Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Shooting War: A Photographer's Vision

Photographers can't wait for the perfect shot as war happens all around them. "When shooting pictures at a time like this, there is a split-second chance to make a frame that reflects my feelings about what I am witnessing--the craziness of the environment and the pain and danger that are ever present," Marcus Bleasdale writes in Nieman Reports from Harvard University.

Surrounded by danger -- he never knows if in the next minute he will be hit, arrested or shot -- the photojournalist seeks "to represent the reality of what is happening." Bleasdale uses both words and pictures to share that reality.

Visit his website to see more of his award-winning work, hear his podcasts and see how journalists today are using technology to communicate across platforms.

6 comments:

fatima almarzouqi said...

The war for a photographer is very diffecult because he has to shoot everyday pictures of what is happening in the war. But i think today it becomes boring because there is repat of the same pictures of war in the media such as bombs and door kicking. How many times can you put them on the front page?

Some photographer get hit by a couple of roadside bombs while they taking picture. Marcus Bleasdale has spent 10 years covering the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo and has written two books, “One Hundred Years of Darkness” and “The Rape of a Nation.” He did a great job and im sad to hear that this photographer was dead.

Duaa Mukhayer said...

Shooting under the fire is one of the hardest jobs that a journalist and a photographer have to do. Photographers especially face risk every minute while shooting because they have to be in the field and any bomb can hit them or any soldier can shoot them because they does not know their identity or job.

I think war photography is very important because it shows the world what is going on in that place and snap the moments which will never happen again. Some times these pictures talk to the world and move them to stop the violence in that area.

Hemyan Al Meraikhi said...

To some photo journalists, being present at the time of war, may be a dream. Persuing their dreams in a risky situation to portray the truth to the world may cause them their lives. That what gives the audience an artistic sense to the process. I am sick of looking at images that cause people to take sides or judge whether the situation has a moral value to it. I consider those images an art piece created by the photographer and will judge based on the quality and technique.

Suhaila Saeed Salh said...

The Photo journalist really knows what is his responsible toward people. he or she should get the reality about the war. They already know the risk that come with this job. In this job, the photo journalist face death every day which make them pressure their life more and they feel more responsible toward people in their home. It is very important job to do and government should give more attention and protection to their journalists. About Marcus Bleasdale, he is a good journalist and I love his work. I wish if we have an Emirati photojournalist go to war and get famous.

Aysha (200720325/202-002) said...

photojournalists have a harder time in reporting war scenes as they need to be ready to take a shot during a critical moment and at the same time jeopardizing their lives in the prosses

Unknown said...

shooting at times of war is indeed a very risky job that needs a great amount of bravery and courage.
photographers who r involved in this practice do realize the risk they take every time they're in the war field but in the same time, their passion to interpret reality and show the world what really goes on in wars gives them the boost they need to actually continue on what they are doing.