Photographer's Research Six: David McNew

Photographer's Research: David McNew

Based in California, David McNew is an American Photo-journalist  living in close proximity to the San Gabriel Mountains. This location was nearby the devastating forest fires that scorched the nearby woodlands. Being a Photo-journalist he has documented areas of socioeconomic interest with people standing strongly on opposing sides of the arguments. One of the more current issues is the migration issues in America resulting in McNew creating a series of images of the American- Mexico border. 

The image above is of a small car arriving carrying US-Mexico border patrols after the death of Boarder agent Robert Rosas, the only fatal shooting in ten years near California. 

The dust rising off of the fence boarder is highlighted by the rising sun creating a natural border over the man made border. The effect of the distance between the photographer and the Patrol vehicle warps its size to the point where it is almost lost in the vast landscape. The effect of this on the viewer is that it brings attention to the natural landscape that existed centuries before the Governments that have now created a scar across the landscape. The small size of the patrol vehicle also creates a juxtaposition between their original status of enforcers of the law, and most probably armed patrol agents, thus posing a greater threat than represented in the image. The distance also makes the viewers seem like an outside observer, no longer part of the land themselves only a witness. 

The man in the image above looks like a military man gearing up for a important mission, however he's part of a Citizen group called the California Border Watch. The composition of this image is complex and intriguing. The tilted angle of the shot may be a hint towards their warped sense of patriotism that they believe allows them to patrol their own borders with the lethal force implied by the pistol sitting on the table. The pistols place on the table also feels significant as it is the closest item to camera in this man's portrait perhaps symbolising this is a prominent aspect of his personal identity. The gun is also nestled  amongst the more common items on the table such as the sugar and coffee granules suggesting that guns are as much a common part of his life as coffee. The effect of this on the viewer is that it emphasises the mans volatile nature from the tilted angle to his smirk at being seen. 

This is an image of barbed wire fencing on the border of Mexico near San Luis, Arizona. The lights in the distance are in Mexico. This creates a contrast between what the viewer assumes and the truth. A large quantity of Mexican immigrants move to America to create a better life for their families away from the drug wars that pollute the streets of Mexico and so it would be sensible to assume that the lights represent the hope that Mexicans have of their new lives across the border. In reality these distant lights are in Mexico thus symbolising the life that is still present in this country. The effect of this on the viewer means they have to consider what they believe may not always be the truth and so encourages them to be more open minded. 

This is an image from his series that documented the wildfires that damaged hundreds of acres of woodland in America. The location of the fire in this shot is the Los Coyotes Indian Reservation in Southern California. The large plume of smoke rising from the Reservation are similar to the mushroom clouds that are created by nuclear fallout. This suggests the severity of the situation to the viewer, and the damage that these fires cause. The whole image is also covered by an orange-red tinge which also symbolises the danger of the flames. As the image is from such a wide angle it is difficult to place yourself as a viewer into the scene as it seems all too perilous to be real. The idea of losing the place that you live to a wildfire is unthinkable; becoming lost like a refugee in your own country must be a harrowing experience that only the lucky are capable of being a part of. The less fortunate perish in the flames. 

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