I I will show some pictures that were published a lot so they look like this
published a lot so they look like this
published a lot so they look like this their dramatic images I worked for
their dramatic images I worked for
their dramatic images I worked for mainly for the New York Times as a
mainly for the New York Times as a
mainly for the New York Times as a freelance photographer in Iraq and in
freelance photographer in Iraq and in
freelance photographer in Iraq and in Afghanistan for about ten years
Afghanistan for about ten years
Afghanistan for about ten years and among many others I took these
and among many others I took these
and among many others I took these images and I’m very happy with them
images and I’m very happy with them
images and I’m very happy with them they’ve very dynamic and dramatic and I
they’ve very dynamic and dramatic and I
they’ve very dynamic and dramatic and I took them and I’m proud of them but they
took them and I’m proud of them but they
took them and I’m proud of them but they are also in a way predictable if you
are also in a way predictable if you
are also in a way predictable if you look at images that are published a lot
look at images that are published a lot
look at images that are published a lot about war you will always find similar
about war you will always find similar
about war you will always find similar patterns they’re all some sort of
patterns they’re all some sort of
patterns they’re all some sort of technically saying involve like tanks
technically saying involve like tanks
technically saying involve like tanks there are soldiers with uniform their
there are soldiers with uniform their
there are soldiers with uniform their weapons so a lot of times these
weapons so a lot of times these
weapons so a lot of times these publications show us war in a way that
publications show us war in a way that
publications show us war in a way that we expect it to look like which is not
we expect it to look like which is not
we expect it to look like which is not wrong but it’s and that is my argument
wrong but it’s and that is my argument
wrong but it’s and that is my argument it isn’t predictable it’s something that
it isn’t predictable it’s something that
it isn’t predictable it’s something that we feel we already know
so I took this image in Iraq but it’s
so I took this image in Iraq but it’s basically my Vietnam moment we all know
basically my Vietnam moment we all know
basically my Vietnam moment we all know this image already and we’ve seen it
this image already and we’ve seen it
this image already and we’ve seen it many many times and I just repeat it and
many many times and I just repeat it and
many many times and I just repeat it and then it’s printed and we like ha
then it’s printed and we like ha
then it’s printed and we like ha oh yeah that’s war so I was very angry
oh yeah that’s war so I was very angry
oh yeah that’s war so I was very angry and being German being being angry comes
and being German being being angry comes
and being German being being angry comes almost naturally so I am I guess so I
almost naturally so I am I guess so I
almost naturally so I am I guess so I was told I should never ever ever
was told I should never ever ever
was told I should never ever ever whatever happens I should not leave this
whatever happens I should not leave this
whatever happens I should not leave this little carpet I try okay I try so I I
little carpet I try okay I try so I I
little carpet I try okay I try so I I just did I think I did you do get little
just did I think I did you do get little
just did I think I did you do get little electric shocks if you if you leave this
electric shocks if you if you leave this
electric shocks if you if you leave this carpet they sent me a twenty page
carpet they sent me a twenty page
carpet they sent me a twenty page document with the rules you know guys I
document with the rules you know guys I
document with the rules you know guys I never read it sorry I’m so I was angry
never read it sorry I’m so I was angry
never read it sorry I’m so I was angry because a lot of the images that I took
because a lot of the images that I took
because a lot of the images that I took in Iraq and Afghanistan were never
in Iraq and Afghanistan were never
in Iraq and Afghanistan were never published and amongst those were
published and amongst those were
published and amongst those were pictures that were too horrific to
pictures that were too horrific to
pictures that were too horrific to publish they were too terrible for the
publish they were too terrible for the
publish they were too terrible for the publications the the publication did not
publications the the publication did not
publications the the publication did not dare to show them to you as the viewer
dare to show them to you as the viewer
dare to show them to you as the viewer so I was there made me angry it made me
so I was there made me angry it made me
so I was there made me angry it made me feel like I didn’t do my job properly
feel like I didn’t do my job properly
feel like I didn’t do my job properly because my job is not just to take the
because my job is not just to take the
because my job is not just to take the images my job is to ensure that the
images my job is to ensure that the
images my job is to ensure that the image is also published so I started
image is also published so I started
image is also published so I started this little experiment and the
this little experiment and the
this little experiment and the experiment looks like this became a very
experiment looks like this became a very
experiment looks like this became a very small tiny book with pictures there are
small tiny book with pictures there are
small tiny book with pictures there are not my best pictures they’re not my most
not my best pictures they’re not my most
not my best pictures they’re not my most dramatic pictures from war they are
dramatic pictures from war they are
dramatic pictures from war they are basically my most horrific pictures and
basically my most horrific pictures and
basically my most horrific pictures and I went back through my archive and I
I went back through my archive and I
I went back through my archive and I looked at all the most horrible pictures
looked at all the most horrible pictures
looked at all the most horrible pictures and I put them in a little book and I
and I put them in a little book and I
and I put them in a little book and I just wanted to see what what would
just wanted to see what what would
just wanted to see what what would happen and what happened was that people
happen and what happened was that people
happen and what happened was that people got really interested in that idea and
got really interested in that idea and
got really interested in that idea and they they looked at this book like a lot
they they looked at this book like a lot
they they looked at this book like a lot and a lot of people especially young
and a lot of people especially young
and a lot of people especially young people
people
people me not very impressed and ive never seen
me not very impressed and ive never seen
me not very impressed and ive never seen images like this before which made me
images like this before which made me
images like this before which made me really worried because I believe these
really worried because I believe these
really worried because I believe these images are important to see now sorry
images are important to see now sorry
images are important to see now sorry I’m the only one using hand mic so I
I’m the only one using hand mic so I
I’m the only one using hand mic so I don’t know why so I did my book and and
don’t know why so I did my book and and
don’t know why so I did my book and and it was a big success I was I was very
it was a big success I was I was very
it was a big success I was I was very happy with it I chose the book as as the
happy with it I chose the book as as the
happy with it I chose the book as as the context for this work there was no
context for this work there was no
context for this work there was no exhibition there was no online slide
exhibition there was no online slide
exhibition there was no online slide show these pictures didn’t happen on
show these pictures didn’t happen on
show these pictures didn’t happen on social media it was a book that it had
social media it was a book that it had
social media it was a book that it had to be a book it was really important
to be a book it was really important
to be a book it was really important that the context of this work is a book
that the context of this work is a book
that the context of this work is a book because in a book you have complete
because in a book you have complete
because in a book you have complete control only text you have complete
control only text you have complete
control only text you have complete control over what you want to see and
control over what you want to see and
control over what you want to see and how you want to see it and how fast you
how you want to see it and how fast you
how you want to see it and how fast you want to see it and do you want to see it
want to see it and do you want to see it
want to see it and do you want to see it at all or do you want to see it maybe
at all or do you want to see it maybe
at all or do you want to see it maybe two weeks from now or two years from now
two weeks from now or two years from now
two weeks from now or two years from now a book is something that gives you as
a book is something that gives you as
a book is something that gives you as the viewer complete control of how you
the viewer complete control of how you
the viewer complete control of how you look at the images so it had to be book
look at the images so it had to be book
look at the images so it had to be book now the trouble with the book is if I’m
now the trouble with the book is if I’m
now the trouble with the book is if I’m invited as the crazy person to an event
invited as the crazy person to an event
invited as the crazy person to an event like this how do you show the book
like this how do you show the book
like this how do you show the book basically you can’t because you change
basically you can’t because you change
basically you can’t because you change the context you change the context of
the context you change the context of
the context you change the context of how you show the work and if you change
how you show the work and if you change
how you show the work and if you change the context which worked the so
the context which worked the so
the context which worked the so difficult is so hard to look at which is
difficult is so hard to look at which is
difficult is so hard to look at which is so which can basically backfire in such
so which can basically backfire in such
so which can basically backfire in such a such a terrible way where people would
a such a terrible way where people would
a such a terrible way where people would just be shocked and would not be able to
just be shocked and would not be able to
just be shocked and would not be able to wouldn’t have any chance to reflect on
wouldn’t have any chance to reflect on
wouldn’t have any chance to reflect on what they’ve seen then there will be
what they’ve seen then there will be
what they’ve seen then there will be disaster so I was invited last year to
disaster so I was invited last year to
disaster so I was invited last year to quite a similar event and they said well
quite a similar event and they said well
quite a similar event and they said well we’re going to show the book in a loop
we’re going to show the book in a loop
we’re going to show the book in a loop it’s like an endless loop and it they
it’s like an endless loop and it they
it’s like an endless loop and it they had a huge screen 6 meter screen and I
had a huge screen 6 meter screen and I
had a huge screen 6 meter screen and I wanted to show these images 6 meters as
wanted to show these images 6 meters as
wanted to show these images 6 meters as a loop why we had a nice conversation on
a loop why we had a nice conversation on
a loop why we had a nice conversation on the stage and I said no please don’t do
the stage and I said no please don’t do
the stage and I said no please don’t do that
that
that it’s not fair it’s not right you cannot
it’s not fair it’s not right you cannot
it’s not fair it’s not right you cannot bombard these people with these images
bombard these people with these images
bombard these people with these images they have to decide what they want to
they have to decide what they want to
they have to decide what they want to look at not the organizers of the event
look at not the organizers of the event
look at not the organizers of the event so they said whether we figure something
so they said whether we figure something
so they said whether we figure something out and we always do it like this so we
out and we always do it like this so we
out and we always do it like this so we have to do it like this and I said oh
have to do it like this and I said oh
have to do it like this and I said oh Jesus so it’s not it like this so this
Jesus so it’s not it like this so this
Jesus so it’s not it like this so this is actually the original the original
is actually the original the original
is actually the original the original slides that they show show then the
slides that they show show then the
slides that they show show then the first picture I thought okay well I
first picture I thought okay well I
first picture I thought okay well I guess it’s gonna be interesting what
guess it’s gonna be interesting what
guess it’s gonna be interesting what would happen next and that’s what
would happen next and that’s what
would happen next and that’s what happened next so they decided to censor
happened next so they decided to censor
happened next so they decided to censor the book and first I was laughing I was
the book and first I was laughing I was
the book and first I was laughing I was like what I mean I I mean you can’t do
like what I mean I I mean you can’t do
like what I mean I I mean you can’t do that can you and then I was quite angry
that can you and then I was quite angry
that can you and then I was quite angry and then I thought this is brilliant
and then I thought this is brilliant
and then I thought this is brilliant because it solved my problem you can
because it solved my problem you can
because it solved my problem you can show the book without showing the images
show the book without showing the images
show the book without showing the images without forcing you to look at the
without forcing you to look at the
without forcing you to look at the images without you know trapping you in
images without you know trapping you in
images without you know trapping you in this situation where you you know either
this situation where you you know either
this situation where you you know either close your eyes or run out of the room
close your eyes or run out of the room
close your eyes or run out of the room or so it better you can show the book
or so it better you can show the book
or so it better you can show the book you can explain what what the intention
you can explain what what the intention
you can explain what what the intention was without showing the actual images so
was without showing the actual images so
was without showing the actual images so they showed the whole book like this
they showed the whole book like this
they showed the whole book like this sometimes it wasn’t necessary apparently
sometimes it wasn’t necessary apparently
sometimes it wasn’t necessary apparently to censor and sometimes it was so they
to censor and sometimes it was so they
to censor and sometimes it was so they had the assistant of the of the the
had the assistant of the of the the
had the assistant of the of the the person who organized this just hold up
person who organized this just hold up
person who organized this just hold up little pieces of paper in front of the
little pieces of paper in front of the
little pieces of paper in front of the most terrific parts and I thought I mean
most terrific parts and I thought I mean
most terrific parts and I thought I mean it’s brilliant because sometimes you
it’s brilliant because sometimes you
it’s brilliant because sometimes you have to do a lot and sometimes not a
have to do a lot and sometimes not a
have to do a lot and sometimes not a little so I thought what is the person
little so I thought what is the person
little so I thought what is the person who did this thing is most horrific what
who did this thing is most horrific what
who did this thing is most horrific what is words covering and was not worth
is words covering and was not worth
is words covering and was not worth covering so I thought it’s it’s a good
covering so I thought it’s it’s a good
covering so I thought it’s it’s a good way to actually show show the work which
way to actually show show the work which
way to actually show show the work which is so much about self-censorship the
is so much about self-censorship the
is so much about self-censorship the basic idea and the main idea of this
basic idea and the main idea of this
basic idea and the main idea of this book is self-censorship and this is
book is self-censorship and this is
book is self-censorship and this is exactly what this person did with my
exactly what this person did with my
exactly what this person did with my book so it’s you know I couldn’t have
book so it’s you know I couldn’t have
book so it’s you know I couldn’t have imagined it it’s too good it’s too
imagined it it’s too good it’s too
imagined it it’s too good it’s too brilliant so um sometimes yeah it was
brilliant so um sometimes yeah it was
brilliant so um sometimes yeah it was everything um now I have a few books we
everything um now I have a few books we
everything um now I have a few books we need so later you can actually look at
need so later you can actually look at
need so later you can actually look at the book it’s much more important to
the book it’s much more important to
the book it’s much more important to than to see this strange slide show here
than to see this strange slide show here
than to see this strange slide show here I do have an epilogue in the book which
I do have an epilogue in the book which
I do have an epilogue in the book which I can show the uncensored version of
I can show the uncensored version of
I can show the uncensored version of and it goes like this I have grandfather
and it goes like this I have grandfather
and it goes like this I have grandfather and his name is doctor a lot of panget
and his name is doctor a lot of panget
and his name is doctor a lot of panget so my grandfather was believing Nazi
so my grandfather was believing Nazi
so my grandfather was believing Nazi until the day he died
until the day he died
until the day he died and I got to know him when I was a kid
and I got to know him when I was a kid
and I got to know him when I was a kid and when he was talking about war he was
and when he was talking about war he was
and when he was talking about war he was telling these very positive adventure
telling these very positive adventure
telling these very positive adventure stories about war there riding around
stories about war there riding around
stories about war there riding around with their horses there was you know
with their horses there was you know
with their horses there was you know there was they were very close to each
there was they were very close to each
there was they were very close to each other’s soldiers but it was all very
other’s soldiers but it was all very
other’s soldiers but it was all very positive like an adventure story and
positive like an adventure story and
positive like an adventure story and only much later I realized when I went
only much later I realized when I went
only much later I realized when I went to cover wars when I worked as a
to cover wars when I worked as a
to cover wars when I worked as a photographer in conflict areas how much
photographer in conflict areas how much
photographer in conflict areas how much he had actually censored himself how
he had actually censored himself how
he had actually censored himself how much he had lied to himself and also how
much he had lied to himself and also how
much he had lied to himself and also how much he lied to me basically telling me
much he lied to me basically telling me
much he lied to me basically telling me these adventure stories and so I
these adventure stories and so I
these adventure stories and so I included him as a as an epilogue in the
included him as a as an epilogue in the
included him as a as an epilogue in the end of the book to show well to to have
end of the book to show well to to have
end of the book to show well to to have a rather painful personal example from
a rather painful personal example from
a rather painful personal example from my family of somebody who had really
my family of somebody who had really
my family of somebody who had really self-censored himself but then if it’s
self-censored himself but then if it’s
self-censored himself but then if it’s almost as meant as a warning if you
almost as meant as a warning if you
almost as meant as a warning if you combine this self-censorship that we all
combine this self-censorship that we all
combine this self-censorship that we all have in us with the state ideology like
have in us with the state ideology like
have in us with the state ideology like the Nazi ideology this can be actually
the Nazi ideology this can be actually
the Nazi ideology this can be actually very dangerous so we should be really
very dangerous so we should be really
very dangerous so we should be really really careful with our self-censorship
so the book this has a design feature
so the book this has a design feature which is quite unique some of the pages
which is quite unique some of the pages
which is quite unique some of the pages in the book are closed so you have to
in the book are closed so you have to
in the book are closed so you have to open them with a knife or letter opener
open them with a knife or letter opener
open them with a knife or letter opener and you actually have to do something
and you actually have to do something
and you actually have to do something you have to actively decide if you want
you have to actively decide if you want
you have to actively decide if you want to open these extra pages or not so the
to open these extra pages or not so the
to open these extra pages or not so the idea is to remind the viewer of his and
idea is to remind the viewer of his and
idea is to remind the viewer of his and her responsibility to make that decision
her responsibility to make that decision
her responsibility to make that decision what do I want to see what is important
what do I want to see what is important
what do I want to see what is important what do I have to see okay that was the
what do I have to see okay that was the
what do I have to see okay that was the first part now the second part thanks
first part now the second part thanks
first part now the second part thanks for staying with me through the serious
for staying with me through the serious
for staying with me through the serious matter there’s a second set of images
matter there’s a second set of images
matter there’s a second set of images that is rarely published and I had a
that is rarely published and I had a
that is rarely published and I had a folder on my on my desktop while I was
folder on my on my desktop while I was
folder on my on my desktop while I was traveling in Iraq and Afghanistan which
traveling in Iraq and Afghanistan which
traveling in Iraq and Afghanistan which was called weird pictures so whenever I
was called weird pictures so whenever I
was called weird pictures so whenever I encountered weird pictures during my
encountered weird pictures during my
encountered weird pictures during my practice which was surprisingly often I
practice which was surprisingly often I
practice which was surprisingly often I would dump the pictures in that folder
would dump the pictures in that folder
would dump the pictures in that folder and so after publishing the war pawn
and so after publishing the war pawn
and so after publishing the war pawn book I felt there’s another very
book I felt there’s another very
book I felt there’s another very important aspect of war that is
important aspect of war that is
important aspect of war that is underreported that is really not
underreported that is really not
underreported that is really not considered enough and that is absurdity
considered enough and that is absurdity
considered enough and that is absurdity so I have I made a book full of these
so I have I made a book full of these
so I have I made a book full of these strange pictures that were created in in
strange pictures that were created in in
strange pictures that were created in in war zones and interestingly there was
war zones and interestingly there was
war zones and interestingly there was more acceptance in the public for the
more acceptance in the public for the
more acceptance in the public for the first book than the second book people
first book than the second book people
first book than the second book people have really really irritated with the
have really really irritated with the
have really really irritated with the second book because they you know you
second book because they you know you
second book because they you know you don’t laugh about war or something and
don’t laugh about war or something and
don’t laugh about war or something and what is something terrible we should do
what is something terrible we should do
what is something terrible we should do everything we possibly can to avoid
everything we possibly can to avoid
everything we possibly can to avoid armed conflict but then at the same time
armed conflict but then at the same time
armed conflict but then at the same time more something deeply human and always
more something deeply human and always
more something deeply human and always happened and we will always make war and
happened and we will always make war and
happened and we will always make war and there will always be some sort of daily
there will always be some sort of daily
there will always be some sort of daily life in war and there will be always
life in war and there will be always
life in war and there will be always something to laugh about in war also and
something to laugh about in war also and
something to laugh about in war also and it’s much harder to explain this than to
it’s much harder to explain this than to
it’s much harder to explain this than to explain the war porn book because
explain the war porn book because
explain the war porn book because whooping whoa everybody can imagine that
whooping whoa everybody can imagine that
whooping whoa everybody can imagine that this is somehow horrible but that what
this is somehow horrible but that what
this is somehow horrible but that what can be you know filled with daily life
can be you know filled with daily life
can be you know filled with daily life with laughter is really hard to
with laughter is really hard to
with laughter is really hard to understand
like he was looking for the holes he was
like he was looking for the holes he was supposed to have created and couldn’t
supposed to have created and couldn’t
supposed to have created and couldn’t find them this is one of Saddam
find them this is one of Saddam
find them this is one of Saddam Hussein’s horses he had a huge horse
Hussein’s horses he had a huge horse
Hussein’s horses he had a huge horse collection and all the horses were
collection and all the horses were
collection and all the horses were killed or ran away or they were eaten or
killed or ran away or they were eaten or
killed or ran away or they were eaten or something and so this is the one of the
something and so this is the one of the
something and so this is the one of the very few surviving horses of Saddam
very few surviving horses of Saddam
very few surviving horses of Saddam Hussein I was quite surprised to find
Hussein I was quite surprised to find
Hussein I was quite surprised to find all these posters of paradise and beauty
all these posters of paradise and beauty
all these posters of paradise and beauty in these places so this poster found in
in these places so this poster found in
in these places so this poster found in a in a medical aid station set up by the
a in a medical aid station set up by the
a in a medical aid station set up by the Iraqi army they had very little supply
Iraqi army they had very little supply
Iraqi army they had very little supply that terrible wounds coming in trauma
that terrible wounds coming in trauma
that terrible wounds coming in trauma patients it was quite horrific but had
patients it was quite horrific but had
patients it was quite horrific but had these posters up of paradise this in
these posters up of paradise this in
these posters up of paradise this in Afghanistan and I was traveling with the
Afghanistan and I was traveling with the
Afghanistan and I was traveling with the German military and the German
German military and the German
German military and the German Bundeswehr is probably the only military
Bundeswehr is probably the only military
Bundeswehr is probably the only military in the world who goes to battle with a
in the world who goes to battle with a
in the world who goes to battle with a foldable toilet and they have regular
foldable toilet and they have regular
foldable toilet and they have regular paper and wet tissue paper right
this was a War Memorial in Baghdad
this was a War Memorial in Baghdad created by an Italian architect in the
created by an Italian architect in the
created by an Italian architect in the 80s for Saddam Hussein some among you
80s for Saddam Hussein some among you
80s for Saddam Hussein some among you might know this plant yep marijuana all
might know this plant yep marijuana all
might know this plant yep marijuana all over the place
over the place
over the place southern Afghanistan the young soldiers
southern Afghanistan the young soldiers
southern Afghanistan the young soldiers are like 19 you know foot patrol through
are like 19 you know foot patrol through
are like 19 you know foot patrol through like fields and fields of maryam/mary
like fields and fields of maryam/mary
like fields and fields of maryam/mary you on are endless they thought was very
you on are endless they thought was very
you on are endless they thought was very cool but this this stuff is actually
cool but this this stuff is actually
cool but this this stuff is actually produced for the local markets and the
produced for the local markets and the
produced for the local markets and the biggest buyer of this material is the
biggest buyer of this material is the
biggest buyer of this material is the Afghan army and they’re always good fun
so it was really the official symbol of
so it was really the official symbol of this unit was the rainbow they the other
this unit was the rainbow they the other
this unit was the rainbow they the other soldiers from the other units thought
soldiers from the other units thought
soldiers from the other units thought it’s quite funny this is in front of a
it’s quite funny this is in front of a
it’s quite funny this is in front of a palace in Tikrit in Iraq during a
palace in Tikrit in Iraq during a
palace in Tikrit in Iraq during a ceremony and yeah I was like it it’s
ceremony and yeah I was like it it’s
ceremony and yeah I was like it it’s like war as a theater play so to come
like war as a theater play so to come
like war as a theater play so to come back to the what I why I’m here so what
back to the what I why I’m here so what
back to the what I why I’m here so what is war really like well I’m actually
is war really like well I’m actually
is war really like well I’m actually quite not quite sure but I think war is
quite not quite sure but I think war is
quite not quite sure but I think war is more complicated than we maybe think
more complicated than we maybe think
more complicated than we maybe think what can be more funny than we think
what can be more funny than we think
what can be more funny than we think more is definitely more horrible and
more is definitely more horrible and
more is definitely more horrible and horrendous than we think and I think we
horrendous than we think and I think we
horrendous than we think and I think we should try to do a better job to show
should try to do a better job to show
should try to do a better job to show give you an honest picture of what war
give you an honest picture of what war
give you an honest picture of what war can look like thank you
can look like thank you
can look like thank you you
”
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