Analysis Of The Photography Famine In Somalia By James Nachtwey

Famine may not be thought by some as a scary phenomenon unless he sees what may lead to it. Famine is a severe shortage of food resources as a result of conditions that result in starvation. Many reasons cause famine, for example, drought, the spread of agricultural pests, increase of the population, wars and in. From my point of view, I believe that famine is one of the worst phenomena on the earth because of what it leads to, for example, leading to famine and serious diseases. That is one of the reasons that led me to choose Famine in Somalia photo by James Nachtwey in 1992 to talk about in this essay. As I said the photograph that I choose was taken by James Nachtwey, whose an American photojournalist that was born on March 14, 1948, in New York. Nachtwey, known from his photos of social upheaval, and wars. He studied art history and political science at in Dartmouth College, when he saw the photo the 'Vietnam War and the American Civil Rights movement' in this moment his passion to photography started I have searched about this photo that gave him the passion, but unfortunately I didn’t found it .adding to that he is a self-taught photographer1. He was a newspaper photographer in 1976 New Mexico, he started his career as a freelance photographer in 1980. Also, he had solo exhibitions in many cities such as New York, and around the world2. He received a several most respected photography awards such as Robert Capa Gold Medal. There was a group of photographers selected to go to Somalia and take pictures of the famine, but unfortunately, Nachtwey was not one of those people, so he decided to go in his own and he got a support International Committee of the Red Cross “which is an organization established in 1863, the ICRC operates worldwide, helping people affected by conflict and armed violence and promoting the laws that protect victims of war”.

Somalian people in 1992 were suffering from the high increased in the food price, which led them to do not have food resources anymore. It’s really interesting how he has captured the death, suffer, the torment, the frustration all of these in a picture. I think that the value of this photograph is to show the story of Somalia and how they are suffering from the famine and to show the world how people are living in a bad situation and to show that there is another side of the world is suffering while you are comfortable in your country sitting in your house, they need help and support from the world. James photo of Famine in Somalia is an amazing photo because I can see that he is trying to communicate with the viewer, and in my point of view I think that he successes of what he wants to deliver because after this photo was published it has a big impact on the viewers, Jean-Daniel Tauxe, from Red Cross Committee said that this photo had a really great impact and difference because One and a half million people were saved. I think that its’ still has the value today because we are still reacting with the photo.

From the reasons that I choose this photo to talk about is this quote James Nachtwey “I have been, witness, and these pictures are a testimony. The events I have recorded should not be forgotten and must not be repeated.” The quote is simply a saying why chose it because of its unique photograph, it includes a lot of emotions, fallings. James wants to make people aware of issues that the media may not focus on it or do not give it important and I have noticed that he cares more about content, the concept of the image more than its beauty. Furthermore, it’s also contains skills of photography as an example there is a clear focal point in the photo which is the women in who sits in the wheelbarrow, also the position of her hand like if she is asking for help which is very emotional since and he delivered the pain that the Somalian are facing. I think because of Nachtwey style in photo from what I realized that he uses black and white most of the time in his photos5, and I really do think that its achieve his goal in the photograph because the women in the wheelbarrow and the other person on the left side saying we do not have hope anymore, that show his choice of photographing in black and white is a good choice also, wheelbarrow looks like its frame for the women. The angle I think its bird view angle because it’s not completely from the top, this angle it not used too much which I think that it adds to the photo more, he used depth of field in the picture. The exposure of the photo is good the small details clear, there is a contrast between the black and white.

In conclusion, the photograph “Famine in Somalia” by James Nachtwey, is an great photo that contains an impressive message that there is a sad side of the world that lives with pain and difficulty, so people must be aware of them to help them.

References

1. Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. 'James Nachtwey.' Encyclopædia Britannica. Accessed July 21, 2019. https://www.britannica.com/biography/James-Nachtwey.
2. 'Photographer James Nachtwey Biography -- National Geographic.' Photographer James Nachtwey Biography -- National Geographic. February 16, 2017. Accessed July 21, 2019. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/contributors/n/photographer-james-nachtwey/.
3. Mendoza, Alondra. 'Famine in Somalia by James Nachtwey 1992.' Famine in Somalia by James Nachtwey 1992. April 13, 2018. Accessed July 21, 2019. http://alo2129005.blogspot.com/2018/04/famine-in-somalia-by-james-nachtwey-1992.html.
4. 'Who We Are.' International Committee of the Red Cross. August 11, 2016. Accessed July 21, 2019. https://www.icrc.org/en/who-we-are.
5. 'Famine in Somalia | 100 Photographs | The Most Influential Images of All Time.' Time. Accessed July 21, 2019. http://100photos.time.com/photos/james-nachtwey-famine-in- somalia.
6. James Nachtwey. November 09, 2011. Accessed July 21, 2019. https://simoesasg2.wordpress.com/james-nachtwey/.