bruce haley's "tao of war photography"

Stunning. Frightening. Important.

Those are the words that leaped to mind when going through Bruce Haley's portfolio. He's a Frank Capra award winner, has photographed conflicts all over the world, and if you've ever thought about what it would be like to be an international photojournalist, here is a gritty description from someone who has been there. Some time ago (more than a decade, actually), he wrote The Tao of War Photography. Now he's put it on his website. Some excerpts:

8. If a rebel commander asks whether you would like to be buried in his country or your own, he may very well be serious and not just testing your resolve...
18. If you don’t understand the entire concept of indirect fire, do not go to a war zone... If you only remember one thing from this article, let this be it.......
31. Huge, menacing rats like to perch upon sleeping photographers’ faces at 3 a.m in seedy hotels in warring portions of the former Soviet Union.....
64. d. Truly give a damn about the world......

I'll just confess my ignorance right up front. Haley is one of the people I I should have known about already, but hadn't. For the more knowledgeable among you, forgive my naivete. I can understand the rolling of the eyes. But I won't let my ignorance lead to embarrassed silence.

Give yourself a little time with this site. It will remind you of what photography can do, and the difference it can make. The whole list of "diverse bits of good advice peeking above the sarcasm" is over here.

Via "We Can Shoot Too"