Thoughts on Yannis Behrakis

In my profile, I mention my distaste for journalism in general. The constant negativity can weigh on a person at an almost crushing capacity, and I can personally admit that not even my 6'7" stature can handle such an emotional weight. However, not many who view the news on a daily basis have to endure the struggle that is packaged along with being at the forefront of many aired atrocities. Seeing constant war, heartbreak, terror, and sadness is something that photojournalist Yannis Behrakis must endure throughout his career with Reuters. His photos encapsulate both the economic crisis in his home country of Greece, and the outbreak of rioting among Syrian refugees and the local law enforcement. 

The job of a journalist is to give a balanced, fair, and accurate depiction of a contemporary issue;something that I believe Yannis Behrakis does extremely well. Given the material he has submitted to various articles, the topiics he covers are extremely hard to bear, and yet every instance of photography he partakes in is completely balanced and fair, while showing an accurate depiction of goings on. Even in this (at times) heartbreaking line of work, Behrakis keeps his sense of humor, stating on his website: "I cover mostly wars, riots, demonstrations, politics, catastrophes, and sometimes sports." The last phrase in the description shows the optimism in an otherwise bleak career. It amazes me how Yannis manages to stay relatively detached from his subjects, especially with the content he creates. Some scenes that he depicts are extremely heartbreaking and graphic, with the description being nothing more than aesthetic. However, the struggle that Yannis endures has a brief moment of light after summarizing one of his photos.

This photo, of a 2-year old boy being lowered into a coffin is powerful alone. However, in summation of his photo, Behrakis says this: "I was high in a position in the room and tried a slow speed/zoom effect, and it worked! The picture was very strong and the body of the boy almost floating in the air. It almost looked like his spirit was leaving his body for the heavens." Even when faced with the harshest of scenarios, Yannis seems to find the optimism in both his camerawork and overall sensibilities. The zoom effect gives an isolated focus on the subject, almost exploding emotion out of the viewer to illustrate the devastation of those present. It takes a truly dedicated journalist to contain emotional barriers when placed into situations like he ventures into on a daily basis.