Chapter 10 - Photojournalist Profile

James Nachtwey - A Biography in a Nutshell

Career Path:  

James Nachtwey went to college for art and political science at Dartmouth College, where he was inspired by images of Vietnam War and the civil rights movement. These images influenced him to become a photojournalist. He began his career as a newspaper photographer in New Mexico and progressed to a freelance photographer in New York. According to the article James Nachtwey by National Geographic, “Nachtwey has been a contract photographer with Time magazine since 1984. In 2001, he became one of the founding members of the photo agency VII.” He documented the Opioid Epidemic, AIDS epidemic, poverty and other humanitarian issues. He is also a war photojournalist and has traveled to foreign countries like South Africa, Lebanon, and Sri Lanka. His images were disseminated nationally as he brought insight to many humanitarian and war issues around the world.  

Era:  

His career began in 1976, when he started photographing for a Newspaper in New Mexico. During this time, photographic technology was very limited and low quality. Despite the lack of photographic technology, this era was the "golden age" for photojournalism. According to the article, Important Stories That Drove Photojournalism in the 1970s, Bill Gentile said, "This is when our jobs were more about information, as opposed to entertainment. " War photography was extremely prominent, and may be the reason why Nachtwey was so successful during this time. During this era there were many wars happening including the Vietnam War so there was a lot of history to inform the world about. In the modern era, photojournalism is still informative, but the progression of technology allows photojournalist to stage photos and manipulate them with photoshop. Photojournalism during the 1970s was more pure and informative which explains why it was considered the golden age.

Motivation: 
According to the article James Nachtwey by The International Photography Hall of Fame and Museum, "Beginning in 1981, James Nachtwey has dedicated his career to documenting wars and critical social issues, motivated by the belief that public awareness is an essential element in the process of change, and that photographs of war can intervene on behalf of peace." James believed that the only way to elicit change in a society is to create awareness. This is true, the more people that are knowledgable about an issue allows for more people to desire change. Many problems in society are not resolved because they do not receive the attention and recognition necessary for change. He aims to bring awareness to problems like the Opioid Epidemic through his Opioid diaries report, where he shows the effects of Opioids. He shows the truth and hardships associated with war through his war photography. He is motivated by making an impact on the world. 

Technology: 

Around 1976, when Nachtwey first pursued his career in photojournalism, technology was extremely limited. It was more cumbersome for photojournalists to take pictures, it took more time, and the quality was poor. From the 1970s until 2019 technology evolved from light-sensitive emulsions to digital technologies. According to the article Photographers and Their Cameras: Part 3 by Adam Crawford, "Nachtwey shoots with a Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II Digital Camera and Canon EOS-1V SLR film Camera." These cameras are compact and fast which is ideal for any photojournalist trying to capture the perfect shot, especially Nachtwey who photographs war.  Nachtwey's work has progressively gotten better as technology continues to evolve. 

Ethics: 

Being a humanitarian and war photographer Nachtwey has faces many ethical dilemmas throughout his career. Both types photography brings insight to a lot of controversial issues in society which can go against many peoples ethics. According to an article Exploiter of victims?, Anna Siatka says, "But taking pictures of war can be a particularly difficult enterprise presenting special ethical challenges; as longtime photographer Piotr Andrews wrote in an email, war photography must be practiced according to “very strict moral principles.” Nachtwey photographs people in very vulnerable states to raise awareness to societal and war-related issues. One particular ethical dilemma is when he photographed the 9/11 tragedy for Time magazine. This was a very emotional and tragic event for many people in America. Humanitarian photography may challenge some peoples ethics but it helps elicit change and relay events in history.

Bias: 

Everyone has their own biases and perceptions about certain things or people. The varying views and biases of others are important to create diversity. According to Time Magazine, Nachtwey said, "Our work is aimed at our readers’ best instincts – generosity, compassion, a sense of right-and-wrong, a sense of identification with others – on a human level, across cultures, beyond the borders of nationality – and perhaps most importantly, the refusal to accept the unacceptable. His work is aimed at different cultures, different personalities and ideals of people. Photojournalists must be aware of others peoples biases and their own. It is essential in such career to realize everyone has an opinion and perception about certain controversies. 

Photographic Style:  

Photo by: James Nachtwey

The contrast high, this image shows a contrast between the bright orange flame and the dark grey smoke. It draws attention to both aspects of the image and shows that they are both important. Smoke It creates realistic image and makes you feel like you are there. The use of shadows makes the items with shadows look almost 3D. It creates depth to the subject. It shows the sun is reflecting off of the subject. The composition is cluttered. The man to the left is taking up the left side of the image. Nachtwey must have seen the importance of incorporating many items in people in the composition of this photo.

Photo by: James Nachtwey

The subjects expression looks like the child is in pain. He is severely malnourished and his body language is almost limp and resembles the pain in his face. The mother may be posing with her hand on the boy. The subject is obvious and takes up the majority of the image frame. It does not crowd the edges but it is obvious and centered. If certain aspects were left out such as the bed, you would not understand the setting of the room, it appears to be a hospital room. The photo is edited in black and white which makes the image more emotional and gives it a different meaning. He had the option to leave the image in color but it wouldn't provoke the same feelings.

Photo by: James Nachtwey

A fast shutter speed must have captured this image. This image was taken in motion so it would require a fast shutter to capture this image without any blurry areas. The shutter makes it seem like this moment was frozen in time. The quality of light is flat and gloomy. The sky dark and the only part that is bright are the red pants on the man. This may have been intentionally so people focus on the man. This image demonstrates the rule of thirds because the subject is placed in outer right third of the image. This provides clarity that the main focus is the man on the tank. 

Photo by: James Nachtwey

This image reminded me of an image by Kevin Carter of a vulture watching a starving child in southern Sudan. The child was famished in the similar manner as this Sudan man is. He looks like he is just bones and is suffering. This image could raise many ethical dilemmas due to the severity of his condition. The texture of this image is grainy and could depict that this image was taken a long time ago. This image created feelings of sadness and sympathy. It makes me want to help this man and nourish him back to health. I feel like I am witnessing someone before they die and I cannot do anything to help him. It creates awareness although poverty is horrible, it encourages people to want to make change. You will never forget about an image like this, its affects are powerful.

Impact:  

Nachtwey's images had a positive impact on society. In 2015, he won a Lifetime Achievement Award to recognize his work. In the article, James Nachtwey: How Photography Can Change the World by TIME magazine, Kira Pollack says, "More than any other photographer, he is able to express hope in the midst of human suffering. " His photography shows human suffering with the desire for change. The images he takes create public awareness which helps people receive support and recognition. He impacts the people suffering and the people who are naive about these problems existing. Through his war photography he shows war from a different perspective rather than the gory parts. He shows the truth and the human aspects of war that get less attention. Societies depend on photojournalists like Nachtwey to help influence change and shine light on detrimental problems. 

Your Major at AIC: 

I relate most to Nachtwey's humanitarian approach and his motivation to elicit change in the world. I am a nursing major and the healthcare system is very broken like society is. As a nurse and humanitarian photographer you both want to help people in some way. I want to become a nurse to make an impact on peoples lives and to help mend the system and provide good quality care. I think Nachtwey's idea that public awareness is necessary to elicit change is true. An example is when he photographed an image of a beggar washing his children in a polluted channel. According to the article, Exploiter of victims?, "After Nachtwey’s photo essay appeared in Life magazine, donations came in for the poor family." This just shows how impactful his work is. He feels sympathy for his subjects and tries to help by providing the world with visuals.

Viewpoints:   

Nachtwey is viewed in a very positive way. He aims to help reform many issues in society including poverty, famine, and disease. He truly shows how powerful photojournalism is in eliciting change in the world. He is viewed as very hopeful person through tragedy and suffering. According to the article, James Nachtwey Memoria, Lisa Hydén, Exhibition Manager at Fotografiska says, "As a photographer, he is gifted with the ability to capture striking compositions, acting as an observer of the world in which we live often endangering his own life, but always with the greatest respect for the most vulnerable – the civilian casualties." Nachtwey risks his life to capture eye-opening images, but he is considerate of the people and there feelings. He is a very well respected and has made an impact on so many lives.