Ellen Fishel-James Nachtwey, War Photographer

Every day, we open the newspapers and turn on our televisions only to be greeted by gruesome images of war and destruction. However, it is not often that we think of those who capture those images. The film “War Photographer” gave a fascinating portrayal of the career of James Nachtwey and emphasized the immense influence photojournalism can have.

All of Nachtwey’s travels portrayed in the movie were filled with emotion, carrying a great, overwhelming impact. Nachtwey’s ability to capture all of this intensity so perfectly with just a few still images was astounding. It clearly could not been done by just anyone with a camera. Nachtwey possesses an amazing talent for photography, and the movie showed that much of his success comes from his immersion in and dedication to his work.

From the beginning of the film, it was clear that Nachtwey was passionate about war photography. He said that he felt as though he was witnessing history, and more specifically, what happens to ordinary people throughout the course of history. This point really resonated with me, because the fate of the ordinary people during war and disaster is never something that is discussed heavily. Destruction, despair and hopelessness are always glazed over in history books. However, Nachtwey experiences it almost every day. Through these experiences, he said, he was able to find himself.

Nachtwey is unlike any journalist I have ever heard of. In all of our journalism classes, we are taught that objectivity is key and to keep our opinions far away from our work. Nachtwey completely contradicts all of these tenants. He refuses to stand by and simply photograph scenes of extreme injustice, cruelty and destruction without expressing compassion. I believe that this is what makes his photographs so profound—he truly feels for the subjects he is photographing. One of the most moving parts of the film, in fact, was when one of Nachtwey’s colleagues was describing such compassion. Nachtwey once put down his camera, got down on his knees, and begged a group of people not to kill an innocent man they were torturing. I believe that just this one incident sets Nachtwey apart from any other photojournalist.

Throughout the movie, it is evident that Nachtwey has a clear purpose for his photographs. He wants desperately to enact change—social, political, economical, or really any type. He recognizes the potential impact photojournalism, and specifically war photography, can have, saying “The way you cover a story defines the way the world sees a story, so you better do it right.” Well, Nachtwey is clearly doing something right. The physical manifestation of Nachtwey’s success is shown, I believe, at the end of the film when Nachtwey receives a letter from someone who has viewed his photographs. This person pledged to send 20 dollars a month to the family that lived between railroad tracks that Nachtwey photographed. This man was clearly affected by Nachtway’s pictures, and although he barley had much money himself, he was motivated to help those even less fortunate. This is the epitome of what photojournalism is all about.