James Nachtwey

The “question of the day” was whether or not photojournalist should be objective or subjective. My opinion might have differed on this question if I had watched another photojournalist’s story, but after watching James Nachtwey, I was certain that photojournalism should be subjective, as in my opinion, it would almost be impossible to be in his position and be objective. To photograph scenes of horror put in place by war would draw towards anyone’s emotions. To take these pictures and not be influenced by personal feelings is an unattainable task. Because these pictures are subjective they play a large role in persuasion. Although stated in his speech that persuasion was not his goal in photographing these scenes, being able to view these scenes first draws to emotion and then gives that person an opinion on the situation. But, whether democrat, republican, or indifferent the picture that James Nachtwey photographs effects you. As he photographed things such as the civil war in Guatamala, phamon in Semalia, or starvation in Sudan, by giving people with no voice a voice, and making the public aware, he persuaded people to be generous and give to those in need. He stated in his speech that journalism provided a channel for people’s generosity. He went to the extreme because getting that image out in the public mattered. A picture that one will refuse to accept persuades one to have influence in changing the situation. Although perspective is important in taking such a picture, in my opinion, perspective isn’t a crucial idea. For example photographing the African man’s face that turned into the light for Nachtwey to take a better picture, the audience would have been just as alarmed if there had been little light to see the man’s scarred face. One would have taken in the same idea as Nachtwey who felt as if he were looking at a cave painting, and the human race was still primitive. All of the details such as position, light, and viewpoint matter in these photographs. But my question is do that matter that much? The pictures seen in Nachtwey’s presentation are appalling no matter how you look at them.