Description
As an army sweeps through a town, a war photographer falls in with them. At first, the camera is there to bear witness to the atrocities of war. But as time progresses, the photographer begins to question their role.
Whose truth will be told? How close do they need to be? And what would those pictures say about us all?
Review
This is a stunning illustrated story, told in words and through detailed illustrations. It was a difficult book to place for Standing Order. Although it is strictly speaking in picture book format, we felt that the complexity of the subject matter, the illustrations, the themes and the story itself, meant that The Photographer lent itself to being enjoyed by more senior readers who appreciate stories told in both words and pictures. As a result, we have chosen to include it in our Secondary Graphic package, and we hope you find it a valuable addition to your collection.
A war photographer sees and experiences the futility of war up close. Indeed, as the photographer notes “If your pictures aren’t good enough; you’re not close enough”, and in this extraordinary piece of work, the reader is taken into the photographer’s world.
It highlights how important and powerful the work of photographers can be, particularly in this setting, as a way of portraying, documenting and witnessing the horrors that are unfolding around them, but also the power of speaking truth and the importance of dignity and humanity. It shows the human impact of war, not only on those living through it, but also on those taking part in it and on the photographer who is documenting it all.
It is the type of book that can be looked at for hours, as the illustrations are incredibly intricate and powerful, and will leave a lasting mark on those that have read it. It is suited to all secondary aged students.
Teacher notes prepared by the publisher are available on our website for this title.
