On World Photography Day… lens that documents wars and preserves memory of nation

On August 19th each year, the world celebrates World Photography Day—an occasion that highlights the role photography has played over two centuries in documenting human events and transformations. During this period, the camera has evolved from a mere tool for capturing a moment into a document that preserves historical details and conveys unfolding events to the public.

In conflict zones, the image takes on heightened significance; photographers can convey scenes of bombardment, destruction, displacement, and violations to the global community, while simultaneously documenting the resilience of societies and their efforts to rebuild their lives.

Images of war and conflict have often become part of the collective memory, serving as a tool to reveal realities that are difficult to deny or erase.

Syria… Photography Confronting War and Oblivion

Syria stands as a prime modern example of the role photography plays in documenting conflicts and crises. From the onset of the Syrian revolution—and through its transformation into a crisis and the subsequent outbreak of war—photographers’ lenses have captured scenes of bombardment, destruction, and displacement. They have documented the daily lives of civilians amidst the conflict, as well as the subsequent phases of return, reconstruction, and attempts to restore normalcy—processes in which individuals played pivotal roles.

In Daraa, Ghouta, and Kobani—to name but a few locations—images have documented the early stages of the Syrian revolution and the atrocities committed against the Syrian people, as well as the battles against ISIS mercenaries in 2014. These images conveyed to the world the realities facing Syrian cities, the lives of their inhabitants, and the extent of the destruction inflicted upon them.

Meanwhile, aerial images of Raqqa—captured by the Hawar News Agency—revealed the scale of the battles that took place in the city, turning these shots into a visual record of a pivotal chapter in the region's history. Across Syria, the role of photographers was not limited to covering battles; it also encompassed documenting civilian life, cultural and sporting events, schools and markets, the return of residents to their areas, and reconstruction projects following the fall of the Ba'athist regime. Thus, the image evolved into a record of life in all its details, rather than merely a chronicle of war.

Hawar’s Martyrs… When the Camera Became a Mission Fraught with Mortal Danger

The experience of the Hawar News Agency (ANHA) vividly illustrates the perils journalists and photographers face today in zones of war and crisis; our agency has lost several staff members while they were carrying out their duties to report on and document events.

Among our martyrs, we honor Delishan Ibish, Rizgar Deniz, and Hogir Muhammad, who were martyred on October 12, 2017, while covering battles between the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and ISIS mercenaries in Deir ez-Zor. Our correspondent Saad Ahmed was martyred on October 13, 2019, while covering a civilian convoy heading to Serêkaniyê to support the resistance against the Turkish offensive on Syrian territory.

Our correspondent Issam Abdullah was also martyred on November 20, 2022, while documenting Turkish shelling on the village of Taqil Baqal in the countryside of the Derik district.

On December 19, 2024, our correspondent Jihan Belkin was martyred while covering attacks by Turkey and its affiliated factions on the Tishrin Dam area; she died after a drone struck the vehicle transporting her and journalist Nazim Dashtan on the road between the Tishrin Dam and Sarrin.

These names encapsulate the price paid by media workers to keep the camera present on the ground. The scenes they captured were not merely fleeting images, but an attempt to preserve the truth and document the lived experiences of civilians throughout years of war and conflict.

The photography … A Record of Violation and Achievement

The value of photography extends beyond merely documenting death and destruction; the camera also captures survival, resilience, and achievement—from a child returning to school after the war to a family reclaiming their home, a city reopening its markets, a woman embarking on a new career, or an athlete bringing honor to their country or region in competition.

Journalists believe that a press photograph preserves not only the event itself but also the human being within it—capturing their features, fears, dreams, and moments of both vulnerability and strength. These are details that words alone may struggle to convey with the same emotional impact.

In an era where images proliferate via mobile phones and social media platforms, photographers and journalists bear an increasing responsibility to verify images, respect the privacy and dignity of victims, and avoid turning human suffering into mere fodder for ridicule or viral content.

Experience in Syria has demonstrated that the camera can serve as a witness to the truth, a tool for holding perpetrators accountable, and an archive for future generations. While events shift and faces and places fade away, the image retains the power to bring a moment from the past into the present, affirming the reality of what occurred and revealing the human story of person, place, and time hidden behind every snapshot.

Sh-S

ANHA