James Nachtwey on being a documentary photojournalist

[Admin]

James Nachtwey talks about the power of documentary photojournalism, shows his work and discusses the world events he has photographed in a superb-quality 24-minute QuickTime video of his acceptance speech for the 2007 TED Prize.

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[Marcel]

I've seen two documentaries with this chap in. Compelling stuff.

If I'm really honest. The two documentaries I've seen, really fire me up to get out there and take photos...and it sometimes takes alot to fire me up

 

[Arkady]

From what I've seen of his work (which is good, don't get me wrong), it seems like he's been incredibly lucky in being at the right place at the right time.
I was cursing my luck last year in Afghanistan when after waiting two weeks in a forward operating base at Goreskh with nothing going on, we were pulled out back to France to cover the Somme Anniversary gig at Thiepval. While we were gone for that week, Christina Lamb and her photographer took our places and walked into a four hour gun-battle following a Taliban ambush - she's just been named Journalist of the year (or something) and the photographer's up for an award for his 'under-fire' photos.

Bloody Chunder...

I'm the opposite of Kate Adie, you know: when I'm around, it's guaranteed that nothing will happen. I'm like Life Insurance, me...

 

[Marcel]

Life Insurance.

I can agree with that mate. He does have good work, but he must be incredibly lucky (or unlucky?) to be in the right place at the right time. As with any photo-journalism, if you aren't where the action is, you don't get a photo.

I suppose you have an extra bit of luck over these 'togs in that respect sometimes, you're with the military, so if there's gonna be a gun battle, you're already on the front line, so to speak.

As for Christina Lamb....sounds like Law of the Sod.