Facing the World is a collection of images created by the 260 photojournalists of Agence France-Presse, the international news agency. Along with Reuters and Associated Press, AFP provides the majority of international news photographs we see in our daily newspapers and news magazines.
From the beginning of AFP's photo service in 1985, the book documents visually the history of the past 16 years. Divided into 13 sections, each beginning with a brief essay, the 400-page book groups photographs thematically rather than chronologically. The fall of the eastern bloc is documented, as is the rise of new democracies in South America. The decline of Christianity in Europe is contrasted with the rise of Islam and the spread of eastern spiritualism. The poverty and famine of Africa is explored, as is the rise of the Asian economy. Photos of advances in science are presented, as are images of incurable illness such as AIDS. The arts, sport and the environment all feature, but the big story is war, and photographs of conflict and its terrible consequences dominate.
This is particularly true of the section on Africa, "A Continent Adrift". Images of roadside executions in Liberia are particularly disturbing because we know the photographs were being created as life was being taken. Looking at the terror in the victim's eyes does make one consider the rationale behind recording moments such as these. And the conclusion? Here, as on so many occasions throughout history, the role of the photographer is one of witness; of reporting on events no matter how atrocious, no matter how disturbing - though one must certainly question how fitting it is to describe images such as these as "great moments in photojournalism".
Confirming the dΘjα vu nature of history are the shots in the penultimate section, "Divided Territories". The photographs of US aircraft-carriers launching attacks in the Gulf War and of violence in the Middle East are all too similar to the images gracing our newspapers at the moment.
What jars in this collection is the final section, entitled "Blink of an Eye". A jumble of images, many of them quirky and humorous, it is intended no doubt to bring some light relief to a serious narrative. However, it does no justice to the preceding fine selection of photo reportage.
For there is no escaping the fact that what makes news throughout the world tends to be bad rather than good. The past 16 years have been no exception, and for this reason the images in Facing the World are extremely hard-hitting and provocative. Consuming so many at once, rather than seeing them diluted over years of daily newspapers, is at first unsettling and then numbing. There are many beautiful and powerful images in this publication, but at times they sit uncomfortably in this "coffee table" format.
Bryan O'Brien is a photographer with The Irish Times
