February
8
“Ultimately any good war photography becomes anti-war,” says English war photojournalist Tim Page who has covered world events for the last four decades. “Only from a distance, or through the sanitizing filter of television, does war take on the majesty of ballet; up close it hurts and smells of death. War is against all things human – ask anyone who’s ever been there.” (Interview with Capture, 2005).
And been there he has, in Vietnam, Kossovo, Iraq, Sri Lanka, Nicaragua and Lebanon. He’s also been wounded four times by a landmine, shrapnel and even friendly fire.
Page at the Requiem exhibition at the War Remnants Museum, Saigon by Peter Stuckings
Page’s most recent journey took him to Afghanistan to train promising young students in photojournalism. But he probably became best known for his coverage of the Vietnam War, work that has become iconic and featured in books such as “Mindful Moment”, “Page after Page” and “Nam”.
His colourful personality and ability to be on the cutting edge helped shape his career. And his photographs tell this story with dramatic images of children affected by Agent Orange and those injured by landmines particularly in Cambodia and Vietnam. Tim has now turned his camera to documenting the story of the innocent victims of war. He has also documented the world’s natural peace and beauty in photos of a woman giving birth and a child in peaceful meditation.
Victims of Agent Orange (left) by Page and Page in Afghanistan (right) by Fardin Waezi (UNAMA).
It’s his search for a middle path in life after seeing so much conflict that now draws him forward.
“We can always talk, we can always have dialogue…” he said to Capture. “We don’t need to go into conflict. There is a possibility always for negotiation.”
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