Photojournalist, Sebastian Meyer '94, Speaks to Upper School

Sebastian Meyer ’94, accomplished photographer and filmmaker, spoke to the Upper School this week about his time in Iraq.  Mr. Meyer started working as a photojournalist in 2004 and has been published in Time Magazine, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal, among many other international newspapers and magazines.  Since 2009 Mr. Meyer has been based in Iraqi Kurdistan.  In addition to his photojournalism, Mr. Meyer co-founded the first Iraqi photography agency, Metrography, with an Iraqi colleague, Kamaran Najm.  Mr. Meyer works closely with local photographers, teaching skills he has learned over the years.  He considers this a way to give back to the community and is dedicated to furthering ethical journalism in Iraq.

Mr. Meyer showed St. Bernard’s Upper School students images of his work and explained the circumstances around each image.  He spoke candidly about his experiences and answered thoughtful questions from the boys.  Mr. Meyer’s photographs range from war scenes to tender moments of everyday life.  As he said in his talk, even amid conflict life goes on.  He finds it poignant and incredibly rewarding to be invited into people’s homes to photograph them.  He strives to tell the truest story possible and is always respectful.  He prefers being able to spend time with people, getting to know them, and reports in an honest, thoughtful way.  Mr. Meyer also shared images taken by several photographers who his photography agency represents.  These powerful photographs included those of refugees fleeing Sinjar who walked hundreds of miles in extreme conditions along the Syrian border into northern Iraq.

Mr. Meyer was glad to reconnect with Mr. Miness and, his homeroom teacher from grade VII, Mr. Bowcock.  He also managed to find his performance of As You Like It listed on the Teaching Theater wall.  As he reflected on his time here, he shared how St. Bernard’s encouraged him to question the world around him in an intelligent way and instilled in him an intense curiosity.

Many thanks to Mr. Meyer for sharing his humane, courageous, and unflinching vision.