Lynsey Addario

 

It's What I Do: A Photographer's Life of Love and War chronicles the life of Lynsey Addario and her journey to becoming the well known and celebrated photojournalist she is today. In her memoir she describes what it was like to break into the male dominated field of conflict photography. 

In chapter nine of the book, Addario writes about her time photographing American soldiers in an active combat area in the Korengal Valley in late 2007. In this section she tells the story of being ambushed while with the soldiers and what it was like when a soldier Staff Sgt. Larry Rougle was killed in action. She details the scene and what was going through her head while she was somehow able to do her job and capture the moments after Rougle had been killed. “I raised my camera in a gesture to ask permission to photograph. I felt horrible asking, but we had been with them for two months, and I knew it was important to document Rougle’s death.”. 

Moments like that are what distinguish Lynsey Addario's work from other photographers. Her pure dedication and instinct for capturing worthy and important photos is inspiring. Another part of Addario’s work that I noticed was her ability to make her subject stand out so much. It is very hard to miss what Addario is trying to get you to look at, often the subject dominates the frame well and if there is a busy background, it is there on purpose and emphasizes the moment she is trying to capture. 

I think she displays this in a photo in chapter 7 of the book in a photo of a Sudanese Liberation Army soldier walking through the remains of Hangala Village. The soldier is not up front and center but very visible still and clearly the subject of an intense scene. 

 I think that I relate somewhat to Addario’s desire to capture a moment and tell a story but I do not think I have the same sense of duty that drives her to go to the extent she does. Regardless, what Addario does is admirable and inspiring. 

Her stories of photographing conflict can help any aspiring photojournalist to explore far past their comfort zone and push themselves to pursue the best possible photos that tell whatever story they are telling. She describes a time in chapter 1 when she was out of her comfort zone and perhaps in over her head when she tried getting her first job for the Buenos Aires Herald. She was given an opportunity and did everything right by simply showing up and being there to capture the photo. 

“I lowered my camera and just stood there, looking out at the balcony in the distance, convinced my career was over before it had even begun.”. My take away from that anecdote was just showing up and being present for the story is a huge part of it, the photography aspect can be learned in time. 

That is exactly how Addario has helped me in my introduction to journalism as a whole. Her work is now a model of what I may want to shape mine into, as different as our subjects may be. This book is an incredible read and I would absolutely recommend it to anyone interested in Addario’s work or any aspiring journalist. Her in depth analysis of her emotions and thoughts throughout her career puts what photojournalism is about into perspective.

Specialist Carl Vandeberge, center, and Sergeant Kevin Rice, behind, are assisted as they walk to a medevac helicopter minutes after they were both shot in the stomach during a Taliban ambush, which killed one soldier, and wounded both of them. Spc. Carl Vandeberge and Sgt. Kevin Rice, were flown out immediately for surgery. October 23, 2007.