14 months after capturing an image of a dying, suffering child, and a vulture waiting for its prey, received his Pulitzer Prize for Feature Photography. 14 years after, and I am commemorating his death.
Few years back then, I received an e-mail with "strong picture" as subject. The e-mail had already been forwarded to many people, indicated by the many writings (e-mail addresses) attached to it. I was amazed, not only on the moral aspect that the bittersweet picture depicted, but also its candidness. The angle was perfect, as well as the time, the lights, and so on.
Few years back then, I received an e-mail with "strong picture" as subject. The e-mail had already been forwarded to many people, indicated by the many writings (e-mail addresses) attached to it. I was amazed, not only on the moral aspect that the bittersweet picture depicted, but also its candidness. The angle was perfect, as well as the time, the lights, and so on.
The e-mail. 
Kevin Carter's famed photo."Seeking relief from the sight of masses of people starving to death, he wandered into the open bush. He heard a soft, high-pitched whimpering and saw a tiny girl trying to make her way to the feeding center. As he crouched to photograph her, a vulture landed in view. Careful not to disturb the bird, he positioned himself for the best possible image. He would later say he waited about 20 minutes, hoping the vulture would spread its wings. It did not, and after he took his photographs, he chased the bird away and watched as the little girl resumed her struggle. Afterward he sat under a tree, lit a cigarette, talked to God and cried. "He was depressed afterward," Silva recalls. "He kept saying he wanted to hug his daughter. (Scott MacLeod)"Why, did he choose to leave this world? Didn't he like the fame, or did he think of it as something else (infamy)? The fame, the glory, etc. I am bedazzled.
But let me repeat the quote above: "The pain of life overrides the joy to the point that joy does not exist.".
Misery begets misery. Pain begets pain.
With millions (billions) of people moved by his remarkable photo and that were/are being reminded of our duty to be one or concerned with/towards humanity, Kevin Carter also showed to humankind the true essence and meaning of Life.
"This was found in his diary ,
Dear God, I promise I will never waste my food no matter how bad it can taste and how full I may be. I pray that this boy was protected. Lord, guide and deliver him away from his misery. I pray that we will be more sensitive towards the world around us and not be blinded by our own selfish nature and interests.
I hope this picture will always serve as a reminder to us that how fortunate we are and that we must never ever take things for granted."
Dear God, I promise I will never waste my food no matter how bad it can taste and how full I may be. I pray that this boy was protected. Lord, guide and deliver him away from his misery. I pray that we will be more sensitive towards the world around us and not be blinded by our own selfish nature and interests.
I hope this picture will always serve as a reminder to us that how fortunate we are and that we must never ever take things for granted."
See also this link (a film by Dan Krauss): The Death of Kevin Carter: Casualty of the Bang-bang Club
Today, Kevin Carter is an inspiration amongst people from all walks of life, not only for photographers. The telltale characteristic of humans made Kevin Carter a noble man, not only because of the felo-de-se event, but also for his photo that moved everyone of us.
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