Intrusive Or Beautiful?

[Photography School Asia]

A Women Gives Birth Inside A Taxi, Bangkok Thailand.

I recently got some flack about this picture it went like this, " Poor poor women can't she even get some privacy".

Now I reckon it was unfair because, I am outside the taxi and facing the polite side. The mother and father of the baby were delighted the police turned up to help and had no problems with me taking pictures. I went to see them three years later and they were still delighted to see me, the baby is now a delightful 4 year old girl. Maybe it is a polite Thai thing and really they agree with the flack I got.

Kind of made me think a bit because it is my favourite picture and a lot less dark than most my work. Some comments please.

(c) Jonathan Taylor ww.jonathantaylor.net

[Ronnoco]

I think that you really did a great job with an extremely difficult shot and got the best angle possible given the photo limitations of the moment.

Since you were shooting through a window, a polarizer would have helped to get rid of the reflections, if you had one close by. Also what is the white "bar" across the photo?

Ronnoco

[Greg McCary]

If it were my child I would be flattered to have the picture/s. I am sure the child will be thrilled as well when she is older. As long as you are in agreement with the parents about the images and their use, I think you did well.
Greg

[jbaldocchi]

Talk about caputuring life in action. It doesn't get any better. Don't let other people tell you what to take pictures of because if you let them they'll tell you.

Cheers,

Jim B.

[CLKunst]

Beautiful for two reasons. One; because it is the purest of moments, inevitable forces made tangible in an instant. Two; because you handled the situation professionally and honorably by giving your image to the parents and gaining a family of new friends. If you had not acted so it would have been an intrusive image.
Nice catch! To you and the policemen.:thumbsup:

[Frog]

Since they were delighted that you are taking the photo, then no one else has anything to say about it. imho

[swmdrayfan]

What an exquisitly timed moment. Three cheers!
John

[yogestee]

I being a newspaper photographer these photo ops present themselves only a few times in a lifetime..Although this image isn't technically perfect it has impact which makes this a great image..You have handled this situation sensitively and with dignity.....Well done..

Jurgen
Australia

[GB1]

I dont see this as intrusive, because you can't even identiify who the people are in the photo. To me, it's almost a great shot, if not for that white band in the photo. I bet the cop was freakin' out

GB

[gahspidy]

I think you did well to capture this timely ,precious moment. . .intrusive?,somewhat, but I think a photographer, especially a photojournalist has to be to a degree. Your being respectful and tactful, polite etc. is what is mostly required of you here, and I believe you covered that from your description of the event.

[mjs1973]

Like the others have said, I don't think this is intrusive. Intruisive would be taking the photo over the cops shoulder.

What are the odds of capturing such a great moment. I mean, how many of us have ever seen someone giving birth in a car, let alone being helped out by a 2-headed cop!!!