Kevin Carter took a photograph called The Struggling Girl in Sudan in 1993 of a young starving girl being stalked by a vulture (“Influential Photographs”). Many responses came from this photograph concerning the choice made by Carter to continue taking photographs of the girl instead of helping her. There is a Code of Ethics posted by the National Press Photographers Association, the fourth rule stating “Treat all subjects with respect and dignity. Give special consideration to vulnerable subjects and compassion to victims of crime or tragedy. Intrude on private moments of grief only when the public has an overriding and justifiable need to see” (NPPA Code of Ethics). Although many people considered the photograph a lack of compassion from Carter towards the victim, many believe it was acceptable because he was providing the public with reality of the results of the civil war in Sudan. 

Carter took the photograph in 1993 during a period of famine that resulted because of a civil war in Sudan. The young girl in the photo is seen crouching on her forearms resting as she attempts to travel to a United Nations station to receive help. A vulture can be seen stooping close behind the girl. The majority of the photo is brown, depicting the famine with little vegetation being apparent. The only subjects in the photo are the bird and the girl, evoking a feeling of loneliness and despair. 

Two sides are commonly taken after viewing the photograph. Most people argue that Carter had no sympathy for the girl. Others argue that Carter’s occupation is an acceptable motive for taking and publishing the photo. As a photojournalist Carter was following the fourth rule published by the National Press Photographers Association in the Code of Ethics. The photo displays the helpless victims of Sudan in order to provoke change.

When the photograph was published many people questioned the backstory and aftermath to the photograph. An accompanying photojournalist, Joao Silva, said in an interview that the photographers were accompanying the United Nations and Operation Lifeline Sudan. While the groups were passing out food, Carter documented the famine (“Influential Photographs”). This account can supply a small sense of relief because there was help being supplied to the victims of the famine at the time that the photograph was taken. The public also questioned what happened to the girl after the photograph was taken. On once account, Carter said he left after taking the picture, but then changed his statement claiming he shooed the vulture off before returing to the groups he was accompanying. 

The photograph Carter took was very graphic and authentic. The negative reaction to the photograph primarily originated from concern of the girl photographed. Many forget the reason for taking a picture of the girl. Carter was a previous broadcaster and photo editor for the Daily Mail (McCabe). Photojournalism is in the same category as broadcasting or writing articles for the public. The intention of taking and releasing the photograph to be published was to create awareness. Carter won the Pulitzer Prize for the photograph a year later, proving that although the photograph was graphic, it served as strong evidence of the victims of famine as a result of the civil war in Sudan. 

The public showed deep concern towards the girl in the photo as well as questioned the ethics of Carter. Although the girl appeared to be in danger, she was close to the United Nations center where food was being distributed to victims of the famine. On one account from Carter, he did scare the bird off after taking photographs of the girl (“Influential Photographs”). As the photographer and in a way, “bearer of news”, Carter should not be blamed for the fate of the girl as his job was to document the situation, considering he was there with two relief groups. 

Although the public developed opinions about how honorable the striking photo was, Carter was following the code of ethics published by the National Press Photographers Association. In the Preamble the association “acknowledges concern for every person’s need to be fully informed about public events and to be recognized as a part of the world in which we live” (“NPPA Code of Ethics”).  The National Press Photographer Association recognizes that were will be times where conflict will rise concerning the tolerances of graphic photos meant to raise awareness about reality in different places. This goes hand in hand with the fourth point the NPPA posted under their Code of Ethics stating “Treat all subjects with respect and dignity. Give special consideration to vulnerable subjects and compassion to victims of crime or tragedy. Intrude on private moments of grief only when the public has an overriding and justifiable need to see” (NPPA Code of Ethics). Joano Silva reported that the children were left by the parents while they collected food from the United Nations station (“Influential Photographs”). 

 Because the girl was so close to the United Nations station which whom Carter was accompanying, the girl was not in immediate danger since Carter could have easily rescued the girl if the vulture got too close. Joano Silva reported that the children were left by the parents while they collected food from the United Nations station (“Influential Photographs”). 

The photograph named the Struggling Girl creates a strong question between the relationship between photography and ethics. Although the viewer may question whether or not the photographer should have put the camera down and helped the starving victim in the photograph, Carter made a strong argument within the visual text of the extreme poverty in Sudan due to the civil war. Following the Code of Ethics polished by the National Press Photographers Association, the photograph is deemed acceptable because of the awareness raised to the famine victims in Sudan. 
