The old black and white photos where hunter uses hunted game as foot rest, or a rest for his hat, or sits on dead animal for modern standard are disrespectful. Especially for ethical standards of some other hunting communities.
However those pictures are made at some point in history and should be seen in that time frame, from that point of view and in the context of that time.
Thus - they are acceptable.
Today modern trophy photos are done differently. Usually in a way that animal is properly positioned, blood and wound discretely covered in order not to show any suffering of the animal. Hunter should be positioned behind animal (not in front, or on the top), it can be done with hat on the hunters head, but even better with a hat off, so hunters face may be recognized and it also shoes more respect to the game
Some hunting organization will have their ethical standards and rules how the photo must be done and presented. It may differ from case to case.
However we live in modern mass media time, and there are more bigger considerations then photos to be done in line of specific organizational code of ethics from one hunting community or organization to another
Unfortunately, the life is not perfect.
And the question is to publicly post the photo or not, possibly reconsider this issue and maybe take different approach.
If we take for example the public arguments of anti hunting groups, basically they have two basic arguments:
1. They act on emotional side of non educated average population, by claiming that hunting is cruel, inhumane, and leads to extinction of various species.
2. in order to support their claims of hunting not being humane and destructive, they use hunting photos, generally (and generously) posted in various mass media by hunters themselves, or their organizations.
Taking photos with trophy after the hunt, for us, the hunters, is way of making that moment a permanent and visible memory, and a way of making our trophy immortal. Practically a noble gesture.
However, not all see that in this way. And then trophy photo frequently is used against us.
In my view, in the long run, if we remove (all) the photos of hunters with trophies from public media, and social networks, then anti hunting groups and organization will have no further argument.
Then the public debate will remain only on solid and scientific arguments, real facts and this is our strong point
At that moment, if internally as hunting community we ban public posting of trophy photos through opur organisations, pro hunting groups will step in territory of "political correctness' and PR, but that is how it is.
PC and PR today are reality.
There are many examples of abusing the hunters photo with trophy in modern times of internet:
Cecil the Lion, and mr Palmer in mass media abused to the maximum, then Canadian huntress Jacine Jadresko, etc, etc... examples are endless
I know for fact that some hunting clubs in my area are banning taking the photos with trophies after the hunt to their members. And this is the reason.
In European gun and hunting shows, rifle makers avoid playing their video presentation videos with explicit hunting scenes showing shot or wounded game.
This is the reason.
Times change, and it already started.
Also, if a public person was in the media spotlight for any (aledged) wrongdoing, eventual publicly published hunting photos of that person was usually used against him, as a evidence of unacceptable character.
That is the reality.
we loose many points on this issue. I see it as a fact.
I am not saying I am right, but I am saying we might take a different perspective and reconsider the public photography issue and use.
But in any case, if photo with game is ever posted publicly, it must be posted inside accepted ethical standard of respective hunting organization, otherwise the effect may get adverse. It already gets.
Cheers.
But everything evolves and we can't blame those who preceded us, of whom many were true courageous pioneers. All we can do is be more aware. Please don't straddle my dinosaur, it's bad form.
