I remember the raw emotion I experienced when first seeing images that captured defining moments of the 20th century like Nick Ut’s “Napalm girl”, the street execution of a Viet Kong officer taken by Eddie Adams and Dorothea Lang’s photo of a migrant mother which become an iconic image of the Depression in the USA. 

Those photojournalistic images tell us stories that are just as powerful today as they were when they were first published. They exposed what was happening to the rest of the world, creating awareness and shaping attitudes. 

I recall the significant impact that James Nachtwey’s Ted Talk “Let my photographs bear witness” had on me. In particular, I recall him saying; “Photos have the ability to give a voice to those who would otherwise not have a voice”. 

I later learnt from humanitarian photographers like Karl Grobl, Patrick Firouzian and others about the positive impact that photography can have on the work of non-governmental organisations. Over the intervening years I have experienced the value that photographs add to a story, and how they engage the viewer.

Over a number of years I have been following the examples set by photojournalists who support those without a voice. This has provided me with the opportunity to  work alongside a number of NGO’s and capture their stories. While it is a privilege to be involved, that privilege comes with a significant amount of responsibility, you are there to produce the images they require – its a challenge that I love.

I read that if you want to be a better photographer then you need to start by being a better person. I believe that working with NGOs and experiencing the challenges they face every day has helped me do that and is reflected in my work.

This little girl is one of the stories I will never forget. She was living with her family on the street outside the Cambodian Royal palace. They had some shelter and cooking implements. There were three generations literally living on the footpath. Another photographer and I took photos of the family. Searched Phnom Penh for somewhere to get the photos printed – and took them back to the family the next day.

I don’t know if any of the family had seen images of themselves – this little girl showed no emotion, no smile nothing – her grandmother asked her to smile.

I suspect she suffered from foetal alcohol syndrome. What would her future be – living on the street, uneducated, young and beautiful, I shutter to think what her future has been.

On subsequent trips I went looking for the family – Phnom Penh had been cleaned up for tourists – there were no families living on the street outside the royal palace… To this day each time I look at the image I wonder where she and what she is doing.

Things I Love