War Photography

[PureKiwi]

So i just watched the movie War Photographer . Its about James Nachtwey (http://www.photographersonline.co.nz/www.jamesnachtwey.com/)
It follows him though his travels though wars documenting them with photos as witch he has been doing for about 20 years

I was just wondering if anyone else has any thoughts on War photography , because lets face it this is a time of people life's where they are at there most tragic

Its hard to put my self in the postion of the photographer and the person getting photographed , Even watching the video i felt a little emotional seeing what people can do to other people . i dont live in a box i know there are wars every where but to see it from this angle is really upsetting whether you are the photographer or the person on the other side of the lens

How do you put your self in this position and not feel bad ? . people at the best of times don't want there photos taken . and one would think it would be more risky in a war ... anything could happen ....

So if anyone has any thing to add feel free .... Here is a Quote i took from the movie i thought id like to share.because it explanes how he justifys himself taking such photos

he worst thing is to feel that as a photographer I am benefiting from someone else's tragedy. This idea haunts me. It's something I have to reckon with every day because I know that if I ever allowed genuine compassion to be overtaken by personal ambition, I will have sold my soul. The only way I can justify my role is to have respect for the other person's predicament. The extent to which I do that is the extent to which I become accepted by the other; and to that extent, I can accept myself.

[Chocolate]

I am very keen to see this movie now!

I think the truth is, as a war photographer you are REALLY there to show the truth. You are there to raise awareness and as you say, to take people out of their "box". People need to know what is really happening - you never see the truth on the News, their interests and ideals of "importance" are simply too influenced by political involvement.

The most recent examples of this are the Two Reuters journalists/photographers gunned down by Military forces, and the Reuters journalist/photographer killed in the recent violent Thailand protests. The reason you may have even spotted a 2-3minute clip on the news was because they were Reuters employees (I do believe Reuters looks after its people very well). How many more have been injured/killed?

War photographers are as much at risk as any Military infantrymen, and moreso - they do not have the training that Military are given. They risk their lives for this - and unless one believes in a moral obligation to expose attricious and unjust acts which are usually justified by the "rules of engagement" - one could not risk their life to do this.
Just my opinion.

[Epic]

Haha roe's are the last thing a soldiers gives a fuck about in war. If I was patrolling along and saw a photographer getting photos of myself or my callsign i would definatly get that camera and either take his battery or sd card, if he ran, he'd be shot, for all you know he's taking photos of how equipped your patrol is and your formations and taking them back to a high paying taliban leader who now has all the intel to stage a perfect ambush. war would have to be the stupidest place for a photographer to go. If people want to see war... sign the dotted line pick up a steyr and march your ass up to the front line.

Sorry about throwing my feelings at you