Since 1981, James Nachtwey has been an enduring witness to many of the world’s most critical events. He has photographed the turbulent civil wars in Central America during the 1980s, the intense struggle against apartheid in South Africa, and conflicts in Afghanistan, Bosnia,  Iraq, and Ukraine. He bore witness to the genocide in Rwanda, the 9/11 attacks in New York, and the pervasive impact of diseases such as tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS.

Beyond the battlefields, Nachtwey’s work also addresses the grave repercussions of industrial pollution, the stark realities of institutional abuse of orphans in Romania, and the devastating opioid epidemic in the United States. His exceptional work has earned him numerous accolades, including the prestigious Princess of Asturias award, the Robert Capa Gold Medal (five times), and the World Press Award (twice).