In the war photographer’s defence - the text, the image and the witness.

Abstract

Photographs speak to us silently across cultures and spaces and we see ourselves as reflected in the eye of the camera, through the bodies of the subjects portrayed and empathise with their plight. Beyond the camera as a mere instrument, the photographer as the vehicle and the photographs as the bridge to an alternative reality, we possess the ability to bear witness. It is through the eyes of the much-maligned photographer that we are granted the opportunity to see beyond the limited range of human capability. Thus, this essay attempts to explore the psyche of the war photographer and defend their cause.