James Whitlow Delano - Humanity in Disaster

May 26th, 2008 | Scroll down for comments

Introduction

James Whitlow Delano is a highly acclaimed photographer based in Japan. He has worked extensively throughout Asia as well as Africa and Europe, and his photography has been widely published in magazines and books (including a monograph entitled Empire: Impressions of China). He received an Alfred Eisenstaedt (Eisie) Award administered by the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism and presented by Life Magazine, for his work done in China. His photos and books have won too many awards to list here. For more information and contact details see his pages at Digital Railroad and Lightstalkers.

Delano was in Myanmar (Burma) on assignment when Cyclone Nargis struck the country. News of the incoming cyclone was not announced on local television or radio, so most people were caught by surprise. As he weathered the storm inside the safety of his concrete hotel, he couldn’t imagine how people directly in the path of the cyclone, huddled inside bamboo huts, could survive the night.

Starting the next day, before the government excluded foreign eyes and hands from heart of the disaster, Delano traveled to the Irrawaddy Delta area. Leaving Yangon, he saw military troops clearing trees rather than rushing toward the human crisis.

The further he traveled the more bodies he saw and the fewer government troops. He witnessed survivors trying to pull the pieces of life back together. But lacking food, forced to drink tainted water, and exposed to the elements, their lives were (and are) still in the balance.

These twelves photographs are part of a larger group. You can see the full body of work at the following link:

http://www.digitalrailroad.net/jameswhitlowdelano/
Warning: His gallery includes images of death that you may find extremely disturbing.

The bottom of the page

James Whitlow Delano’s photos are not easy to look at. Often the details and emotions they evoke don’t resolve simply or clearly. His photos contain crucial details and moments, yet many could be described as chaotic or impressionistic. Rather than feeling like “you’re there” in full color with crystal clarity, these photos may remind you that you’re only catching a glimpse. I’ve seen many photos of human suffering before with varying effects. If you give these photos a chance, I think they’ll stick with you and, perhaps, whisper in your ear that all is not well; and now is a time to lean in and move forward, rather than to sit back and merely watch.

The purpose of this gallery is to reveal human life in it’s diversity, wonder, and reality around the world. As I told Delano in my email to him, “These photos fall in the ‘reality’ category.” As the weeks unfold, you can expect plenty of warm and touching photographs on these pages, but there will also be images like this that challenge the emotions and senses.

I’ll close this once again by inviting you to come back each week for outstanding photographers of people and culture. Sign up for our email list here so you won’t miss a beat.