War Photographer Flashcards
In his darkroom he is finally alone
“Darkroom” - creates a foreboding atmosphere
“Finally alone” - sense of relief about isolation (makes reader question what he wants to get away from)
As though this were a church and he
A priest pereparing to intone a Mass
Religious simile shows
- he is aware of the impact his photos have (as it is as important as religious worship)
- suggests a sombre mood
- parallel between his job and a priest, as both are frequently exposed to death and suffering
Belfast. Beirut. Phnom Penh.
Referencing various conflicts
Listing with very short sentences - slows pace down, and shows how many conflicts he has witnessed
All flesh is grass.
Phrase from the old testament (more religious imagery) - everything will wither and die
Suggests he is pessimistic due to all he has seen
He has a job to do.
Businesslike tone - created by monosyllabic words and the short sentence
Solutions slop in trays
Sibilance - creates a harsh atmosphere
Beneath his hands, which did not tremble then
Though seem to now.
Is reliving the conflict - he is traumatised by what he has seen, but was at the time seemingly unfazed
Rural England. Home again
To ordinary pain which simple weather can dispel
Problems are trivial, sunny day can make everything better - contrast to war torn settings with devastating emotional and physical pain
Fields which don’t explode beneath the feet
Of running children in a nightmare heat.
Ends stanza with image of the most vulnerable in society (children) suffering
Reference to a famous photo of a girl in a napalm attack - had a large impact on society at the time - contrasts to now, when war photography is mostly ignored
A stranger’s features
Faintly start to twist before his eyes,
A half formed ghost.
Literally refers to process of photo coming into focus while developing - also suggests the person’s dying features (face contorted/twisted in agony)
“Half formed ghost” - literally means the image is not yet fully developed - alludes to the man’s death
He rememer the cries
Of this man’s wife, how he sought approval
Without words to do what someone must
“The cries” - auditory imager used to develop the scene
“Sought approval… to do what someone must” - shows he is aware that his presence is intrusive but feels it is necessary to document the conflict and its effects
The blood stained into foreign dust.
“Stained” - suggests the war has irreversibly changed the country, left a mark
A hundred agonies in black and white
From which is editor will pick out five or six
For Sundar’s supplement.
Idea of consumerism - agonies being curated for the newspaper - seems callous and distasteful, criticism of the exploitative culture of journalism
The reader’s eyeballs prick
With tears between the bath and pre-lunch beers.
Word choice of “eyeballs” instead of eyes - suggests crying after seeing the photos is almost mechanical, they aren’t truly affected by the photos, don’t have a genuine, non-superficial response to them
“Tears… beers” - singsong internal rhyme implies the frivolous nature of the reader
He earns his living and they do not care. (End)
Ending message of people simply not caring about others in horrific conflicts
Very negative, pessimistic view of the state of first-world countries
Structure
Each stanza is a rectangular shape - like that of a polaroid, as each stanza is a snapshot of his work
Rhyme scheme ABBCDD - represents the photographer’s attempt to find order in the chaos of war
