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.]
If I had anything of value, car/house/ whatever.. I would sell it to be able to get a whatever camera, and a plane ticket there. I want to help bring funds to the victims of Japan through images for humanitarians and non-profit organizations. It kills me everytime I think about this what I could be doing to help out, if only I had a way. I was disabled in ’09 in Iraq, I was a medic for the Marines, and I had everything I wanted, car,mac pro,apartment, D3s, and about 15k+ in glass. Was moonlighting on the side, but wanted to pursue when I got out. However, it has been almost two years and uncle sam, still hasn’t paid my benefits yet, so I lost everything in bankruptcy. Barely with a temporary place to stay, and some food-stamps I am surviving.
I know what it feels like to lose everything, (not to a tsunami) but in the same sense. I have lost everything a 23y/o man could lose. Dignity, pride, assets, and my wife.
Photography is my life, and I feel compelled to do it. The only reason I haven’t driven myself crazy, is I am able to read photography books.. to keep me sane. So I want to thank you Chase, and everyone else who supplies information in the photography world to help others, and to keep me from dying. Hopefully one day I will get what I deserve from the military, and be with you men/women supplying the generation with information and beautiful, compelling images.
thanks for the great note, josh. much respect and gratitude to you.
Thank you Chase, and even more to you. Whatever you do, never take what YOU have personally built with your HARD WORK for granted. The success that you have brought onto yourself, is second to none in my opinion. I hear a lot of people complaining, about “Oh Chase is so lucky, he gets to do this and that and whatever he wants..” And to comments like this, I shake my head to the ignorance of others, just looking on the outside.. Most people want the world handed to them, and when they see someone successful, they MUST be lucky. Pfft, they worked hard. They put in the man-hours. You were probably worked your ass off to get where you are today. Most people don’t know, but I read an interview you did with David duChemin, and how you started with your grand fathers equipment. Thats amazing. And how you worked hard at shops, to stay near the clientele you wanted, and liked being around, and how you persistently stayed in their minds, by insisting on showing them how good your work is, and how much passion you have for doing what you do. But that was the hard work* that you and only you put in. Yes, we watch your success in envy, longing to have that magnitude of success, and I will one day have a chance to do the same, hopefully. Until I win the lottery, or find a camera under my pillow from the Photo Gods, I will continue to keep myself occupied with your work and blogs Chase, because you stand above the ‘noise’ and actually post from experience and a general WANTING to HELP others.
Congratulations on ALL of your accomplishments, and HARD WORK.
-Josh Long
@ alexy. we value your opinion. the personal attack go suck it part is for the chumps, not this forum. i’m leaving your comment here only so i can respond to it on the merit of your concern for the actual point.
rather than write my answer again, best to read my response to many of the above who shared a similar concern – espcially to @claude immediately above. thanks.
WTF. sorry chase, trying to understand yo point, but posts like these bring out the fckn retards.
but Fine Art? Lets see what you would call photos of your town, country demolished.
Sorry man, go suck it.
Fine art of destruction? I’m sorry Chase, but, as someone who lived through the earthquake in Haiti, this was really a poor choice of words. I couldn’t imagine someone using the words fine art to describe the devastation I saw. I have no doubt your intentions were good, but you could have chosen a different way to express your point of view.
@claude – no intention to offend here. you’re missing the point.
i hope that after reading the post, that in reading the comments above, you picked up that my goal is actually in line with what you’re saying and not opposed to it. My choice of words was 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…”
the “fine” attached to art (which i have drawn a line through to recognize the objections) has nothing to do with the horror of the disaster, but only in regards to a photographic attempt to capture something of a higher stake than “just” journalism out of a respect.
Chase, thank you for your reply. I wasn’t offended. I understand your point of view better now. Ultimately, what is most important is that the people of Japan get all the help they need, and that their beautiful country can get back on its feet as soon as humanly possible.
Are you people really stupid enough to think that Chase is celebrating this tragedy?
Or are you just looking for something to get angry about?