Famous+Photographer


 * __Famous Photographer__**

//"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 Natchwey//


 * Give some historical background on their life:**

James Nachtwey was born on March 14th, 1948 in Syracuse, New York, and first delved into the world of professional photography when he became a photographer for the Albuquerque Journal in 1976. In 1980, Nachtwey moved to New York City in order to pursue a career as a freelance photographer. A year later, he was given his first overseas assignment documenting the turmoil in Northern Ireland. Nachtwey has been contracted with Time magazine since 1984, and has also been employed by firms such as Black Star (1980-5) and Magnum Photos (1986-2001). Furthermore, Nachtwey was instrumental in the founding of VII Photo Agency in 2001, of which he disassociated from in August 2011. Nachtwey has been injured while on the job in prior years, but it was only recently that he received his first combat injury during coverage of the American invasion of Iraq. An insurgent threw a grenade into the Humvee in which Nachtwey was riding with two American soldiers and several journalists from Time magazine. After the incident, Nachtwey was airlifted to Germany where he made a full recovery. In his photographs, Nachtwey primarily focusses on bringing the social, political, and economic shortcomings of the world to light; some of his more recent portfolios include documentation of the September 11 Terrorist Attacks, Pakistani heroin addicts, the combat in Israel/Gaza and the conflict in Sudan. In February 2011, Vogue published a contentious article by Nachtwey which portrayed Syrain dictator Bashar al-Assad in a favourable light, while in fact his military and secret police force ruthlessly quelled peaceful protests in regard to the Arab Springs. Vogue later removed the story from its pages.

Nachtwey has been the recipient of numerous awards such as the Common Wealth Award, Bayeux Award for War Correspondents, World Press Photo (1994), Overseas Press Club's Robert Capa Gold Medal (1983, 1984, 1986, 1994 and 1998), Dan David Prize (2002), 12th Annual Heinz Award (2002) and TED Prize (2007), the latter of which granted three winners $100,000 along with a "world changing wish". Nachtwey's wish was as follows: "There is a vital story that needs to be told, and I wish for TED to help me gain access to it and then help me come up with innovative and exciting ways to use news photography in a digital era". Moreover, several of Nachtwey's portfolios have been exhibited in many reputable institutions, such as the the International Center of Photography (New York), Bibliotheque nationale de France (Paris), Palazzo Esposizione (Rome) and Carolinum (Prague). He is also a member of the Royal Photographic Society and holds an Honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts from Massachusetts College of Arts.


 * Describe their influences:**

Nachtwey has said that photographs from the Vietnam War and the American Civil Rights movement are what prompted him to pursue photography. His photography career as a whole, however, is influenced by the troubles and conflicts of our times--from the Rwandan Genocide of 1994 to industrial pollution, from AIDS to the recent turmoil in Syria.


 * Describe their style and major genre:**

Nachtwey seems to be drawn to photographing how hardship affects people. He does this by showcasing and eternalizing small details: a pair of haunted eyes, a series of protruding ribs, a flood of grief. Nachtwey can be classified as a news photographer, who specifically documents serious social and political issues worldwide.

Nicaragua, 1984 - Relic of civil war became a monument in a park. Somalia, 1992 - Child starved by famine, a man-made weapon of mass extermination. Romania, 1990 - An orphanage for " incurables". Chechnya, 1996 - Ruins of central Grozny. El Salvador, 1984 - Army evacuated wounded soldiers from village football field. Excellent choice of images. 50/55
 * Upload a minimum of 5 photos that represent their work:**
 * What design elements are apparent?** Direction, Diagonals, Triangles, Colour Space, Element Relationship
 * Why is this a good representation of this photographer's work?** This picture shows how war and conflict can affect a child, which is a major theme in Nachtwey's photography. Ordinarily, one would expect a child to be playing on a playground, not on an abandoned tank. However, because of the depravity accompanying war, children have to make do with whatever they have, usually relying on innovation and imagination to create a form of entertainment.
 * Describe the use of light:** It is cloudy in this photograph, and light seems to stem from breaks in the haze. As a result, parts of the tank are in shadow while the child is highlighted.
 * What design elements are apparent?** Triangles, Planes And Depth Levels, Element Relationship
 * Why is this a good representation of this photographer's work?** Again, this picture showcases a child's suffering. Following the onset of the Somali Civil War (1991), Somalia was plagued by a severe famine which Nachtwey managed to give a tangible identity by taking this photograph.
 * Describe the use of light:** This photograph is taken from an angle that allows the light to create shadows, as in the case of the woman standing to the right of the child.
 * What design elements are apparent?** Depth, Direction, Colour Space, Element Relationship, Framing
 * Why is this a good representation of this photographer's work?** One reason contributing to the success of Nachtwey's photography career is his ability to unearth the greatest hidden tragedies of our time. Normally, one would deem orphanages to be something of a past, Dickens-esque era. However, as this photograph evidences, establishments of this nature existed merely a couple of decades ago, and still may be present in some parts of the world. Morever, I find that Nachtwey managed to capture the lives of these institutionalized children in an absolutely harrowing light, which can be attributed to sinister lighting, stark furniture and the child's expression.
 * Describe the use of light:** Nachtwey employed the use of light very well in this photograph. The darkness surrounding the cots makes them look like they are floating in midair and creates a foreboding mood.
 * What design elements are apparent?** Depth, Direction, Diagonals, Triangles, Planes And Depth Levels, Simple And Single Point, Framing
 * Why is this a good representation of this photographer's work?** What strikes me most about this photograph besides the intriguing layout, is the wary, almost jaded, expression of the child in the foreground. Nachtwey has such a talent for eternalizing details such as this via film, a talent surely exhibited in the case of this picture.
 * Describe the use of light:** The light in this photograph seems to be coming from the right, as that side of the child is ever so slightly highlighted. This draws the viewer to his expression, which is a major component of the picture.
 * What design elements are apparent?** Triangles, Planes And Depth Levels, Colour Space, Element Relationship
 * Why is this a good representation of this photographer's work? ** I love the how Nachtwey experimented with contrast in this photograph. The delicateness of the girls' dresses evokes a childlike innocence that can be quelled by war and conflict (symbolized by the helicopter).
 * Describe the use of light: ** There seems to be almost a tangible barrier between the dark haze in the background and the lighter foreground, which calls attention to the three little girls.