Keynote by Lauren Walsh

What is the point of conflict photography? Why, today, are men and women risking their lives to take these pictures?

We are bombarded by visions of conflict. Wars, natural disasters, genocides, and refugees are shown everywhere. The growth of social media has only accelerated and expanded the prevalence of such imagery. But to what end?

In answering this question, Lauren Walsh, author of the new book Conversations on Conflict Photography, explores physical and cyber dangers, psychological tolls, ethical complications, gender/ethnic imbalance in the industry, censorship, and ‘fake news’ in the contemporary landscape.

There has never been a more important time for acknowledging and investigating the role of this photography in shaping public understanding of international affairs and faraway crises.