I beleive that if we never photographed certain endangered species, and certain
endangered cultures, we would all be at a measurable loss.
The danger is that by avoiding certain subjects, in whatever form of reality, on the basis of
such offending the conscience of the few, critical knowledge and even progress itself for
the whole is at risk of being severely stunted.
The photographs of the various tribal cultures are not , i would argue,
merely a form of morbid entertainment, as the learned commentor previous has suggested.
Photographs are records of reality. Within the consciable limits of ethical and
moral responsabilities, to document this reality in whatever form is most efficient,
has always been a worthy and even admirable cause.
I share your abhorrence of such commercialism as this picture represents. In a way, this person is exploiting his perceived differences in the same way that so-called "freaks" did, and perhaps still do, in carnival and circus sideshows. I know you can also look at this image as an ethnological document, but the taint of extortion lingers over it for me. Photographically it is shockingly incongruous and you make the most of it with your intimate, head on vantage point and the basket and head-dress are bizarre counterpoints to the deformed mouth. It is very hard to look at this image for more than a few moments.
