Photography Can Be Perceived As The Opposite

The Worst Thing Is To Feel That As A Photographer I Am Benefiting From Someone Else's Tragedy. This Idea Haunts Me. It's Something I Have To Reckon With Every Day Because I Know That If I Ever Allow Genuine Compassion To Be Overtaken By Personal Ambition, I Will Have Sold My Soul. The Only Way I Can Justify My Role Is To Have Respect For The Other Person's Predicament. The Extent To Which I Do That Is The Extent To Which I Become Accepted By The Other; And To That Extent, I Can Accept Myself.

The Pictures That Were Coming From Vietnam Were Showing Us What Was Really Happening On The Ground Level. It Was In Contradiction To What Our Political And Military Leaders Were Telling Us. They Were Straight Forward Documentary Images. A Powerful Indictment Of The War, Of How Cruel And Unjust It Was. When I Finally Decided What To Do With My Life, It Was To Follow In That Tradition.

Do We Really Need Another Picture Of Paris Hilton Or Naomi Campbell?

You Are Never Freer Than In That Moment When You Decide To Expose Yourself To Sniper Fire.

For Me, The Strength Of Photography Lies In Its Ability To Evoke Humanity. If War Is An Attempt To Negate Humanity, Then Photography Can Be Perceived As The Opposite Of War.