The Bang Bang Club

I received this book for my birthday on the 4th of this month from a good friend of mine, i picked it up a few times to read it, then casually laid it back down, hoping to read it soon. I picked it up once again 3 days ago, and couldnt put it down...weather it be from the horrific nature of the content or my heart breaking after each chapter and having to continue on in hopes it would end. But i finished it, I truly dont think I will be the same again. This to me, is one of my big eye-opening moments in my life. to live to be 29 years old and never hear of such savagry, I couldnt quite put my thoughts into words for this blog...but heres a little summary of it , I found online.

Four young photographers, dodging bullets and risking life and limb to get "you are there" views of violence in South Africa do it so well that they earn a nickname. They became known as "The Bang Bang Club" (bang they're in, they get the photo, bang they're out).

This club made its name during the painful last days of Apartheid. However, the images expand beyond that to images taken among the violence of the Sudan and the former Yugoslavia. Blood is still running as photos are snapped--in fact two of the photographers are shot while covering a firefight outside Johannesburg. Joao Silva is torn between pulling his comrades, Greg Marinovich and Ken Oosterbroek to safety and his desire to capture the images on film. Oosterbroek had been fatally injured.

The book is written by the two surviving members of the Bang Bang Club. Oosterbroek was fatally shot outside Johannesburg; Kevin Carter committed suicide when Oosterbroek was killed. The shooting occured just after Carter won a Pulitzer and he was celebratig that Pulitzer when his comrades were shot.

The book is an excellent first hand account from these photographers about their experiences in getting photos in dangerous situations. I guess it takes someone suicidal or something to do such a job. While I won't pursue such a career, and will likely dissuade any children from doing such work, the experiences were fascinating. It may be debated whether their photos helped speed the end of Apartheid. But their book certainly gives a glimpse into the operations of a group bringing vivid images to the world.

Soon to be released is a movie based upon this book starring Ryan Philipe

As Many of you may know I have taken a little break from blogging. its not that I dont wanna share my life and experiences with you all..I do, I just got fed up with 360 eating my words daily. but once again Im gonna try to start blogging as long as my patience holds out...so bear with me as we once again go down the turbulent and sometimes mundance exsistance that its my life...As I was sitting here this moring with my coffee..I got to think that as a boy, I love to discover things for myself...I tramped through the woods with my brothers like we were Daniel Boone and his Merry clan...We Loved Nature and never took a minute of out outside time for granted..I guess that one of the perks of growing up in the country...I wish every kid could grow up that way. Well we would always pretend to look for a lost civilazation or a hidden cave somewhere...the imagination was so great then. I remember we would pack lunches and sometimes on weekend spend the whole day in the woods, just bein kids...Never did my parents set out in search for us or be worried...cause well, thats just how it was in those days.I sometimes wonder where that adventure went inside my soul...do you lose it after a certain age..and why do we have to lose it? Alas we know that age must dull ones sense of security, but why I ask? why? I have a feeling down inside my heart that ive missed some great tresures because my eyes were distracted by my mind-numbing routine and complacency.Who knows what god has planned for me to find today? A visitor from the past maybe? A great book I can get lost in and take me a 4000 miles away to another land.? I think if i slow down a little bit I will be surprised by god, and a feeling of childhood adventure will return....This is my hope, atleast. Do you think Im silly by thinking this way? why do you think we lose that wide-eyed childhood zest for the unknown as we age? Im curious to hear your opinions and would love to hear from you...I will in turn reply back.....thank you!! PEACE! ~D-man~

How Hot Is Drew? Wow!!

Brandon

My Favorite week on Idol

American Idol's going country Tuesday! Yup, you'll get to see the likes of Anoop Desai, Adam Lambert, Megan Joy Corkrey and Danny Gokey pull on their cowboy boots and tie on bandanas for Grand Old Opry night -- as Randy Travis serves as the first guest mentor and sings with Carrie Underwood, and some guy named Brad Paisley performs too.

I think Megan and Danny will do especially well with the theme, along with Michael Sarver and Alexis Grace. Don't think it'll much affect Allison Iraheta (she can sing anything) or Lil Rounds (ditto) or Adam (he can perform anything) or Kris Allen (he can charm his way through anything).
I do think it's just plain bad luck for struggling Scott MacIntyre (how many country songs feature the piano?) and my favorite Matt Giraud

But I'm gonna play contrarian and say despite what a lot of other bloggers seem to think, that Anoop Desai is gonna do well this week.
After all, he grew up in the South, knows the music and culture, and doesn't take himself too seriously (a key requirement, I think, for singing songs about losing your gun, girl and dog the same day and being most upset about the dog).

Should be Interesting this week for sure!!!!!