I grew up in my dad’s waterfront restaurant serving people like John
restaurant serving people like John
restaurant serving people like John Travolta and Walter Cronkite in the
Travolta and Walter Cronkite in the
Travolta and Walter Cronkite in the summertime I’d watch my little town
summertime I’d watch my little town
summertime I’d watch my little town swell in June and then vacate by
swell in June and then vacate by
swell in June and then vacate by September I’d then head back to school
September I’d then head back to school
September I’d then head back to school nodding my bike up the hill past dormant
nodding my bike up the hill past dormant
nodding my bike up the hill past dormant houses for extra cash as a teenager I
houses for extra cash as a teenager I
houses for extra cash as a teenager I helped yachts prepare for their trip
helped yachts prepare for their trip
helped yachts prepare for their trip down to the Caribbean
down to the Caribbean
down to the Caribbean I was hired as delivery crew on a big
I was hired as delivery crew on a big
I was hired as delivery crew on a big beautiful wooden sailboat called white
beautiful wooden sailboat called white
beautiful wooden sailboat called white Hawk as far as Newport but I wanted to
Hawk as far as Newport but I wanted to
Hawk as far as Newport but I wanted to go further in high school I took a
go further in high school I took a
go further in high school I took a course on the Vietnam War in a dark
course on the Vietnam War in a dark
course on the Vietnam War in a dark little classroom a slideshow of images
little classroom a slideshow of images
little classroom a slideshow of images transformed that yearning to travel into
transformed that yearning to travel into
transformed that yearning to travel into a bigger mission I learned that a
a bigger mission I learned that a
a bigger mission I learned that a fistful of images had ended that war the
fistful of images had ended that war the
fistful of images had ended that war the burning girl the spy shot in the head
burning girl the spy shot in the head
burning girl the spy shot in the head the piles of dead babies during the
the piles of dead babies during the
the piles of dead babies during the malai massacre these atrocities had to
malai massacre these atrocities had to
malai massacre these atrocities had to be photographed to be believed what
be photographed to be believed what
be photographed to be believed what power even 50 years later especially
power even 50 years later especially
power even 50 years later especially fifty years later a lone committed
fifty years later a lone committed
fifty years later a lone committed photographer can alter the course of
photographer can alter the course of
photographer can alter the course of history my own relative privilege and a
history my own relative privilege and a
history my own relative privilege and a political parents had / had protected me
political parents had / had protected me
political parents had / had protected me from a raw dialogue of history this
from a raw dialogue of history this
from a raw dialogue of history this realization motivated me to become a
realization motivated me to become a
realization motivated me to become a photojournalist the history we know is
photojournalist the history we know is
photojournalist the history we know is the history we see several wars and
the history we see several wars and
the history we see several wars and continents later that commitment to
continents later that commitment to
continents later that commitment to history still guides me I approach each
history still guides me I approach each
history still guides me I approach each story in three tiers the immediate
story in three tiers the immediate
story in three tiers the immediate moment the story of today and the story
moment the story of today and the story
moment the story of today and the story as it should be perceived 50 years from
as it should be perceived 50 years from
as it should be perceived 50 years from now I’m writing a book about my time
now I’m writing a book about my time
now I’m writing a book about my time photographing in Iraq and I’ve been
photographing in Iraq and I’ve been
photographing in Iraq and I’ve been looking through my entire archive as a
looking through my entire archive as a
looking through my entire archive as a visual journal as I said at my computer
visual journal as I said at my computer
visual journal as I said at my computer my four-year-old daughter Beatrice pulls
my four-year-old daughter Beatrice pulls
my four-year-old daughter Beatrice pulls on my arm asking me to watch Sesame
on my arm asking me to watch Sesame
on my arm asking me to watch Sesame Street with her on the computer screen
Street with her on the computer screen
Street with her on the computer screen an image of insurgents praying in a
an image of insurgents praying in a
an image of insurgents praying in a bombed-out home in Iraq mama did I go
bombed-out home in Iraq mama did I go
bombed-out home in Iraq mama did I go there with you was I
there with you was I
there with you was I there she asks I want to say no
there she asks I want to say no
there she asks I want to say no sweetheart you were definitely not there
sweetheart you were definitely not there
sweetheart you were definitely not there and you were not there a moment later
and you were not there a moment later
and you were not there a moment later when that guy pulled a grenade pin on me
when that guy pulled a grenade pin on me
when that guy pulled a grenade pin on me and you weren’t there when I followed a
and you weren’t there when I followed a
and you weren’t there when I followed a slippery thin eight-year-old boy into a
slippery thin eight-year-old boy into a
slippery thin eight-year-old boy into a sapphire mine in Madagascar or when
sapphire mine in Madagascar or when
sapphire mine in Madagascar or when Michelle Obama sat in the Sun soaked
Michelle Obama sat in the Sun soaked
Michelle Obama sat in the Sun soaked room who the dying Nelson Mandela but
room who the dying Nelson Mandela but
room who the dying Nelson Mandela but instead I just say baby please just go
instead I just say baby please just go
instead I just say baby please just go back to watch your show so that I can
back to watch your show so that I can
back to watch your show so that I can finish my work it’s hard to reconcile
finish my work it’s hard to reconcile
finish my work it’s hard to reconcile the me of today with who I was a few
the me of today with who I was a few
the me of today with who I was a few years ago as I look through my images
years ago as I look through my images
years ago as I look through my images there are those whose significance has
there are those whose significance has
there are those whose significance has been bleached through time but there are
been bleached through time but there are
been bleached through time but there are others those precious few who still meet
others those precious few who still meet
others those precious few who still meet the third most important tear and that
the third most important tear and that
the third most important tear and that was always the goal does this image
was always the goal does this image
was always the goal does this image matter 50 years from now I covered much
matter 50 years from now I covered much
matter 50 years from now I covered much of the first three years of the war in
of the first three years of the war in
of the first three years of the war in Iraq 2004 was the most significant it’s
Iraq 2004 was the most significant it’s
Iraq 2004 was the most significant it’s April the country’s falling apart at the
April the country’s falling apart at the
April the country’s falling apart at the seams iraqi shiaa fed up with empty
seams iraqi shiaa fed up with empty
seams iraqi shiaa fed up with empty promises begin to take up arms against
promises begin to take up arms against
promises begin to take up arms against the US military their liberators just a
the US military their liberators just a
the US military their liberators just a year before I’m working for The New
year before I’m working for The New
year before I’m working for The New Yorker magazine with a writer when we
Yorker magazine with a writer when we
Yorker magazine with a writer when we make forays into a neighborhood slum in
make forays into a neighborhood slum in
make forays into a neighborhood slum in the morning when the rhythm of war
the morning when the rhythm of war
the morning when the rhythm of war allows mornings our quietest nights the
allows mornings our quietest nights the
allows mornings our quietest nights the worst one morning after heavy fighting
worst one morning after heavy fighting
worst one morning after heavy fighting we drive to a morgue when they start
we drive to a morgue when they start
we drive to a morgue when they start stacking bodies in a refrigerated morgue
stacking bodies in a refrigerated morgue
stacking bodies in a refrigerated morgue you know it’s been bad on this morning
you know it’s been bad on this morning
you know it’s been bad on this morning they’re stacking them outside that is
they’re stacking them outside that is
they’re stacking them outside that is very bad we meet a family picking up the
very bad we meet a family picking up the
very bad we meet a family picking up the body of their son he’s a martyr they say
body of their son he’s a martyr they say
body of their son he’s a martyr they say I take some photographs of the coffin a
I take some photographs of the coffin a
I take some photographs of the coffin a crude plywood the body thrown in so fast
crude plywood the body thrown in so fast
crude plywood the body thrown in so fast that blood drips through the seams they
that blood drips through the seams they
that blood drips through the seams they strap the coffin to the top of a truck I
strap the coffin to the top of a truck I
strap the coffin to the top of a truck I take another close-up image of the blood
take another close-up image of the blood
take another close-up image of the blood as it had dripped halfway down the
as it had dripped halfway down the
as it had dripped halfway down the windshields drying Midway I get
windshields drying Midway I get
windshields drying Midway I get permission to photograph the funeral so
permission to photograph the funeral so
permission to photograph the funeral so we followed the truck through empty
we followed the truck through empty
we followed the truck through empty streets and arrived at a little
streets and arrived at a little
streets and arrived at a little courtyard women spill out of the house
courtyard women spill out of the house
courtyard women spill out of the house their arms in the air howling I turned
their arms in the air howling I turned
their arms in the air howling I turned my attention from the somber work of the
my attention from the somber work of the
my attention from the somber work of the men to this unrestrained passion of the
men to this unrestrained passion of the
men to this unrestrained passion of the women grieving is segregated the men
women grieving is segregated the men
women grieving is segregated the men stay outside and I go with the women and
stay outside and I go with the women and
stay outside and I go with the women and the coffin inside
the coffin inside
the coffin inside the lull in fighting is temporary I know
the lull in fighting is temporary I know
the lull in fighting is temporary I know I have mere minutes to work so my hands
I have mere minutes to work so my hands
I have mere minutes to work so my hands start to shake the power’s out the
start to shake the power’s out the
start to shake the power’s out the little windows curtain’d I spin the dial
little windows curtain’d I spin the dial
little windows curtain’d I spin the dial on my camera to a slow twentieth of a
on my camera to a slow twentieth of a
on my camera to a slow twentieth of a second calibrating to the darkness there
second calibrating to the darkness there
second calibrating to the darkness there are more women inside their black abayas
are more women inside their black abayas
are more women inside their black abayas crowding that room now noxious the
crowding that room now noxious the
crowding that room now noxious the rancid cheese smell of the body I snap
rancid cheese smell of the body I snap
rancid cheese smell of the body I snap glimpses of white faces I moved to get
glimpses of white faces I moved to get
glimpses of white faces I moved to get to a better angle and I trip over the
to a better angle and I trip over the
to a better angle and I trip over the coffin I feel nauseous
coffin I feel nauseous
coffin I feel nauseous the women howl allowed her it was a
the women howl allowed her it was a
the women howl allowed her it was a primal pain violent women start woman
primal pain violent women start woman
primal pain violent women start woman starts beating her chest and others
starts beating her chest and others
starts beating her chest and others follow their arms flashing in the thin
follow their arms flashing in the thin
follow their arms flashing in the thin light another woman tears off her
light another woman tears off her
light another woman tears off her headscarf and begins to beat her hair
headscarf and begins to beat her hair
headscarf and begins to beat her hair her hair catches and tangles and her
her hair catches and tangles and her
her hair catches and tangles and her fingers just makes her scream louder now
fingers just makes her scream louder now
fingers just makes her scream louder now drowning out gunfire that I hear popping
drowning out gunfire that I hear popping
drowning out gunfire that I hear popping in the distance I point my camera around
in the distance I point my camera around
in the distance I point my camera around the room and land on a boy I hadn’t
the room and land on a boy I hadn’t
the room and land on a boy I hadn’t noticed before crouching at the foot of
noticed before crouching at the foot of
noticed before crouching at the foot of his brother’s coffin his face to the
his brother’s coffin his face to the
his brother’s coffin his face to the ceiling the whites of his eyes blurred
ceiling the whites of his eyes blurred
ceiling the whites of his eyes blurred with grief a rumble shakes the house
with grief a rumble shakes the house
with grief a rumble shakes the house several percussive explosions follow the
several percussive explosions follow the
several percussive explosions follow the fighting is getting closer when I keep
fighting is getting closer when I keep
fighting is getting closer when I keep my camera on the boy whose eyes are now
my camera on the boy whose eyes are now
my camera on the boy whose eyes are now blazing with fear I feel weak my bones
blazing with fear I feel weak my bones
blazing with fear I feel weak my bones hollow my camera feels like an anvil I’m
hollow my camera feels like an anvil I’m
hollow my camera feels like an anvil I’m alone in this mission there’s no easy
alone in this mission there’s no easy
alone in this mission there’s no easy escape from the house the fighting is
escape from the house the fighting is
escape from the house the fighting is nearly on us and I risk being stuck like
nearly on us and I risk being stuck like
nearly on us and I risk being stuck like this family that boy is he
this family that boy is he
this family that boy is he experiences this everyday what does that
experiences this everyday what does that
experiences this everyday what does that do to a five-year-old kids psyche he is
do to a five-year-old kids psyche he is
do to a five-year-old kids psyche he is the picture I need to make I work harder
the picture I need to make I work harder
the picture I need to make I work harder don’t let this be a futile risk I tell
don’t let this be a futile risk I tell
don’t let this be a futile risk I tell myself I square my shoulders to him and
myself I square my shoulders to him and
myself I square my shoulders to him and make four more frames before they pull
make four more frames before they pull
make four more frames before they pull the coffin away that boy is either dead
the coffin away that boy is either dead
the coffin away that boy is either dead a refugee or a soldier today he’d be 18
a refugee or a soldier today he’d be 18
a refugee or a soldier today he’d be 18 I wouldn’t be able to find him but I’m
I wouldn’t be able to find him but I’m
I wouldn’t be able to find him but I’m still telling his story it became
still telling his story it became
still telling his story it became impossibly dangerous to photograph Iraqi
impossibly dangerous to photograph Iraqi
impossibly dangerous to photograph Iraqi civilians later that year on another
civilians later that year on another
civilians later that year on another trip I spent on
trip I spent on
trip I spent on trying and nearly dying before I just
trying and nearly dying before I just
trying and nearly dying before I just got on a plane and went home as I was
got on a plane and went home as I was
got on a plane and went home as I was walking through customs an editor from
walking through customs an editor from
walking through customs an editor from Time magazine asked if I’d get on
Time magazine asked if I’d get on
Time magazine asked if I’d get on another plane to Chicago
another plane to Chicago
another plane to Chicago I’d be photographing an exciting new
I’d be photographing an exciting new
I’d be photographing an exciting new politician then State Senator Barack
politician then State Senator Barack
politician then State Senator Barack Obama after witnessing years of failed
Obama after witnessing years of failed
Obama after witnessing years of failed foreign policy and reluctant to
foreign policy and reluctant to
foreign policy and reluctant to photograph any politician but I go a
photograph any politician but I go a
photograph any politician but I go a couple of election cycles later I’m an
couple of election cycles later I’m an
couple of election cycles later I’m an official White House photographer for
official White House photographer for
official White House photographer for President Barack Obama
President Barack Obama
President Barack Obama some days I photographed the Situation
some days I photographed the Situation
some days I photographed the Situation Room other days his family one hot day
Room other days his family one hot day
Room other days his family one hot day in June
in June
in June it’s Sasha’s 10th birthday the party is
it’s Sasha’s 10th birthday the party is
it’s Sasha’s 10th birthday the party is around the White House’s modest pool
around the White House’s modest pool
around the White House’s modest pool hidden from public view by high hedges I
hidden from public view by high hedges I
hidden from public view by high hedges I keep half an eye on the president in
keep half an eye on the president in
keep half an eye on the president in case he gets an important call but I
case he gets an important call but I
case he gets an important call but I noticed some of the girls are sneaking
noticed some of the girls are sneaking
noticed some of the girls are sneaking out through the hedges my instinct for
out through the hedges my instinct for
out through the hedges my instinct for history kicks in and I follow I pull my
history kicks in and I follow I pull my
history kicks in and I follow I pull my lens wide to take in the group of girls
lens wide to take in the group of girls
lens wide to take in the group of girls and me on bathing suits having a water
and me on bathing suits having a water
and me on bathing suits having a water balloon fight on the South Lawn of the
balloon fight on the South Lawn of the
balloon fight on the South Lawn of the White House each girl a different shade
White House each girl a different shade
White House each girl a different shade mostly brown laughing with abandon in
mostly brown laughing with abandon in
mostly brown laughing with abandon in front of a home built by slaves that is
front of a home built by slaves that is
front of a home built by slaves that is an image I will be proud of 50 years
an image I will be proud of 50 years
an image I will be proud of 50 years from now my own daughter Beatrice is
from now my own daughter Beatrice is
from now my own daughter Beatrice is also a shade of lovely brown skin the
also a shade of lovely brown skin the
also a shade of lovely brown skin the truth is I was never alone she was with
truth is I was never alone she was with
truth is I was never alone she was with me not as my daughter
me not as my daughter
me not as my daughter with a thought of having a daughter but
with a thought of having a daughter but
with a thought of having a daughter but as a then unborn child that would need
as a then unborn child that would need
as a then unborn child that would need to know history like me that girl
to know history like me that girl
to know history like me that girl watching the boats leave or that boy at
watching the boats leave or that boy at
watching the boats leave or that boy at the foot of his brother’s coffin my
the foot of his brother’s coffin my
the foot of his brother’s coffin my daughter reaching her little fingers up
daughter reaching her little fingers up
daughter reaching her little fingers up to touch those images thank you
”
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