The documentary James Nachtway: War Photographer was interesting and exciting as well as depressing, sad, and full of pain and anguish. Looking at Nachtway’s photography and learning about his craft was very eye-opening. His work although it had such an emotional tug on my heart was so powerful because of all the strong emotions and actions that he was able to record. I found it so interesting how he was able to capture such powerful shots although many times he was in motion or there were a lot of things going on.
I think it is so noteworthy of him to give up his life to give war and victims of war a true voice as well as inform the general public of the horrors that occur everyday. To show the unmitigated pain and misery that transpires. I think that it is very honorable that he decided to be a war photographer to document what is really happening and occurring around the world, showing the injustices and the untainted truth of war.
While I was watching the documentary and listening to Nachtway’s philosophy behind his photography I was reminded of Sally Mann. One aspect of his work that reminded me of Sally Mann was how he captures ‘what remains’ after war and aftermath, revealing death and decay. I thought it was interesting how both Nachtway and Mann decided to photograph war remains and death as a way to tell history. Mann took the position of photographing war grounds and death as a war to remembering death. While Nachtway used his war remains photography to witness history. From the work that was shown during the documentary I found that the theme that traveled through his work was “What Remains”; for example the photographs of the Africans who suffered from starvation after war or the pictures of the families who are left behind to mourn the death of their loved ones.
One thing that I think both Nachtway and Mann have successfully done is to become self-centered. I say this because in both of their cases they photograph and display works that can be very controversial to the public. One thing that I thought was very remarkable about Nachtway was that he realized that in order to be a war photographer he first had to convince himself that he was capable of this work and once he convinced himself then nothing else seemed to matter, such as the controversy that it evoked. Also Nachtway describes how he found that he also had to be centered in order to face, experience, and photograph what he saw. He found that being centered helped him to stay calm in panic situations and use his photograph to channel his emotions.
James Nachtway is a true inspiration to me because I feel that he does a job that many people would not be able to do in a compassionate and caring way. I find it very admirable how he does not let ambition taint his work. Rather than aiming at getting the best photograph he makes it his goal to inform and communicate. Through these goals I think that as it was stated, in some ways his photography acts as a protest against the unfairness, while in other ways it seems to provide hope, humanity, and peace. I respect is work so much because of the message that it carries as well as the way that he goes about his work. He does not take a backseat approach to capturing the truth rather he makes everything he photographs part of his business. This approach in my opinion not only gives him more credibility but also makes his work more highly regarded and reputable.
I think it is so noteworthy of him to give up his life to give war and victims of war a true voice as well as inform the general public of the horrors that occur everyday. To show the unmitigated pain and misery that transpires. I think that it is very honorable that he decided to be a war photographer to document what is really happening and occurring around the world, showing the injustices and the untainted truth of war.
While I was watching the documentary and listening to Nachtway’s philosophy behind his photography I was reminded of Sally Mann. One aspect of his work that reminded me of Sally Mann was how he captures ‘what remains’ after war and aftermath, revealing death and decay. I thought it was interesting how both Nachtway and Mann decided to photograph war remains and death as a way to tell history. Mann took the position of photographing war grounds and death as a war to remembering death. While Nachtway used his war remains photography to witness history. From the work that was shown during the documentary I found that the theme that traveled through his work was “What Remains”; for example the photographs of the Africans who suffered from starvation after war or the pictures of the families who are left behind to mourn the death of their loved ones.
One thing that I think both Nachtway and Mann have successfully done is to become self-centered. I say this because in both of their cases they photograph and display works that can be very controversial to the public. One thing that I thought was very remarkable about Nachtway was that he realized that in order to be a war photographer he first had to convince himself that he was capable of this work and once he convinced himself then nothing else seemed to matter, such as the controversy that it evoked. Also Nachtway describes how he found that he also had to be centered in order to face, experience, and photograph what he saw. He found that being centered helped him to stay calm in panic situations and use his photograph to channel his emotions.
James Nachtway is a true inspiration to me because I feel that he does a job that many people would not be able to do in a compassionate and caring way. I find it very admirable how he does not let ambition taint his work. Rather than aiming at getting the best photograph he makes it his goal to inform and communicate. Through these goals I think that as it was stated, in some ways his photography acts as a protest against the unfairness, while in other ways it seems to provide hope, humanity, and peace. I respect is work so much because of the message that it carries as well as the way that he goes about his work. He does not take a backseat approach to capturing the truth rather he makes everything he photographs part of his business. This approach in my opinion not only gives him more credibility but also makes his work more highly regarded and reputable.
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