Imperial War Museum

War Photography Exhibition

Being a war photographer is one of the most dangerous and traumatising jobs.  Through the camera, the public has the ability to see the ugly reality of and affecting of a War.

In a photographic sense, a photographer is having the chance to capture creative and ‘full of meaning’ images. Nonetheless, the cruelty of the events is sometimes extremely high and hence it is obvious that the work of a photographer may be affected.

Throughout the years, many photographer have been practised war photography and at the present day, many of those photographs, played a major role and had a great impact to society, in delivering the true events.

Lurry Burrows

Lurry Burrows was one of the greatest English photojournalists. Through his career he captured the war in Vietnam and has offered to the public numerous unforgettable images of the war.  His life and career came to an end, while he was in the field of the War, as his helicopter was shot dawn.

He spent almost 10 years of his life in the war, and hence he had the ability to provide both creative and informative photographs. A great example in 1966 he provided to the Life Magazine the ‘Reaching out’[1].

In relation to him John Saar provided that “The depth of his commitment and concentration was frightening. He could have been a surgeon or soldier or almost anything else, but he chose photography and was so dedicated that he saw the whole world in 35-mm exposures. Work was his life, eventually his death, and Burrows I think wouldn’t have bitched.”[2]

Moreover, as Lurry illustrated, his dream was to capture Vietnam at peace , however, at the time he was there, he had to capture the war without picking the safer aspects to capture, but the reality of what is really happening.Surely, Burrows provided timeless pictures and hence all his dedication and braveness was paid off.

Joe Rosenthal

Joe Rosenthal is best known for his Pulitzer Prize winning photograph ‘Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima’[3]. 

He had contributed in the history of the World War II, and hence his legacy is timeless as well as his work.

In relation to him, it was illustrated that:

“For exceptionally distinguished public service in support of the United States Navy and Marine Corps. On February 23, 1945, a bespectacled Mr. Rosenthal made a picture of five U.S. Marines and one U.S. Navy corpsman that immortalized the American Fighting spirit during World War II and became an everlasting symbol of service and sacrifice, transcending art and the ages. Mr. Rosenthal's poor eyesight prohibited him from serving in the armed services, so, he instead went to war summoning the craft he had practiced since the Great Depression. He bravely accompanied island-hopping forces in the Pacific as a civilian news photographer. On Iwo Jima, Japan, short of breath from climbing the 546-foot volcano, Mr. Rosenthal, in haste, stood on top of shaky rocks in search of the best graphic composition. As the six men hoisted an iron pole and the American flag unfurled in a smart breeze for all to see, Mr. Rosenthal captured the precise moment, unaware, until much later, of its significance. Since that very day, his iconic photo has stood as a testament to the perseverance, esprit and dedication of American Marines. In recognition of his own service and dedication, Mr. Rosenthal is posthumously awarded the Department of the Navy Distinguished Public Service Award.”[4]

PROJECT

As a part of my project, i had the chance to visit the War Museum in Manchester, were the photographs of Sean Smith were exhibited for limited time.

v  Sean Smith

Sean Smith is considered to be one of the greatest war photographers of nowadays. Through his career until now he had offered remarkable series of images of what is happening in Iraq, Afghanistan, Lebanon and DR Congo.

One of his latest exhibitions was related and dedicated to the war in Iraq, and hence his work of ‘Iraq: Photographs by Sean Smith’, was until recently displayed in the Museum of Manchester.

 Iraq: Photographs by Sean Smith

In my visit to the museum, I had the chance to see Smith’s exhibition and to see the description of each image through his written wording.

 Iraq: Photographs by Sean Smith

On imaged that touched me was the photograph of a woman crying in front of two American Soldiers.  The situation is very touching as within a single picture I could feel the pain and the negative impact of the war to the civilians as well as to see a deeper meaning. In my understanding,  by viewing this image is that despite the pain caused, the war has no feelings and continues no matter what, until the politicians get what they want.

By watching the photographs of Smith, I realized that he is a brave man. Doing this job means dedication and risk taking.  In order to achieve in what you are doing as a photographer, you have to take risks and to deliver the subject as it is with having no fear and choosing wisely what the public has to receive by watching the related subject.  War is the worst thing that can happen to individuals as well as to the society and country. It is not something to be embraced though images but to show the cruelty and negatives of what is offering.

Even if though time the Earth suffered great pain for wars, and even if it is well known that a war is offering nothing else but death and victory to politicians, they are still part of our existence and hence photographers are fighting in their way to provide peace.

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[1] LARRY BURROWS’ ‘REACHING OUT,’ 1966, available in http://life.time.com/history/vietnam-war-the-story-behind-larry-burrows-1966-photo-reaching-out/#1

[2] Read more: Vietnam War: The Story Behind Larry Burrows’ 1966 Photo, ‘Reaching Out’ | LIFE.com http://life.time.com/history/vietnam-war-the-story-behind-larry-burrows-1966-photo-reaching-out/#ixzz2ptZb6svI

[3] Available in http://research.archives.gov/description/520748

[4] Odom, Sgt. Christine C. (September 17, 2006). "Marine Corps awards Joe Rosenthal Distinguished Public Service Medal". Marine Corps News (United States Marine Corps). Archived from the original on May 18, 2008