About war photography

[antiquark]

With all do respect, this topic is not about you and I particularity had Paolo Pellegrin of Magnum in mind when i spoke of hip shots in war zones.

His pictures are very good, what are you talking about?

google image search Paolo Pellegrin

Also, I hope you realize that, in a war zone, people are frequently trying to kill you. You must take that fact into context before criticising the technical flaws of a photograph. For example, I'm sure Natchwey could have gotten a better photograph if he stood up (below), but he wouldn't be here today if he was standing, walking around, trying to make a picture that's devoid of technical flaws.

http://inspirationinformation.co.uk/2008/10/09/james-nachtwey-vii/

 

[oftheherd]

This issue is as complex and varied as human nature and we will always be able to see things as understandingly or unforgivably as we wish.

Dilemmas (and one hopes never as pointed as the one in the video) are encountered by photographers all the time. Its never pleasant, little or large. Its that soul searching that makes the photographer what he or she is - understanding yourself and understanding others are not always entirely distinct. Perhaps this perpetual state of reflection is inseparable from the motivation for being there.

Without wanting to diverge too much, this issue reminds me of the savage media attacks a journalist I know was subject to for doing an embed with the Taliban. He was not present during any attacks, and was in fact temporarily kidnapped by a particular faction (later released), but while there sought to understand the people - the humans - behind the movement. Upon publication of his article he was mauled, as if his being present amongst those who were opposing ISAF was tantamount to collusion and 'killing our boys.' His explanation (that he was simply trying to strip away preconceptions and understand their ideas and motivations), was considered completely unworthy of merit. The fact that the US military is heavily engaged in trying to understand the exact same issues did nothing to prevent this mauling. He was branded irresponsible and an unpatriotic journalism of the worst kind (by many in the media and Govt). I believe some members of the public made death threats!

Its very hard to be an independent witness. Everyone thinks they have a claim on you.

Point taken.

However, I can tell you that I would have been somewhat suspicious of any American war photographer who stayed with North Vietnamese soldiers and photographed their war time exploits. People tend to complain a government tries to look for sympathetic journalists in order to control the news to make themselves look most favorable, and overlook that an opposing government will do the same.