The pictures that were coming from Vietnam were showing us what was really happening on the ground level. It was in contradiction to what our political and military leaders were telling us. They were straight forward documentary images. A powerful indictment of the war, of how cruel and unjust it was. When I finally decided what to do with my life, it was to follow in that tradition.

I try to use whatever I know about photography to be of service to the people I'm photographing.

Many people in this world do jobs that are dangerous and where their life is at risk and they feel that there is some kind of value to their job I guess that's how I feel about what I do. There is a social function to documentary photography that is very important and it requires people to take risks.

[Photography] puts a human face on issues which, from afar, can appear abstract or ideological or monumental in their global impact.

Is it possible to put an end to a form of human behavior which has existed throughout history by means of photography?

There is a job to be doneto record the truth. I want to wake people up!

You are never freer than in that moment when you decide to expose yourself to sniper fire.