WAR PHOTOGRAPHER

War Photographer - Context

Carol Ann Duffy Born 1955

Duffy may have been inspired to write this poem by her friendship with a war photographer. She was especially intrigued by the peculiar challenge faced by these people whose job requires them to record terrible, horrific events without being able to directly help their subjects.

The subject of the poem could well be Don McCullin, who had a long career as a photojournalist in several fields of conflict including Belfast, Beirut and Cambodia, as mentioned in the last line of the first stanza. However, knowing this is not essential for understanding the poem, which could apply to any number of photographers who have had similar careers.

War Photographer - Analysis

In his darkroom he is finally alone.

The darkroom is literally the place (lab) where the photos are developed. There is also connotations of something sinister or disturbing. The room is transformed into a confession box in the following lines when the photographer is compared to a priest.

A hundred agonies in black and white.

The photos metaphorically become the image of pain (reminiscent of Remains). This contrasts with the editor's cold selection procedure and the apathy described towards the end of the poem.

and they do not care

The third person plural pronoun leavces the reader of the magazine anonymous but also accuses them of apathy in the face of the suffering of those in the warzone.