"war photographer" response

I took a journalism course sophomore year, and one assignment asked us to cover some aspect of the war in Iraq. I decided to write on Americans' ability to desensitize themselves from the harsh realities of war, and watching Jim Nachtwey's experiences reminded me of this project. It is so easy to stay away from the news and ignore what's going on in the world when it doesn't directly affect you. Jim's photos puts you right there in the moment. I was really touched not only by the rawness of his photos, but the undeniable connections he made with his subjects. I'm sure like most of the class I was shocked by Jim's "lack of censor"--he definitely had no problem getting up close and personal with those he photographed--but what struck me the most was that they actually accepted him and allowed him to be involved in their personal narratives. Jim's striving to gain the trust of his subjects allows us a complete uncensored view of these people's lives; something I believe might be necessary in order for us to "wake up" and realize that these things actually happen in the our world, and that we to address it.

I was impressed by Jim's boldness; he definitely put himself in immense danger in order to get some of those photos. I'll admit that at times I thought that he was kinda crazy, but I realized that it was out of extreme passion that he risked his life so many times. He had an agenda in capturing these moments and sharing them with the world, he wants people to actually "resensitize" themselves with our world, a call to action. Jim's commentary on mass media's obssession with fashion and celebrities struck me as well; I realized that it is much easier to find an entertainment show than one profiling human suffering around the world. I LOVED the part with Jim wanting to get one of his photos perfect, resulting in the many burning and dodging attempts; it just shows how crucial each part of the photo is in conveying his message. Also, I thought the music in the documentary served as a great backdrop to Jim's journey--the somber notes that accompanied the photos added to its powerful impact.

Despite the "library of suffering in his head" Jim channels his emotions into his work, allowing us to understand the pure humanity on display in his photos. Jim says, "the strength of photography lies in its ability to evoke humanity," and I agree. Using his power to "evoke humanity," Jim Nachtwey's photos serve as a wake up call to society--we all have the ability to inspire change.