The War Photographer

by Misti Layne

I recently saw this movie again and just had to recommend it. It's a documentary about James Nachtwey. He's been a photojournalist for over 20 years and this movie, The War Photographer, really takes you into his world. First you are struck by his calm, soothing, even demeanor. Then you are just amazed when you see him this same way in horrible situations. He takes you to conflict and war zones, sulfur mines where he needs to be led out when he gets overcome with the fumes and in the midst of pain and anguish. You see a family who live between train tracks in I believe Indonesia. The father had gotten drunk and was missing an arm and a leg because he fell asleep on the tracks and was hit but still bathes his kids and tries his best. James takes you right there and you just wonder if you could do what he does.

The part about this that is amazing is that you see it from his viewpoint. He attaches a film camera to his camera and you see what he sees through the lens--almost. You see when he takes a photo, some of the settings he uses, the fact he uses 400 TriX and has no problem reloading film while bullets are flying overhead.

Another amazing aspect of this movie was watching him and a printer develop one of his prints. They go over and over it again getting more and more details and matching it to his vision.

This is photography and a photographer at his best.

"I attempt to become as totally responsible to the subject as I possibly can. The act of being an outsider aiming a camera can be a violation of humanity. The only way I can justify my role is to have respect for the other person's predicament. The extend to which I do that is the extent to which I become accepted by the other, and to that extent I can accept myself." James Nachtwey

Catch this movie when you can but at least check out his website and his work. It will take your breath away and make you appreciate every last thing you have.