The documentary “Beyond Words: Photographers of War” is a compelling work that not only shows great images that have been taken in hostilities but, more importantly, delves right into the life and work of famous photographers who are identified often to be covering in the thick of conflicts around the world. Be it in Vietnam in the 60′s; the tensions in Rwanda and Liberia in Africa as well as in Chechnya, Russia; the killing sprees in Haiti and the genocides in Cyprus and Kosovo.

The likes of James Nachtway of VII; David Leeson of the Dallas Morning News; David Douglas Duncan, former Life Photographer; Jean-Francois Leroy, Visa pour l’Image; Jerome Delay, AP; Gary Knight, VII; Maggie Steber, independent journalist; Philip Jones Griffiths, Magnum are just some of the prominent photojournalists, men and women, that have been interviewed. They shared their life as war photographers, talked about their images and the stories behind them and give us a glimpse of what goes on in their mind and heart when they are out in the field.

Balancing these are inputs from photo editors that give one an idea of how they chose the photo to be published in the next day’s papers. It also includes deep questions facing the industry today especially in the intensifying battle for print space as well as the relevance and role of photojournalists in a more consumerist world.

We have this notion that the life of a war photographer is all travel, action and grit, ready to die for that particular photo that will finally end that conflict, perhaps a romanticized version of it. These might be true in some cases, but in this work, instead we are presented with a humanized face of these so called “demigods” who risk life and limb to get us those precious images.

Yes, covering wars is a photojournalist’s job. It is our obligation to bring to the world what is happening in the ground but we hear these people telling the great difficulties and endangerment that they have encountered that almost cost them their lives. The hard and quick decisions that they have to make as all around, they are bombarded by tanks. The many personal sacrifices they have to bear, leaving families at home as they are on the road much of the time. The deep moral questions that they ask themselves, time and again, as they encounter yet another tragedy, yet another murder, yet another act of violence. They are just ordinary mortals, indeed, who feel, agonize and live to witness the atrocities and evil that mankind can inflict on his fellowmen.

One of the questions that struck me was this: can photography change the world? Two photographers’ responses are worth pondering: “I don’t believe that photography can change anything… I think it can be though, a witness to change, to be part of the process for change,” said Larry Towell of Magnum while Horst Faas, former AP photographer and editor, “Photography cannot make history, it can influence history…”

Will this be the path for me? If an opportunity comes, why not? Even just to experience it, see for myself and have a jab at influencing history.