War Porn

Do I exploit my subjects? Is it morally justifiable to work as a photographer in war zones and disaster areas? Why are we all so attracted to images of other people's misery? Am I producing 'War Porn'?

As a photographer covering conflicts for international publications, Christoph Bangert is regularly confronted with the dilemma between truthful documentation and (self-) censorship. Using his images taken during the past ten years in Afghanistan, Iraq, Lebanon, and Gaza, Bangert started an experiment: What would happen if we suppressed our need for self-censorship for once? The result is as shocking as it is honest.

Designed by Teun van der Heijden, Chiho Bangert and Klaus Kehrer, the book is also a collector's item:

The small format, open spine binding, rough cover material and typewriter font are reminiscent of a handmade, personal journal. Some of the pages are not cut apart, but have a perforation which can easily be ripped open. This way the reader can decide just how much he wants to see, how much he can take. Spreads between these "hidden" images, naturally, are open to view.