Today I went along on the recommendation of my photography mentor, Nathalie, to see a new exhibition of photos by James Nachtwey. Arguably the best documentary photographer in the world, this exhibition was a series of photos of people in Asia & Africa suffering from AIDS and/or TB. The images were so powerful I had tears streaming down my face after only 10 minutes or so. The exhibition was so far removed from a gallery exhibition it was obscene to be regarding the images from an aesthetic point of view, they hit you in the gut, I’m hoping this is the effect he was after, like a slap in the face to wake us up from our cushy lives and remind us how the other half lives. What can we do, each one of us, to help end these horrific injustices that are affecting the worlds poor. I had tears for the victims, but also tears for all the amazing people that give up all sorts of things to give aid and assistance – just by being there in some instances. How is it that some people are so selfless while there are others, myself included, who just don’t know and don’t really think about how we can help?

This is the role of a documentary photographer. Make us see what’s going on under our noses, make the invisible, visible.

In 2001, a documentary was made about James Nachtwey called War Photographer. The film went on to win 12 international film festivals and received an Oscar nomination. You can see a trailer here.