Out In The Open

A former war photojournalist explains why he quit covering conflict zones

For years, photojournalist Eros Hoagland documented conflict zones around the world. But over time, he grew weary of what he was witnessing, and skeptical of conflict photography's worth.

‘It started to feel like entertainment for intellectuals,’ says Eros Hoagland

Eros Hoagland in Baja, Mexico in 2013 (Submitted by Eros Hoagland)

This story was originally published on November 1, 2019.

For years, photojournalist Eros Hoagland documented conflict zones around the world, from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to the drug wars in Mexico.

But over time, he grew weary of what he was witnessing, and skeptical of conflict photography's worth.

Hoagland tells Out in the Open host Piya Chattopadhyay about the political and deeply personal reasons why he decided to quit shooting conflict altogether.


This story appears in the Out in the Open episode "Bearing Witness".