Nic Bothma - Off The Wire

In 2003 Bothma joined European Press Agency (EPA) as chief photographer for West Africa. During the past two decades he has experienced the death of nine photography colleagues, who have died either on the frontline, while taking images, or indirectly, as a result of their passion for photography. These were the individuals who helped and inspired not only Bothma, but many other young, aspirant photographers too; Kevin Carter, Ken Oosterbroek, Gary Bernard, Steve Hilton-Barber, Jon Hrusa, Garth Stead, Tim Heatherington, Chris Hondros and Martin Adler.

“These deaths are a testimony to the dangers inherent in this career whether immediate and physical, or latent and psychological.

Photographers are the ones who journey to the back of a cave with a torch and return to tell the tribe what they have seen. These journeys take their toll in one way or another on every photographer who is willing to go to that far-off and often dangerous place.

It’s unavoidable. Some deal with it better than others. Some never recover. Some die from it.”

Bothma lives by the mantra of balance. As soon as he gets back from an assignment, he makes time to photograph big waves, not only is it challenging but it offers him much needed release. According to Bothma a good surf always clears his mind.

Bothma concludes by saying: “from the limits we learn and as a photographer I play the role of communicator of these lessons. I will be a photographer until the day I die and would never want to do anything else. I love it.” ©Nic Bothma/Heidi Erdmann (October 2014)