War Photographer

Finally alone

outsider/relief

spools of suffering set

Metaphor emphasised further by alliteration – many, many photographs of disturbing scenes

set out in ordered rows

trying to bring order to recently observed chaos

The only light is red

Reminds us of a Sanctuary lamp commonly found in Catholic Churches

As though this were a church and he a priest preparing to intone a Mass.

Extended metaphor – focuses us on the seriousness of this task; like a priest, he encounters pain and death regularly; like a priest, he reminds us how fragile life is; like a priest, the photographer’s job is to remind us of our “neighbour’s” suffering and that we should want to do something about that.

Belfast. Beirut. Phnom Penh.

(Father. Son. Holy Ghost) War torn places replacing the words of catholic mass.

The punctuation creates the rhythm of a chant, mimicking the rhythm of a Mass.

All flesh is grass.

Quotation from Bible, Old Testament, Isaiah: could interpret inclusion of this line to make us think about the fragility of life or insignificance of life or that we are all the same – we all die.

he has a job to do

Very matter of fact statement

solutions slop

Alliteration emphasises the 2 meanings here: literal chemicals that develop photographs (liquid solutions) and political solutions/his evidence of need for those solutions, but they’re not easy, hence the slopping description.

which did not tremble then though seem to now.  

This detail creates sympathy for the photographer – he couldn’t tremble at the time because he had a job to do.

Rural England

Contrast with war torn places/scenes of war.

To ordinary pain which simple weather can dispel,

Contrast with level of pain that can be experienced in an everyday capacity (unimaginable horrors versus normal upsets) – a sunny day can often lift our spirits/lessen our pain.

To fields which don’t explode beneath the feet

Contrasting types of field – mine fields/landmines and rural fields. One type equals death; the other equals growth and life.

Of running children in a nightmare heat.

More shocking/has more impact as a line because it is about children

Something is happening

Dramatic/suspenseful/focuses us back in on what is happening in the darkroom

to twist

sounds painful bro

a half-formed ghost

Metaphor has 2 meanings: the developing photograph, an image slowly emerging and this man is dead.

without words to do what someone must

It seems a terrible request but it is necessary for the world to know what is happening here

black and white

Literally the print of the photographs in the newspaper, but also the simplification of the wars/political issues by the readers.

pick out

Word choice implies lack of emotion/indifference. Such a casual phrase, as if selecting clothes from a rail over what looks best. The photographs are not even being published in the main paper but in separate part. Other supplements are often Sport , Food, Travel trivialising the subject.

reader’s eyeballs prick with tears

Short lived sympathy – readers are moved, but can move on quickly.

between the bath and pre-lunch beers

Rhyming tears and beers emphisises superficiality.

Contrast — comfortable life with victims of war

he stares impassively

Impassive = no reaction/feeling. Although this is where he makes his money, he doesn’t feel like he belongs here either – how could anyone relate to what his life/experience is like? He’s an outsider wherever he goes as he’s not an affected citizen of the wars he photographs.

where he earns his living and they do not care

England, the public.