When he was a kid, James Nachtwey loved to draw pictures of the Civil War and World War II. More than 40 years later, Nachtwey, a documentary photographer, is still making images of war. Now, he uses a camera.
"I'm photographing situations that need to be changed," Nachtwey, 55, told TFK. "I think photography is a tool for social awareness. That's why I am a photographer."
Powerful images of the Vietnam War and the civil rights movement inspired Nachtwey's own work. He has covered war, famine and critical social issues. His award-winning photographs have appeared in magazines and museums. He has been named Magazine Photographer of the Year seven times!
Nachtwey's job takes him around the world. When pre-paring for an assignment, he reads newspapers and magazines to research an area's issues. Once he arrives, he often uses an interpreter to speak with the local people. And he's not picky about where he stays: "A garbage bag on the ground in the jungle, or in a nice hotel, and anything in between," he says.
In December 2003, Nachtwey was injured while covering a story in Iraq for TIME magazine. "I'm always aware of the risk. It's part of my job," he says. Nachtwey took time off to recover, but he is already planning his next assignment. "I use fear to help me survive. The idea is not to let fear control you, but you control the fear."
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To see more of Nachtwey's photos, go to timeforkids.com/photos.