Rod Morris's Shot that Got Him a Police Beating Was Worth It
For Rod Morris, the moment that changed his photography career came during a visit to La Paz, Bolivia, where he had been documenting the city's financial district. He was part of an open-ended commission with the Financial Times and had been warned about the tension in the air - Gonzalo Sánchez de Lozada's election campaign was generating apprehension among locals.
Morris decided to capture a scene that showed the human impact of this tension, as people waited in line at their homes, nervously filing claims. The resulting photograph, which he describes as "still," features a long chain of figures leading up to an open doorway, guarded by a soldier. It's a powerful image that conveys a sense of apprehension and unease.
However, the photo shoot came with a cost. Morris was approached by plainclothes police officers who bundled him into their car and took him to the local station for questioning. He claimed he was just a tourist taking photos for himself, but the police were skeptical. After fobbing off his film, they decided to "follow" him.
The experience left Morris shaken, but it also motivated him to create more photographs that capture the complexity of human stories. The image now forms part of his series "Still Films," which explores the overlap between photography and cinema. For Morris, the key is capturing moments that evoke a narrative beyond the frame - images that are imbued with excitement and wonder.
The photograph has become one of many in Morris's portfolio, but it stands out for its ambiguous composition and sense of foreboding. It's a reminder that even the most seemingly mundane scenes can be turned into powerful works of art through the lens of an observer like Morris.
For Rod Morris, the moment that changed his photography career came during a visit to La Paz, Bolivia, where he had been documenting the city's financial district. He was part of an open-ended commission with the Financial Times and had been warned about the tension in the air - Gonzalo Sánchez de Lozada's election campaign was generating apprehension among locals.
Morris decided to capture a scene that showed the human impact of this tension, as people waited in line at their homes, nervously filing claims. The resulting photograph, which he describes as "still," features a long chain of figures leading up to an open doorway, guarded by a soldier. It's a powerful image that conveys a sense of apprehension and unease.
However, the photo shoot came with a cost. Morris was approached by plainclothes police officers who bundled him into their car and took him to the local station for questioning. He claimed he was just a tourist taking photos for himself, but the police were skeptical. After fobbing off his film, they decided to "follow" him.
The experience left Morris shaken, but it also motivated him to create more photographs that capture the complexity of human stories. The image now forms part of his series "Still Films," which explores the overlap between photography and cinema. For Morris, the key is capturing moments that evoke a narrative beyond the frame - images that are imbued with excitement and wonder.
The photograph has become one of many in Morris's portfolio, but it stands out for its ambiguous composition and sense of foreboding. It's a reminder that even the most seemingly mundane scenes can be turned into powerful works of art through the lens of an observer like Morris.
it's wild how some ppl get all worked up over a shot but at the same time, i think it was worth it - that photo is straight fire and gives me chills every time [
I just saw this article and I gotta say, that photo is wild 
i mean, think about it - he was just trying to capture a moment that would tell a story, not stir up trouble 
but yeah, the pics are straight fire 
especially this one in his series "still films" 
! I mean, who wouldn't want to get beat up by the cops for taking a photo that tells a story? 
! Can you imagine? That's like, the ultimate form of censorship. But instead of giving up, Morris used it as fuel to create more powerful work. I love that about him 
what does this say about the situation in La Paz, though? that people are so worried and nervous about politics? 
is there still a lot of unrest or protests going around? 
also, i love how his photography career kinda took off after that crazy experience... it's like he was meant to capture those kinds of moments, you know? 
, like I'm really not tech savvy anymore and kept messing up the code on their website... anyhoo, this photography dude Rod Morris is literally my spirit animal right now 
. but what's with these police officers though? 
shouldn't they be like, taking pictures or something instead of beating him up 
?