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This photograph is one of my favourites as well as my worst. Aside from being an award-winning image (Amnesty International Photojournalist of the Year 1996), it does nevertheless take me back to Kabul in Afghanistan in January 1995 and the Indira-Ghandi hospital.
I was on assignment for the Scotsman at a time when there were only three journalists in Kabul. AFP, BBC and Reuters.
The 8-10 year-old girl was in the children’s ward along with several other kids all of whom had been burnt by an exploding landmine. Apart from the severe injuries she had sustained, her screams I still hear today.
This is a good picture. I’m not sure what there is to debate, but here goes…
This kind of scene (sadly) is an all too familiar one and because of that most people are hardened to seeing them. For those of us who have been in similar situations it brings back our own memories.
I guess that the fact that this was shot in 1995 probably explains why it’s in black and white. These days an image has to be shot in colour if it’s going to be seen by the widest possible audience and black and white has to have superb light to have it’s full impact.
As far as caption information goes – I’d like to know which army planted the mine, what happened to the child (I assume she died) and whose hands are stretching into the frame. That kind of stuff is far more interesting than an award won eleven years ago.
Comment #1 posted by Neil Turner at 4 May, 07:57 AM