Photographer John Isaac clicks with a heart

As a United Nations photographer from 1978 to 1998, John Isaac is well known across the world. He has witnessed the Cambodian killing fields of Pol Pot, the famine in Ethiopia to wars in Kuwait, Bosnia, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan and the Middle East. These days, he prefers to train his lens on things of beauty, people, places and wildlife.

Speaking to DNA, he admits photography has taught him a lot and he believes that not taking away the human dignity is the most important aspect of any picture. “The media coverage today has become an exploitation exercise. Everybody wants to sensationalise and earn big bucks,” says Isaac. 

He remembers one of such moments when he decided to keep his camera shutter off for the sake of a woman’s dignity. He was in Ethiopia, and a woman had delivered a baby on the pavement while the umbilical chord was still attached. Her clothing had come off. “My reaction was to cover the woman, and I did so. Just then, a British TV crew saw this and got their gear to photograph this woman. When they found that her clothes were on, the cameraman wanted to punch me because I had ruined his best shot. Luckily, the driver who had,” he says. 

In the late 1990s, Isaac became good friends with Michael Jackson and covered some of his concerts. The first time Jackson called him, he took it for a prank call. According to John, Michael called and said, “Hi John, this is Michael.” Isaac replied, “Who Michael?” The answer came, “Michael Jackson.” And he hung up. John says the phone rang again immediately and it was in fact the King of Pop. He wanted to hire Isaac as his photographer for an upcoming concert.