CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Award-winning photojournalist James Nachtwey will visit the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign campus Tuesday (April 29) to discuss his experiences covering conflicts in Afghanistan, Bosnia, Chechnya, Iraq, Kosovo, Rwanda and Somalia.
His appearance from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Colwell Playhouse of the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, 500 S. Goodwin Ave., Urbana, is part of the 2002-2003 campus "Exploring the Human Experience" initiative, which includes a series of academic offerings, performances and events that culminate with the commencement address in May. The event is free and open to the public.
Nachtwey grew up in Massachusetts and graduated from Dartmouth College, where he studied art history and political science. In 1976 he began working as a newspaper photographer in New Mexico, and in 1980, moved to New York and became a free-lance magazine photographer. He covered Northern Ireland in 1981 during the IRA hunger strike and since then has focused on documenting wars and social issues.
A photographer with Time Magazine since 1984, Nachtwey has had solo exhibitions in galleries worldwide. His numerous honors include the Robert Capa Gold Medal (five times), the World Press Photo Award twice, Magazine Photographer of the Year (six times) and the International Center of Photography Infinity Award three times.
"War Photographer," a film by Christian Frei with Nachtwey, was a 2001 Academy Award nominee for best documentary feature.