Agence France-Presse — Getty Images
No doubt you’ve seen some images from the earthquake and tsunami like these here from the NY Times/AP. The devastation in Japan is horrific, as is the state of affairs, the deaths, missing people, damaged lives and immeasurable property damage. Unthinkable sadness.
The photos too are extremely powerful. In kind, in their quietness, in scale. In short, they are completely surreal. The ability for a photograph to tell a story in a single moment is undeniable. This is journalism, but were it not for a natural disaster, the subject matter of the images reads like a fine art of destruction.
The world’s head and heart are with you Japan. More shocking and surreal images captured by AP reporters in Japan after the jump.
Kyodo News, via Associated Press
Kyodo/Reuters
Kyodo News, via Reuters
Kyodo News, via Associated Press
To see a dozen more of these images, visit the Asia Pacific photo gallery here at the NY Times.
[Images from AP and NYTimes via the respected agencies cited below each image. Post inspired by Rachel’s over at A Photography Blog. Text REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation to Japan tsunami relief or click here.]
Did they ever find Hoppers pic yet?
I think the title kinda went down the wrong pipe for me too, but I am not as bent about it. I appreciate the perspective and LOVE the fact that these photos are marking a major historical event. They are profound and disturbing and REAL LIFE. Thanks for sharing them to help tell this tragic tale. My heart aches looking at them and my thoughts go out to all affected.
My heart goes out to the people of Japan this has been a world changing event and hopefully some good will come from this starting with the world uniting to help.
Fine art is a very poor choice in words. I’m not sure if you realize how that sounds? It’s witnessing a tragedy with an eye for detail…but not fine art. Sorry, I just read that title differently than you.
Mike – understand your thoughts. my goal, so you know, is trying to suggest an elevated dignity to these images as something more than journalism…an amazing care put into the image to capture something so moving as to illicit compassion and understanding….along the lines as what jon said above… “The power of an image is to facilitate understanding… to rescale an event into something that anyone can grasp and feel…”
My thoughts exactly Mike. As I scrolled down to reply I seen you post. I’d personally retitle this post if it were mine. I understand you Chase that you are trying to elevate th… I don’t know “profoundness” …of these images. But understand “fineart” is dehumanizing and not very respectful to a country that holds respect in very high moral regard I might add.
Chris Bernard – chrisbernardphotography.com
All the grand images of destruction, and this one ( http://i.imgur.com/tcVQD.jpg ) is the hardest one to look at. The power of an image is to facilitate understanding… to rescale an event into something that anyone can grasp and feel. I have a 5 year old daughter, and this image with context just ruined me. I am a 30 year old man crying in a coffee shop.