PDN - August 2011

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

When Don Mccullin anD eugene Richards sat down for a conversation, i planned to set up the mics, switch on the tape recorder, and then leave them alone. The idea behind this special heroes and Mentors issue was that two photographers would ask each other questions that journalists like me would never think of. however, Mccullin and Richards insisted i stay. They were surprisingly shy, and thought they might need me to prod them with questions. So i asked: “how did you two meet?” and then i didn’t need to say another word as i listened to them talk for the next two hours, unprompted, about journalistic ethics, alfred Stieglitz, family, relationships, trauma, anger, fear, personal regrets and professional frustrations. i can’t think of any other two hours i’ve enjoyed or appreciated more in my career at PDN.

When senior editor conor Risch first came up
with the idea of bringing together photographers
and the artists who have inspired their work, we as-
sumed each pair would talk to each other as fellow
practitioners. in fact, they often talked to each other
as people. Going through the tapes and transcripts, i
learned a little about how they shoot pictures, but i
learned much more about what their decision to be-
come photographers has meant to their lives. i also
discovered how they feel about being role models,
teachers, parents, sons or daughters and lovers. like
most of us, they wrestle with the challenge of how to
reconcile a fulfilling life and a meaningful career.

their legacies are also their many acts of kindness.

We shouldn’t be surprised that photographers whose best work brought us into the lives of other people were compassionate and empathetic. But our culture tends to romanticize artists who sacrifice everything for their work. When we talk about heroes and influential trailblazers, we’re talking about the inspiration we derive from the work they produce, not the lives they live. as we struggle to do well in both our lives and our work, maybe we need to look for different kinds of inspiration. of the many tributes written to hetherington and hondros, i keep thinking about what photographer James Pomerantz wrote on his Web site, a Photo Student, the morning after their deaths: “if you want to make a difference in the world but can’t make images as powerful as Tim’s or chris’s or aren’t as brave and committed as they were, you can start much closer to home by living with the generosity of spirit that they both displayed to everyone who had the honor of meeting them. “ Well said.

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