Larry Towell and Thomas Dworzak

It all starts with curiosity, and a desire to cross time and space to enter other worlds. In the case of Ontarian Larry Towell and Bavarian Thomas Dworzak, two of the finest photographers chronicling our world, there is an extraordinary inquisitiveness and delicate engagement that thoughtfully illuminates people and ideas. The results are found in the rich collection of books and exhibitions the two photographers have produced independently over the years. The Mennonites by Larry Towell and Taliban by Thomas Dworzak are just two projects that exemplify the keen and present awareness these men have for their surroundings. A combination of humility and creative courage is a requisite for a photographer. Add to this the infinite boundaries of Larry’s and Thomas’s intelligence laced with deep and liberating senses of humour, and you begin to fathom the dimensional characters of these unique men. Importantly, both have wonderful and strong women in their lives, Ann and Sahar. The struggle inherent in life has never entirely interfered with their paths but has more informed their perspectives and channelled emotional feeling into their visual reckonings. For me the journey that leads to the image is always what I find most interesting. The talent of Thomas and Larry is their consistent ability to include this experience in their photography. It manifests as a distinctive energy in their frames. The two work with not only what can be seen but importantly with what is unseen. And this is the point. Larry and Thomas are so much more than photographers. Humanists, historians, poets, they are endlessly evolving people who understand the value of mirth to survive and identify with a complicated world. They are also both generous and considerate, and we are fortunate to have them involved in the conversation of life.

James Wellford is a visual editor covering global issues at National Geographic. His recent stories include The Science of Sleep and The Migrant Crisis in Central America.