Photographic Memories

The following is a column that I wrote for a war correspondents class trip to London, Normandy and Paris. While in Paris we had the opportunity to meet with John Morris, photo editor and legend for Magnum Photography.

While in Paris our class was invited into the residence of renowned photo editor, John Morris. Although Morris is in his 90’s one would never be able to tell other than when he begins to tell you about his life through photographs.

Morris shared his life with us through a slideshow of historical photos. We sat in his living room facing a projector screen while he stood behind us narrating. The point, he explained, was for us to focus on the photos and not him- one of the first signs of his humble nature.

The slideshow began with photos from the first world war because that was the war he was “born under.” As the photos moved through historical events, so did Morris’ life stories. He began as an office boy for LIFE magazine and then Pearl Harbor happened on his 25 birthday. The magazine promoted him to foreign photo editor and he got to cover the events leading up to WWII.

Although he moved from a variety of photo editing jobs including working for The Washington Post, New York Times and National Geographic, he found his passion with Magnum Photography where he worked alongside the late Robert Cappa, whom Morris refers to as his brother.

Morris showed us some of the best-known and moving photos of events including WWII, Vietnam and Bosnia. In his spacious apartment, his office taking up most of that space, he shared his thoughts about the phtos, the events surrounding them and also his personal experiences. He actually shared a tent with Ernie Pyle while covering WWII and referred to Pyle as being extremely nice to him. Morris also described the loss of his friend/brother Robert Cappa who was killed by a landmine in Japan after Morris gave him the assignment.

As Morris’ life truly revolves around photographs and can be told through pictures, he explained what he looks for in a photo: content, impact and composition. But most of all he says, “The photograph has to say something.”

After some discussion about the direction journalism and photojournalism is heading, Morris perhaps gave the best advice inconspicuously while he was speaking. He exclaimed, “Against my better judgment I remain an eternal optimist.”

Thank you Mr. Morris for opening up your home to 20 young strangers, inspiring us and offering us some hope for our prospective field.