"I have been a witness, and these pictures are
my testimony. The events I have recorded should
not be forgotten and must not be repeated."
-James Nachtwey-
He grew up in Massachusetts and graduated from Dartmouth College, where he studied Art History and Political Science (1966-70). Images from the Vietnam War and the American Civil Rights movement had a powerful effect on him and were instrumental in his decision to become a photographer. He has worked aboard ships in the Merchant Marine, and while teaching himself photography.
In 1976 he started work as a newspaper photographer in New Mexico, and in 1980, he moved to New York to begin a career as a freelance magazine photographer. His first foreign assignment was to cover civil strife in Northern Ireland in 1981 during the IRA hunger strike. Since then, Nachtwey has devoted himself to documenting wars, conflicts and critical social issues.
I love the bottom image as it shows a complete contrast between the gun that symbolise war and the religious priest that symbolizes peace.
"I use what I know about the formal elements of photography at the service of the people I'm photographing—not the other way around. I'm not trying to make statements about photography. I'm trying to use photography to make statements about what's happening in the world. I don't want my compositions to be self-conscious."
This compassion—which is particularly compelling in view of the death, destruction, and inhumanity he has witnessed for more than two decades—has enabled him both to be present at and to record the heart-wrenching moments in personal lives throughout the world.
I find this work amazing as its not posed images of people they are real people in real life experiences, in life and death situations. The emotions and power in the images are real and not an act; they are truly amazing emotional images.
Your blog looks great and your showing your understanding of camera controls etc, I'd really like to see more initial ideas and then development of those ideas. If you could get a plan for shooting etc that would be great, it would be nice to see some shots in the next week or so or a least a plan of action :)
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