain got the Palestine Mandate after World War I to be “homeland of the Jews.”
Gamal Nasser in Cairo and the Soviet Union invented the “Palestine Liberation Organization” (PLO) in 1964, with all the phony history and propaganda that followed. The motives of Nasser and of the Soviet Union were antisemitism, and the sole motive of the Arabs in the PLO (and elsewhere) is antisemitism. The sole basis of all the attacks on Israel, physical and propaganda, is antisemitism,
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Tony Jacobs
3:59 pm
Feb 26, 2011
And that’s why the Bank of Palestine, Palestine Electric company, Palestine Water company, Palestine Developement Agency, etc, were all Jewish enterprises.
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Morning links « South Capitol Street
5:00 pm
Feb 25, 2011
[...] Reporting resumes their excellent series on photo bias in the media, and I play a small part. This weekend the J-Street conference will [...]
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The Bald Scotsman
1:36 am
Feb 26, 2011
Please Jason, you wording only brings you down to the level of the people you are insulting.
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Shattered Lens: Part 6 – Photo Bias in Depictions of the IDF | The Conservative Papers
10:12 am
Mar 14, 2011
[...] CLICK HERE TO VIEW PART 4 – LIGHTING CANDLES, INFLAMING BIAS [...]
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» Shattered Lens: Part 6 – Photo Bias in Depictions of the IDF Freedom Alert!: Defending American Freedom by exposing Radical Islam, Socialist, Liberals, and all the Enemies of Freedom, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness!
4:45 pm
Mar 27, 2011
[...] CLICK HERE TO VIEW PART 4 – LIGHTING CANDLES, INFLAMING BIAS [...]
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Uzi Hill
8:32 pm
Jun 19, 2011
If they had the electricity to find out the news (using internet/TV) why would they need candles? common sense that the press lacks…
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