I think the most surprising thing was that even though Nachtwey works so closely with people, he was such a solitary individual. I was also surprised that people would be so willing to have him enter their lives. Whenever I take photos I always feel a sense of intrusion. I thought James Nachtwey would have to coerce his way in but instead his subjects let him be a part of their experience. But I don’t understand how he could In Kosovo I could not understand how he could just follow this woman so intrusively. I don’t understand how he could stand and watch not reach out to comfort her or try to ease her pain.
I found Nachtwey’s photos very powerful. Instead of tearing up at the video footage of places like Kosovo and Indonesia, it was his black and white photos that evoked the strongest response for me. There is something about the stark contrast of black and white which seems to better encapsulate human suffering.
A photographer can have a very great impact. It is said that as a society, we are once again becoming visual readers. A good image not only tells a story but also creates an emotional response as well. News photos are therefore important in combating apathy and in reinforcing personal investment in stories that may seem far removed from our lives.
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