To shoot or help?

[Matt]

I almost always have a camera with me whether its my DSLR or my compact point and shoot camera; there is always a camera close by.? I love trying to get the perfect shot?? Have you ever seen an event, landscape, or sunset that you just wish you had your camera with you?? I have tried to avoid finding myself in those situations.

I have wondered how I would react to a disaster that was occurring with the range of my camera.? Is it okay to take pictures?? Will the simple act of capturing such an event be offensive?? What about helping?? Should you do everything possible to help and forget about photo journalism?? I have no desire to make my living as a photo journalism, but it would be very cool to have some of my images published in a major publication.

Today I was reading an article over at PDN Online.? The article was basically some excerpts of an interview with Andrew Worrall.? He was one of the first photographers on the scene after the bridge in Minneapolis collapsed.? I could relate to Mr. Worrall and the sentiments he expressed in his answers.? For example I believe I would have had a similar response to this question.

PDN: What instinct was driving you at that point?

Worrall: My instinct was to keep pressing down on the shutter. I didn't think a lot about other things. Ethics, of course, were just rushing through my brain. Should I really be shooting this person suffering or should I be trying to help? But I do think that it's an important role as a photographer to capture all the moments that are happening, so I just kept shooting.

I really cannot say what I would do until I were placed in that situation.? As someone that digs photography I will have my camera ready if the situation occurs.