Photographer Spotlight: James Nachtwey

I have been a witness and these pictures are my testimony. The events I have recorded should not be forgotten and must not be repeated. - James Nachtwey.

http://www.jamesnachtwey.com/

Another photographer I admire, James Nachtwey is one of the world's leading photojournalists, and he twice won the World Press photo. He originally studied art and political science. Self taught, he started out as a newspaper photographer in New Mexico, and in 1980 moved to New York where he began his career as a freelancer. Like Robert Capa, he devoted himself to covering conflicts worldwide.

James Nachtwey has often spoken of how the Vietnam War shaped both his political sensitivities and opened his eyes to the power of photography. Still pictures from this confused and doomed conflict played a significant role in turning public opinion against American involvement in Vietnam. Moreover, the conflict was far from clear cut; there were no definite good guys or bad guys and military and civilians were implicated together. This sense of ambiguity shaped Nachtwey's approach to covering conflicts. He does not take sides, nor is he interested in the grand strategy, war in general or what he refers to as 'history with a capital H'. War for him, is about the tragedy of the individual, the single man, the family. His pictures zoom in on the terrible moments and random acts of indiscriminate violence that conflict produces time and time again. His pictures have a visceral quality, where the viewer is transported right into battle.