The War Photographer is intriguing and insightful, and after watching the documentary I have gained a newfound respect for photojournalism. Most importantly the film illustrated how photojournalism has the power to create social change. James Nachtwey is considered to be the greatest war photographer of recent decades. The film shows his life’s work, and how committed he is to covering wars and other social issues that plague many countries throughout the world. Nachtwey is like no other photojournalist. He has witnessed firsthand the horrors of war, and with is camera he has captured the most moving and dramatic moments of warfare. Nachtwey made the decision to become a war photographer in the early 1970’s during Vietnam. By simply showing what was going on in Vietnam, Nachtwey made a strong indictment of the war, and showed how cruel and just the war was. His Vietnam photos stirred the emotions of the American public, who were becoming increasingly frustrated with America’s involvement in Vietnam.
War photography fascinates Nachtwey because of the sense of adventure, facing danger, and seeing what happens to ordinary people and their authentic emotions. When asked why Nachtwey puts himself in the most extreme and dangerous situations, Nachwey replied, “because I have to.” In times of conflict most people don’t want anything to do with it, but not Nachtwey. He is right in the middle of the action. Nachtwey pointed to the fact that since the whole world can’t witness a war, it is his duty as a photojournalist to show what is happening and to give the victims of war and conflict, a voice to the outside world. Nachtwey is relentless in taking his photos. He keeps pushing the limits; one colleague of his said that Nachtwey views himself as being bulletproof. During life threatening situations, amidst gunfire and chaos, Nachtwey is reserved, calm, and focused on shooting the best pictures of war.
The power of photojournalism, particularly war photography, lies in its ability to define how the rest of the world views the war. By covering the stories behind war photojournalists paint the picture of what is happening in the war. By doing so the pictures can potentially evoke sentiment, and protest and can call upon people to take action. If atrocities are being committed and a larger number of people are being affected, one photo, at least one Nachtwey photo can be a “powerful antidote to war.” His photos, which were displayed in the film, are sometimes difficult to look at. In addition to war, Nachtwey covers famine, pollution, and poverty. It was depressing to see how some people live the way the do in third world countries.
In all Nachtwey separates his emotions from his work, and any emotion that he does feel he channels into his photography. He also said that he learned how to express his personal feelings in a photo. It is difficult to be an objective observer, when people are dying next to you. In the film his former girlfriend and colleague said, “He has his own library of suffering in his head.” She explained that the photos are only a fraction of what Nachtwey has seen, heard, and felt. Nachtwey has been wounded four or five times, suffered terrible diseases, but he is still fearless in his approach to war photography. Nachtwey said fear is not important, its how you deal with the fear. One thing that I found interesting is when Nachtwey said that the people he photographs are more important than himself. When photographing victims of injustices, Nachtwey tries his best to respect them and the situation they’re in. He stressed how important it is to be welcomed and accepted. When family members are grieving a death it would be impossible to go into their home and snap photos of them, without first being welcomed. Still, those people know they are victims of injustice, and the cameraman is the outlet to show the rest of the world those injustices.
Nachtwey has never felt complete or satisfied with the job that he has done. He says that there is always more to do, and that he can’t be happy because his work involves other people’s tragedy. He has given everything to the job, so much so that he hasn’t been able to maintain a stable domestic relationship. At his testimony, which was sort of like a gallery of his work, Nachtwey said, “I’m a little shell shocked by it all."
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