The benefits of risky behavior

The Documentary Channel aired an expose today titled "Ron Haviv: Freelance in a World at Risk." covering the disheartening, treacherous career of a war photojournalist. Award winning photojournalist Haviv began his career in the world of photography by simply having fun with a hobby. Needless to say, the hobby stuck. After attending New York University and working as a member of the paparazzi, he was offered a chance ticket to the Panama election in 1989. His talent, or perhaps luck, landed him with an incredible shot of the vice president's stabbing, and his work was plastered on major newspapers and magazines all over the U.S. From that moment almost 10 years ago, Haviv became a credible war photojournalist, a stage which he has no intention of leaving.

Haviv has travelled the world covering international conflicts, civil wars, and instances of ethnic cleansing. Another photographer points out in the documentary, it takes a certain kind of person to be able to work in such a horrific environment day after day, without quickly burning out. Haviv feels an incredible passion for his work. Though he has witnessed countless atrocities that he was helpless to prevent, he feels that through his photos, he brings the plight of his subjects to the international scene in hopes of motivating others to get involved.

Passionate seems an understatement when trying to describe the world renowned photojournalist. His ambition to document the atrocities of war has proven risky on more than a few occasions. Haviv admits that he has been hunted, even captured on several occasions by both rebels and government officials who would benefit from ending his career, and perhaps his life.

At a time in the history of journalism when many seem to be throwing in the towel, Haviv continues to show his audience, and the world, that the stage of the professional photojournalist is alive and well. As long as he manages to remain alive and well, and as long as there are wars being fought, Haviv will continue to fight for the right to present the world with the images of war.