From the Photo District News online (pdnonline) article:
"Photographer James Nachtwey has won the 12th Annual Heinz Award for Arts and Humanities, the Pittsburgh-based Heinz Family Foundation announced today. The award carries a $250,000 prize.
'I was totally surprised but very honored and very happy about it,' Nachtwey says. 'I have a lot of ongoing long-term projects that I work on and I think this will facilitate them. … I'll definitely put [the prize] to good use.' ”
James Nacthwey (right) riding with troops on a Humvee in central Baghdad.
Anyone who has seen the movie, 'War Photographer' would likely make the assumption that James Nachtwey is somewhat unpretentious in his approach to photography. After attending a VII conference and listening to him describe images in his soft tone, I realized (myself being a young photographer and therefore not disillusioned quite yet) that he epitomizes a heroic photojournalist -- not because of his bouts with mortality or incredible imagery -- but because he unpretentiously cares about making the emphasis of his work visual tragedy, and not his persona.
It's beneficial that young photographers see such a talent whispering about his accomplishments -- eschewing personal success -- and placing the emphasis on the vital issues he captured. So, I congratulate Nachtwey for the prize, and wholeheartedly believe that he will put the money to great use: accentuating stories, and not himself.
- Rachel
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