Photo makes the best argument for compassion
It was a period of monumental challenge and change. In this collection of images we have celebration, political dissent, civil objection, terror and human survival.
These pictures resonate with me as they appeared during the decade or more in which I have had the privilege of being The Australian’s picture editor – overseeing the commissioning of photographers, the collection of news images of the highest calibre, and contributing to the presentation of stories so that our readers are informed and offered honest depictions of events.
In this collection of images we have celebration, political dissent, civil objection, terror and human survival. It was a period of monumental challenge and change. Sadly, too often we see life’s news events through the impact they have on the vulnerable and here we show such images from Ukraine, Gaza and Afghanistan. Could there be any greater argument for compassion than the sight of a parent passing their child to an American soldier with the hope their child’s life will be better? Equally, Colin Murty’s picture of a ten-week-old Afghan boy’s coffin being loaded on to a plane at Christmas Island is tragic, haunting and powerful. You can’t imagine the unbearable weight that man is carrying.
Of real interest to me are two pictures on this page: the little boy escaping Mallacoota’s fire storm and the still image taken from video of the now-rescued hostage Noa Argamani. These extraordinary news pictures were taken on a smartphone, which has had a greater impact on photography than any other technological advancement during the life of The Australian. We are firmly in an era of citizen press photographer. Media organisations leverage this content stream but there are real risks. Our smart devices use computational photography; basically a form of AI intervening before you see the picture on your screen. Seeing is now not necessarily believing. Rest assured The Australian and my team on the picture desk vigorously interrogate images to ensure readers can rely on the truth of what they see.
December 2019
In a photo taken by his mother, 11-year-old Finn Burns drives a small boat to help his family escape rapidly advancing fires that burned through Mallacoota, Victoria.
August 2021
A US marine lifts a baby over a barbed-wire fence during an evacuation at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul. Picture: Omar Haidiri/AFP
December 2015
Jieun Bae is taken into the arms of a member of the NSW Police Tactical Operations Unit after fleeing the Lindt cafe in Martin Place, Sydney. She was among 18 hostages held in the cafe by an Islamist terrorist. Picture: Chris McKeen
July 2013
The coffin of a 10-week-old boy is loaded on to a plane at Christmas Island. The baby, an Afghan Hazara, died when a boat carrying asylum-seekers capsized north of the island. Picture: Colin Murty
September 2021
Union members march through Melbourne to demonstrate against the introduction of mandatory Covid vaccinations for construction workers. Picture: Darrian Taylor/Getty Images
November 2017
A crowd in Melbourne celebrates the announcement that Australians have voted in favour of allowing same-sex marriage. Picture: Scott Barbour/ Getty Images
October 2023
In this video still, a young Israeli woman, Noa Argamani, is abducted by Hamas terrorists in southern Israel. She is rescued eight months later by Israeli security forces.
October 2023
A woman in distress carries a young girl after Israeli airstrikes devastate the Ridwan neighbourhood of Gaza City Picture: Ali Jadallah/Getty Images
March 2022
While snow falls on Irpin, Ukraine, soldiers evacuate an elderly woman as civilians flee in the face of ongoing Russian attacks. Picture: Emin Sansar/Getty Images
November 2015
Melbourne Cup winner Michelle Payne greets her strapper brother Stevie as she rides Prince of Penzance to the winner’s circle. Picture: George Salpigtidis
October 2019
A rush of visitors head up Uluru in Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park on one of the last days before the rock was closed to climbers. Picture: Amos Aikman
January 2021
Police munitions explode as supporters of Donald Trump gather in front of the Capitol Building in Washington to protest against US election results. Picture: Leah Millis/Reuters
