James Nachtwey and The Other

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James Nachtwey is an American photojournalist and war photographer. He has been awarded the Overseas Press Club’s Robert Capa Gold Medal five times. In 2003, he was injured by a grenade in an attack on his convoy while serving as a Time contributing correspondent in Baghdad, from which he has made a full recovery. He is by all accounts one of the greatest war photojournalists of our time, a member of The Bang Bang Club and Magnum, he has bodies of work ranging from Sudan, Kosovo and Northern Ireland to the Middle East and 9/11.

His words are always haunting, he has seen and photographed horror in its deepest and darkest form. It is miraculous he has survived both physically and mentally so far. He remembers;

“The most incomprehensible situation I’ve ever witnessed was Rwanda where we don’t really know how many people died; the estimate of half a million to a million. They were killed with very primitive weapons; clubs and rocks and machetes, face to face. And I saw some massacre sites and I just do not understand how people can do that to each other. What can inspire such fear and such hatred? This is beyond my understanding really. It’s very difficult to get over that.

…And I realised that many of the people I was photographing might have been the very ones who had committed the massacres that I had witnessed just a few weeks before. And it was like taking the express elevator to hell.”

A lot of photojournalism is knowledge, absorbing information and coming to an innate understanding of the events. This should never be achieved on the road to the event. You must think first as a journalist and second as a photographer. Journalism will always provide you with the context in what to shoot, rather than choosing the most attractive position. James is a connoisseur in this field, but was thrown when the attacks of 9/11 happened, almost dying while shooting under the WTC 2, when it fell.

Filed under: 9/11, afghanistan, america, camera, conflict photojournalist, documentary, George Bush, horror, humanitarian photojournalist, Iraq, journalism, ngo humanitarian photographer, offices, photojornalism, photojournalism, Photojournalist, politics, religion, War, warrior ethos

A General Kidnapping…My Skin Colour….GRENADES!

kid·nap / ˈkidˌnap/• v. (-napped , -nap·ping ; also -naped, -nap·ing) [tr.] take (someone) away illegally by force, typically to obtain a ransom.

Everything was very clear, I remember that much as I lay there hands underneath my weight, jammed between a mans armpit and the trucks metal floor. The screeching from the radio of some white noise endlessly on repeat made me think of Drum & Bass music, the floor of the van of pavement manhole covers in a city. I remember trying to remember the path the van was taking, giving up and focusing on sure things like how many men jumped us, and what reasons had we given them to do this. I also discovered that I fight false hope, and that makes me focus on better types of hope, re-modelling the situation, each minute I have a strange control because I am that asset, I am that property worth keeping alive. False hope such as knowing that our governments don’t make deals with these types of political and social groups.

I am actually in Moreton-in-Marsh, Cotswold’s. You couldn’t be further away from the front line than this idyllic English village. Two days before I was sipping cold local cider in The Bell Inn, oblivious (or more likely ignorant) that in a few days I’d be kicked from the ground as I lie shoeless in a puddle, shouted at in Arabic for an answer to a question that would cost me my life.

I did have an idea, ever since I sent the cheque off to RedR UK, a disaster training charity that helps, trains and guides future aid workers into the field. The snippet of information that I received on the potential abuse we were thus about to receive, briefly described loud bangs…and that any old ladies make sure they don’t sign up to the course.I did though, just to get the required training just in case it wouldnt happen to me. Athiest forbid.

The course was fun for two days, inside this I gained Field Communication training with VHF (Small Radios) and the importance of in-depth views of all sides in the conflict or emergency to help work with better judgement. Surviving hostile environments by learning how to cover from gunfire, grenades and hopefully RPG’s. Cover, minefields and observation were covered in a second day small simulation. From all this and various discussions on threat, risk and vulnerability brings us full circle to how I act in the situation.

I had no idea I would become protective towards women I didn’t know, and that I keep my mind occupied on facts when in a dangerous situation, rather than the impending doom. Plus I gained some small confidence in diffusing situations between me and a potential kidnapper by striking a rapport with them. I learned that wearing slight military clothing could get me in deep shit, that UN American guards don’t want to be asked ‘How’s the weather mate?’ Because you may get an answer back you may not expect ‘Face forward and don’t open your mouth again you cocky shit!’ As I did. I don’t know why I was collectivly chosen as team leader in the field, I guess from my initial sense of humour and relaxed fun demenor. But it bothered me that those two things when and WILL get removed, how will I act? Will I even be able to control a team?

My small and limited words in Arabic came in handy when talking to IDP’s at the DZ (getting the lingo as well), basically the local lads who own the field we want to purchase for a few bob. My white skin was the question most raised during the 5 location driven, surprise ambush, AK47 firing madmen who lept out of god knows what blade of grass and surrounded us screaming blue murder. I was pushed against the wall and told I was American, so I didn’t argue but agreed with everything he said. Until he got frustrated with me doing that, and started with actions and questions directly.

First was the splitting of the male and female hostages, I couldn’t see where they went but I heard them gasping, breathing, getting shoved around. A general muttering of voices were heard as the cold rain, beautifully timed fell on us in this disused warehouse alley. I had already closely witnessed the rape and execution of two actors, the actual blood of a trainee bouncing off the gear stick and leaving her face on it as we slammed on the brakes prior to ambush, were still fresh on mind. I was tense and had already asked for water for the girls, being team leader not alpha male I knew if I kept up asking how the team was doing they may understand humanity.

“Your American, Stephen. You Love George Bush” Head against grey wall, hands and arms up high, can’t make up who’s next to me.

“You Love George Bush, and you agree with the War in IRAQ!“. Arms getting heavy, stop asking these questions. Understanding situation, know I won’t go home, want to sit down.

“Answer Me, Stephen” Weired stone gable end I’m staring at. PAUSE. Gun now pressed against the back of my head. BANG. Still alive, different person firing…or one of us dead. Better answer.

“I don’t love him, I hate him and what he did to innocent people in Iraq, the sanctions, the bombing, the thousands of dead children. No. I don’t love him.”

“But you voted for it, you voted for George Bush…you are to blame. You pay your taxes.” Not sure whether to have a political argument or stay quiet. Stay quiet. Sense of humour gone, strange feeling that I can control the situation. They have big guns. I have a mobile they haven’t……Man searching me. Mobile gone. “I’m taking your picture now”

“May I ask, Why?” “So I can send it to your family to get money, then still kill you” “What do you gain from killing us?” Have to be careful now, tread softly. Arms heavy and weak now by my head. “We gain money, we gain power, we tell your friends in New York that we are strong yes? So Answer me one question? Who do we kill first? Which One?” Confusion, sock fully wet after losing my boot..gaining adrenaline, can’t use it.

“Which One Stephen? Who First? Your Team Leader? They are waiting for your answer?”Me” Oops, no shit. Rewind. “errrm…you don’t have to kill anyone.” Why did I say me?? Was it so I don’t bare witness to the mass rape and execution to generally nice Tesco friendly consumers of Britain?

After confusing him with quick fire agreements, a family conversation and a discussion on rape. He bundled me into the van, one boot gone so I’m a foot smaller on one side as I limp in. Again the white noise bleeds my ears, driving, driving. STOP…EVERYONE OUT! This came to a conclusion around this point, after a UN rescue, bomb disposal and a debrief before sponge cake and custard in the canteen.

I gained a nice attendance certificate and I would definitely recommend training programmes by RedR UK again to anyone going into conflict or relief zones.

stephensidlo.com

Filed under: aid, cotswolds, drum and bass, fire service college, George Bush, horror, Iraq, kidnap, moreton in marsh, photojournalism, redr, redr uk, relief workers, U.S, universities, world

Goodbye W. But will you be missed?

As we wait, clutching our mice, radios and newspapers for that final vote to be counted and verified for this year’s Next Top World Leader, we cast our minds to a man currently occupying the hot seat in Washington. More loathed than loved for eight years, George W. Bush has been the center of conspiracy, religious hate, financial decline debates and the breakdown of allied relationships. During that funny little mans reign as President, did he do any good?

The world in 2008 is well aware of the faults that surge from the White House as another catastrophe unfolds. The peak of his decision making skills during his ‘Oil War’ in Iraq, damaged further when he failed to get adequate water supplies to the Superdome during Hurricane Katrina. This act alone was frowned upon globally, his own countrymen open armed in desperation asking him, what are you doing you idiot?

It came clear to me as I watched 800 men, women and children descend into Parliament Square, during Mr Bush’s last visit to the UK. Large items were thrown, such as French baguettes from a local Tesco’s Metro, rioters of all religions, creeds and backgrounds waded into heavy armed riot police down Whitehall hour after hour. Hurricane jets escorting identical Air Force 1’s to fool terrorists on the ground, thunder through the air above us. It was clear then, that his bad command had far outweighed the good during his time in Office. His biggest achievement they see is convincing U.S voters that Defence means Attack.

Yet. He introduced three major tax cuts, which in turn had seen America become the fastest growing economy of any industrialized nation. Homeownership was high, mortgage and interest rates historically low, plus unemployment was lower than any average since the late 1960’s. Many of these reasons contribute to why this man was voted in for a second term. Like any country, if rates are low and your penny is worth more, Mr Tax Payer will keep the status quo regardless of far away wars.

Maybe he will be missed by that T-Bone and radish sauce eating, middle class tax payer, who believes the next President will take more away from him and purchase more expensive weaponry, or even the snack eating poorer folk who don’t want their Medical accounts taxed. Either way, I’m positive he won’t be missed by many, but I’m sure he won’t be forgotten any time soon either.

stephensidlo.com

Filed under: america, BBC, black hawk, carpet bombing, CNN, ethics, Iraq, iraqi, Politicians, terrorists, U.S, White House

Ethics of Photojournalism

Is it ethical to photograph the dead? The dying? The families of those? Maybe, maybe not. Ashley Gilbertson gives an insight about confronting the family of a marine shot dead in Iraq, he photographed him being carried to a black hawk. Its a series of 6 videos and some very powerful stuff, some horrific tales of a photojournalist out there.

So how do I do this? The government has a stranglehold on what the public sees, which is propaganda. Sending an embedded journalist with a Kevlar jacket into a patrol unit in the green zone of Baghdad isn’t really news worthy. I stand by the fact that the Iraq war is the least reported we’ve had our eyes open for. There are millions of other wars being engaged right now, but the death toll is lower (does that matter?). Vietnam was the central explosion of photojournalism on the front line, it was a free reign…which in fact stopped the Vietnam war because so many of these harrowing images were coming back to the public, who called for a stop..among other things. The troops returned and were hounded out by the public because of what they saw. Do you really think America or the UK would allow that to happen again? That images could change their foreign policy like Somalia or Vietnam? I don’t think so, so until then there will be restrictions on images, journalists will be told what to shoot or say, by they way they are embedded with the troops or from a safe distance on top of a luxury media hotel in the suburbs of the green zone.

If images do get out…the mass public wont see them, just a select few like myself. Look at the Abu Garib images that were splashed all over the papers? Old news now..nothing changed. Who cares about some Iraqi getting pissed on and humiliated….focus on the hundreds and thousands who were carpet bombed, images of those families and children in the street! It wont happen because it could stop the war that was built…and we can’t let terrorists win can we. Or are they just defending their fucking own homes? I would if the U.S came invading my town.

Filed under: ashley gilbertson, baghdad, black hawk, carpet bombing, ethical, ethics, green zone, horror, humilated, Iraq, iraqi, marine, mass media, somalia, terrorists, troops, U.S, vietnam

The Greater Good

Currently reading ‘Tell me Lies”. What do I say? Talented and amazing professors looking into our involvement worldwide with issues, that is broadcast through our tv screens and Internet. The amount of fact and evidence tottaly knocking the news like CNN and BBC for six. They did a poll of a few hundred people up and down the US and Britain asking what the ‘Occupied Territories” were. It was shocking the results, answers like Palastine and Isreal are arguing over a border, or Palastinian/Isreali people are occupying each others land and both neighbours are telling each other to fuck off.

The truth is (other than the fact that the US give $4 Billion to Isreal in arms each year) that the news is told what to do, what to say..the choices of words. The fact that Isreal has a military stranglehold over Palastine and encamping thousands of them in their own country, cutting off medical aid and letting women die in pools of blood at checkpoints in childbirth, doesnt come into the equation.

Americas war on Terror, or The War against Terror, or T.W.A.T as I like to call it. Have an open mind for a minute. Isreal attacks Palastine and commits genocide and incamps tens of thousands of arabs..correct..good. Now when the BBC ask for a middle-east correspondant from Isreal they pull out the man with the suit sat in Washington DC…they pull out a Palastinian talker and he’s in army scruffs and with a bandana saying they want Isreal off their land….it reminds me of WW2. The French had a resistance…you’ve all seen Allo’ Allo’..so I will say this only once. Iraq or Palastine or even Swansea, Manchester or London. If we were invaded or illigally carpet bombed by the thousands..(Like a small town in Iraq that got carpet bombed, the U.S said it was a friendly fire mistake, so the BBC and CNN took it at face value…real reports and eye witnesses said that they came back for 3 days to carpet bomb the village..a woman lost 9 children in a house that the Americans said housed ‘bad guys’…the US apologised and gave each grieving person 5 grand…that means her children were worth 556 quid.)..then there would be a resistance for fuck sake.

Rebel fighter ‘Che’ is now considered a great man, will any of the resistance rebel fighters across the world over be given that? No because its against our troops. ‘We Must Support Our Troops’ I hear you say!! Then fucking bring them home!

Filed under: america, BBC, blog, britain, camera, che, CNN, dissertation, Iraq, isreali, lies, london, manchester, palastinian, photography, propaganda, student, troops