James Nachtwey - War Photographer documentary

“I have been a witness and these pictures are my testimony. The events I have recorded should not be forgotten and must not be repeated.”

James Nachtwey

1. What kind of personality a photojournalist should have?

I believe a photojournalist is someone who can put his job above his own fears and even life. It’s not being careless towards their own lives, but being passionate or having some kind of connection with what they are doing. It needs determination and courage. It’s not that someone wont fear the situation, it is actually about knowing how to control your own emotions and fears.

2. What do you think of his approach in photographing people?

I really like his way in approaching people. He’s a really big and tall guy who manages to become invisible before his subjects eyes while photographing.  He shows to have a lot of respect towards the people he is photographing and their situation. James says that he tries not to move too fast, speak too loudly and that he wants to be very open in his approach. I believe it has worked quite well. It seems that he has compassion for this people and that he cares about them and somehow James wants to be able to work through his photographies as a voice to these people.

3. What kind of subject does stern magazine cover?

Stern is a weekly magazine founded in 1948 in Germany by Henri Nannen. Stern is the German word for star. This magazine covers different kinds of subjects. It is very diverse. However, on the documentary it shows that primarily Stern covers many international conflicts and wars.

4. What conflicts did he cover in the film?

Kosovo war

Luanda

Indonesia 

South Africa

Palestine

5. What pictures ended up being used?

James picked pictures from different conflicts on his exhibition. I think he chose the pictures that could transmit his feelings and thoughts about the people, who were on the picture, the most. 

6. Why did he become a war photographer?

Since the beginning James Nachtwey wanted to become a photographer to be a war photographer. He made this decision on the early 70s during the Vietnam War. James got quite shocked and affected by the pictures that were sent from the Vietnam War because they showed some reality that contradicted what the political leaders were saying – they showed what was really going on. Nachtwey felt by becoming a war photographer he was witnessing history – not from an academic view but what happens to ordinary people. He could feel people’s authentic emotions. These experiences made the job of war photographer become really exciting and worthwhile to James. However, it took him a while to process this idea of becoming a war journalist – before trying to convince other people that he was able to do this job, he had to convince himself.