[fish]

As a photographer in auto racing for 30 years I've unfortunately witnessed some sad moments where a race driver lost his life. Early on I also wrote driver profiles, and the first "real" driver I wrote about was Robbie Stanley.

I was at Winchester taking photos on the day he died. There was sort of an unwritten rule at the time and not a single photographer would take a picture of the scene.

Today it seems like everyone has a camera phone. I ask everyone that reads this, do not post a bad accident on social media before you know the facts. And if it turns out someone loses their life, please never post it anywhere. If you really have something that could help the authorities, then give it to them.

I know you can go on the internet and find video of way too many auto racing deaths. I have no control over that. But I ask you, remember that unwritten rule that many photographers still follow.

Jim Fisher

[Backitin]

I agree but not totally, I didn't see it and wont search it out.
The camera records things good and bad, because that's life.
Unwritten law ? I don't know about you but I'm surrounded by social outlaws. Even for written laws one man might live by them one might think it's laughable. It's whether you have a conscience or not. There's been racing death photos since there's been race cars and cameras. Now everyone has a camera and people have a instant place to show the photos world wide.
Most people like you and me on this site care about the drivers, so it might be a stronger instinct to sanitize everything.
Don't want to see it don't search it out. Because it's all out there man.
Everybody is into social media, take the good with the bad.

[davidm]

Jim that's always been pretty much my rule too. If I catch a crash sequence I always try and get one of the driver out of the car and walking away.

I remember what Sports Illustrated did after the Indy Car crash at Charlotte. That showed the lowest class of photo journalism there is.

[Charles Nungester]

I got called out last night for calling the posting of the Southern Ohio incident abhorrent. It was on Facebook and Im sure mom at home is friends with some of the drivers race buddies on FB, Scrolls down to see "Accident at Blah Blah track"

Imagine finding out your family member, friend etc. died by stumbling upon it? It was a gruesome enough scene without even knowing who it was. It was just posted as Big Crash at S. Ohio. Like most, you think its going to be a wicked wreck and the guys walk away to great applause.

It's always best to wait at least to be certain. I was at Sprint Week a couple years back and a driver flipped down the front straight. I was sitting pretty close to the videoagrapher who with zoom could see everything going on. He said, He's getting out but he's not alright. The people there thought he was ok. I had a inkling so it was no surprise when I got home to find the driver drove himself to the hospital with a couple broken ribs and collapsed lung. Im glad this driver healed up and races to this day.

I'd like to thank Fish for posting this. If you film it and some day the drivers ok, races again etc. It might be ok to post it long after the fact. They might even want a copy of it. Who knows?

But to close family and friends, That thing you just filmed could be a life changing/ending or a long road to come back from incident. Don't let them find out about it by exploiting it, Before finding out the facts.

Years after the fact I saw the actual photos in sequence of the Danny Milburn Crash. I never even knew they existed. I still cried.

Last I'll say about it, Just asking to have some respect, especially if its within hours or days.

[Nate]

I didn't think you did anything wrong on the other thread Charles, same with the guy that said I was bashing a track/promoter by pointing out insurance companies dictate safety requirements.

But I totally agree with this post. The way I've always thought about it is, if it were a member of your family or a friend, would you want that photo/video making rounds on the Internet?

[mlamb]

Originally Posted by fish As a photographer in auto racing for 30 years I've unfortunately witnessed some sad moments where a race driver lost his life. Early on I also wrote driver profiles, and the first "real" driver I wrote about was Robbie Stanley. I was at Winchester taking photos on the day he died. There was sort of an unwritten rule at the time and not a single photographer would take a picture of the scene. Today it seems like everyone has a camera phone. I ask everyone that reads this, do not post a bad accident on social media before you know the facts. And if it turns out someone loses their life, please never post it anywhere. If you really have something that could help the authorities, then give it to them. I know you can go on the internet and find video of way too many auto racing deaths. I have no control over that. But I ask you, remember that unwritten rule that many photographers still follow. Jim Fisher

Jim as a friend of Robbie Stanley, I'd like to thank you for handling that with respect & professionalism. It was and is appreciated.. Thank you Jim.