Mitchell Banks
JN 134 RP
Lynsey Addario Book Report
5-30-18
I
recently read a book titled It’s what I
do by Lynsey Addario, an American photojournalist that documents the true
human cost of war in Afghanistan for the New York Times. I admire Lynsey Addario’s
bravery, ambition and determination to capture photos of such dangerous
environments and grim situations. Her passion for photography and capturing the
story is clearly shown through out her work. Her work gives viewers a unique
perspective on the realisms of combat situations and the long-lasting effects
that it has on people as well as their communities. I believe one of her most
compelling photos is of a young Afghan boy named Khalid, after being hit with
shrapnel fragments from a bomb dropped on his village. The picture shows
Khalid’s innocent face bandaged and his bloodshot eyes are filled with fear and
confusion (Its what I do, Lynsey
Addario, chapter 9 photo). Lynsey Addario’s ability to capture both sides of
the story set her work apart from other photographers. She is eager to capture
all aspects of war, from taking pictures of high ranking U.S. military officers
in tactical operation control rooms to villagers and Taliban fighters on the
mountain sides of Afghanistan.
I
really admire Lynsey Addario’s ability to challenge herself when it comes to
her life and her work; she makes it her mission, like a navy seal commando
journalism super hero woman. One of my favorite quotes from the book is “Every
day I would push myself to do something I didn’t want to do…The philosophy
extended to work: I allowed myself to enjoy life only if I worked hard, if I
tested my limits, if I created a lasting body of work.”(
It’s what I do, Lynsey Addario page 186.) That quote inspired me to
get out of my comfort zone on a sports and action assignment for my
photojournalism class. While I was taking pictures of dirt bikes practicing at
a local raceway, I wanted to get closer to the action and
the
jumps. I found myself on the edge of the track kneeling down just a few feet
from the racing motorcycles going down the track. I was nervous being that
close and I looked around and wondered to myself,” Am I allowed to be here?”
Soon after a group of racers came by and
I started snapping pictures, I realized I was in a great spot and my only focus
was to capture the action happening in front of me. I’m glad that I pushed
myself to go where I didn’t feel comfortable, because I quickly overcame that
when I saw how great the shots were.
I would certainly recommend that
other people read this book. The stories are eye opening and are so interesting
that you just want to keep reading. The book does a great job of showing the
everyday life and struggles of war on both sides of the fence. I think it’s
important for people to realize and understand the effects of war on people and
their communities.
