THE IST PIRATES AND THE PRINCESS ANN

FOREWORD

On occasion, my retirement is interrupted by a professor friend who drags me out to speak to the journalism students at the neighboring New Trinity University.  When I look at those young faces, always eager about tales from among the stars, I relate the real truths about photojournalism, hopefully dispelling some of the myths that the university feeds them.

Within any news agency, or any other business for that matter, the dog eat dog rule applies.  There aren't very many nice guys to help you.  I found there is no substitute for hard work and asking the right questions at the right time.  One can't get a story by hiding behind a desk.  That's why I always preferred fieldwork where I could observe events without the interference of a committee deciding which camera angle is best. 

Photographers, like reporters, must observe and report the facts – the truth – and we have an easier time of it by use of the camera.  In school, they stress objectiveness, detachment, and not being compromised by those around you.  Objectiveness may be ideal in an academic setting, but the real world is full of bias, as any senior editor will quickly demonstrate.  Likewise, the academic call for detachment from the surrounding events can be fatal – either quickly or over time.  Sometimes, one must get involved in the action.  If I hadn't, I wouldn't have been able to tell the story of the Ist Pirates, for I would not have escaped to tell it.  I must confess that I'm not proud of some of my actions, some of which still give me nightmares even though the events happened some 60 odd years ago. 

Therefore, I stress to those young students that no story, no picture, no event is so important as to keep you from helping another in need, especially if it prevents injury or death  – and if one doesn’t, the regrets of those inactions will gnaw and haunt the soul forever in the eternity of the Enth.  A damnation I don’t wish on anyone.

James Flint of New Wicklow on planet Ireland Three.