Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2000/08/30
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Hi, I've seen nothing negative in print about Nachtwey's work, which I admire greatly. Do you have a date for the Village Voice review, by any chance - I'd like to read it. Does the review present any facts about Nachtwey's actions or words to support their claim? Also, where and when on the web did all this discussion take place? I'd like to read it if it's archived. As to whether the supposed lack of humanity comes through in his pictures, that is perhaps a matter of personal interpretation. I've met and talked to Don McCullin and he seems like a very good person, as well as a great photographer. I haven't met Nachtwey, or even seen any interviews with him, so I can only go by his writing, his photography and by what others, who also know him personally, have written. I expect to be meeting some of the other Magnum photographers next week :-) so maybe I'll get a chance to find out what they think of him. So far, none of the evidence I've seen or read supports your opinion. Incidentally, even if Nachtwey does 'lack humanity' to suggest that he is complicit in the suffering he photographs is really a very strong accusation. I understand your reluctance to divulge in public the name of the former director you describe. Perhaps you could let me know privately who you mean. Regards, Bob >From: ARTHURWG@aol.com > >The only negative thing I saw in print was a review in the Village Voice >newspaper. But there was much discussion on the web on the subject; also in >private conversation with the former director of one of the top photo >agencies who knows Nachtwey personally. The upshot of the Voice article >was >that Nachtwey seems to place himself as superior to his subjects, who were >treated coldly. This is my personal opinion as well. When you compare >Nachtwey to someone like Don McCullin (my favorite war photographer), the >lack of humanity comes through rather clearly. It's difficult for me not to >see Nachtwey's silent complicity in the suffering he documents. Arthur _________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com. Share information about yourself, create your own public profile at http://profiles.msn.com.