WORDS OF WISDOM IN MONACO
The awarding of the 1982 Winston Churchill Memorial Fellowship allowed Nick to hit the road from Turkey to China , using any kind of means of transport , including the most basic one : walking on foot . That travel photo diary would become his first bestseller published as Danziger ’ s Travels in 1987 and , then , as Danziger ’ s Adventures in 1993 . His next key book , Danziger ’ s Britain ( 1996 ) aroused even greater interest offering a meaningful snapshot of the social and political British context . Last but not least , The British , Danziger ’ s photographic book ( 2001 ), was awarded the Best Monochrome Illustrated Book by The British Book Design & Production Awards in 2002 , being selected by The Sunday Times as one of the Photography Books of the Year .
Nick ’ s fame as photojournalist in hot spots grew considerably as witnessed by prominent newspapers and magazines reporting on his collaboration with leading museums and galleries . He received many prestigious acknowledgments both as a photographer and a documentary filmmaker like the Single Portrait Award within the World Press Photo 1st Prize ( 2004 ), the Prix Italia for Best Television Documentary ( 1991 ) and an Honorary Fellowship by the Royal Photographic Society ( 2007 ). Moreover , he was given the Royal Geographical Society ’ s Ness Award for his commitment to social , political and environmental issues , while the Royal Television Society named him Journalist of the Year in 1996 . The impact of conflicts and extreme poverty , the status of women and the fragile coexistence between human beings and Nature are the pillars of his professional dedication .
HelloMonaco : Mr . Danziger , we know that you have many stories to tell but let us start with your most recent project , how was your experience in Africa ?
Nick Danziger : I have just come back from the Central African Republic which is one of the toughest places I have worked in with respect to the local conditions . It was a project about sexual and gender-based violence against women and children . It is a very difficult topic to talk about since , unfortunately , the сountry is really suffering from this social plague . The area is also labelled as the second poorest cluster in the world .
: You are used to getting in contact with underprivileged people living in extreme conditions , how do you handle it ?
ND : I have a privileged drive being born here in Western Europe which motivates me . I consider myself fortunate to see the reality of the world and I feel that the majority of people that I meet are incredible , they are the real ‘ heroes ’. When someone asks me why are you going to these places so difficult and dangerous I usually refer to my mission which is giving a voice to those people who haven ’ t had opportunities . Once you have to struggle every day in terrible conditions you may think of the luck which provides us with comforts like the laptop or a mobile phone . Often in these countries conflicts flourish . One of the most touching projects I have carried out is to return over and over to the same people to see if their lives have been changing for better or worse . On most occasions , the outcome was not very positive . When you live in extreme poverty it is very difficult to get out of it because all the money you earn you have to spend immediately on food or on medical bills , if you are painfully sick .
: Do you think that photography can really help in solving problems of poverty ?
ND : Personally , it would be fantastic if it could change people ’ s minds , bringing assistance . I could imagine that someone believes it can happen but I am not the one who can say that my photography does so . Anyway , I am commissioned by those who
My mission is giving a voice to those people who haven ’ t had opportunities .
think it is possible . So certainly , through these stories people will be touched , they will think about themselves and maybe do something positive toward changing lives .
: You are always dealing with very sensitive issues , what brings you to these choices ?
ND : My work is focused on being very close to people . I always try to depict their intimate stories . My career as photojournalist includes also a long list of European Prime Ministers , US and Russian Presidents like Vladimir Putin , world sports leaders and sports teams . For example , I spent five weeks with the All Blacks ( the most popular rugby team from New Zealand . — ) allowing me to take incredible pictures behind the scenes never seen before . I had access to the G7 but also to the personal lives of many heads of state . In a sense , my passion is maybe more for people who do not have opportunities . Nevertheless , many magazines and media outlets want me to do this other type of photography mainly made from one-angle lenses . I use that close up for every public figure .
: Do you think that these prominent figures listen to you ?
ND : I do not talk to them that much . One might imagine that if you access their spaces you would have more chances to approach them as their friend , but it is not so . I am very professional in terms of photography so I always want to remain independent while doing my job . Very occasionally , they will ask me about hot spots like Afghanistan . I think that what I can bring is something from the ground , showing how people are living their real everyday life and their capacity for improvement ; but that is not what global leaders want to hear about . I am there to take pictures so if I were speaking to a Prime Minister for twenty minutes that would not be my job .
: You won several prestigious awards for photography e . g . in 2004 , the World Press Photo 1st Prize in the Single Portrait Award for your ‘ mirror ’ image of Prime Minister Tony Blair and President George W . Bush , did you get the chance to have some exchanges with them ?
ND : Yes , I did but I tried to keep my distance . Someone could later on be too interested in who you know and not what you know . I got that access because I have never talked about what I hear . I met them when the War with Iraq was going on . I spent thirty days with them on a daily basis to take pictures . Obviously , I did listen but I have never repeated what I heard . When I am asked to make intimate portraits like those I make it a point to never gossip about anyone . Sometimes , it becomes difficult to keep the protocol but I always respect and trust it , addressing them by their diplomatic titles .
: You have recently been involved in photo reporting about Сovid-19 in France and in Monaco , could you tell us about it ?
ND : I was approached by nurses who maybe had heard about my work . They asked me to show the disastrous effects of the virus during the hardest moments . I was delighted to do so since it is part of my job even though it was very difficult to get permission . I ended up being in hospitals , the epicentre of the virus in France , just after the beginning of the pandemic . Back in Monaco , I did the same within the project ‘ Monaco under lockdown ’ involving the police and ambulance services as well as doctors going to patients ’ homes to test
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