Tyler Hicks

Jon » 05 December 2007 » In Afghanistan, journalism, photography »

(Tyler Hicks, staff photographer at my local paper, is responsible for the rats-at-city-hall images in the next post).

Tyler Hicks was named Photographer of the Year by Picture of the Year International. Here’s one of the photographs featured in the award -it’s undated - of a child named Mohammed Akbar, here cared for by his uncle, also named Mohammed.

mohammad-akbar-kandahar-by-tyler-hicks-480-x-319-poy-2007.jpg

 

Also - the Tyler Hicks Gallery at The Digital Journalist. From his introduction:

Iraq introduced me to a culture which operates on fear and repression, during a time which offered me a glimpse into a country I could only begin to understand by being here in person. Over the period of three trips beginning in October, I worked in Baghdad as a photographer for The New York Times. When I first arrived the constant paranoia of our government appointed “minders” was nothing more than an annoyance, or an aspect of the job which simply frustrated those of us working here. I soon learned that their fear was valid. I blame my initial non-acceptance in part on my personal reluctance that such repression of the human spirit was still exercised with such widespread force.

I soon found myself falling into another form of the same fear and behavior of those around me whom I had become increasingly annoyed with. Our intention was to lead the regime to believe we were playing by the rules, that our presence was a benefit to them, essential to our continued stay in the country. If a journalist or photographer broke the rules it might result in being kicked out of the country, or for a visa not be extended to remain in Iraq. For an Iraqi the consequences would mean prison, torture or even execution. During the regime, to photograph in the direction of a police station, government building or presidential palace would likely result in arrest of a foreigner such as myself. Several journalists and photographers were arrested and imprisoned during the war for trying to do their job, and were fortunate to have been released in the final days as the Americans approached and many other prisoners were being executed.

Tyler Hicks Gallery at The Digital Journalist

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