The Photographer is a graphic novel narrated by Didier Lefreve and illustrated by Emmanuel Gilbert. The Photographer dramatizes a three month long mission carried out by MSF (Medicine Sans Frontier) who venture into Afghanistan

Photographer is the importance of humour. Different characters resort to humour throughout the novel. The photographer expresses the idea that humour is an important cornerstone in all successful relationships. In addition, humour is used to decrease the gravity of a situation.  Whenever difficult situations are encountered in the book, humour is employed to overcome them.  Didier is able to overcome the situation of the power outage though the usage of humour, the stressful situation is put in a different light allowing Didier to endure it.  The difficult trek towards Afghanistan is abound with jokes and humorous incidences, all of which are used to lighten the mood and make the situation more bearable. Didier’s relationship with Regis is built on a shared humour; they both share a similar sarcastic humour.  Regis aids Didier in seeing the funnier side of a situation, an example of would be their discussion regarding the outbreak of the war. Humour is also employed to overcome cultural barriers; this is primary seen in Yaftal-E-Payan where Didier shares evening yoghurt with Bassir Khan. As an act of intimidation, Bassir flashes his rifle to Didier. Didier responds by holding out his camera in the exact same position as Bassir Khan, causing the onlookers to erupt with laughter. Humour employed by Didier diffuses the tense atmosphere and allows him to connect with the Khan and his men. The photographer exposes the horrors of war and its effect on innocent people. The photographer is a documentation of the doctor’s efforts to treat the wounded Afghanis.  A majority of those treated are civilians. Didier’s most striking and memorable pictures are those which display the injuries suffered by the young Afghan children.  In one scene, a girl has burnt her hand and is being treated by MSF doctors. As she is being treated,   the girl shows immense pain. Didier’s shots, with the girl as the subject, convey the enormous amount of pain she is experiencing.  The black and white effect employed in the sequence of shots allows the reader to focus on the main shot: the reader is not bombarded by different colours. Towards the end of his stay in Zaragandra, Didier has another life altering experience; he witnesses the paralysis of a young girl.  The event traumatises him to the point of tears. Didier narrates the event in a short and succinct manner, giving the impression that fully recounting the event will cause the sadness to return. His narration of the event translates an intense feeling of pity to the reader. Didier’s narrative combined with stunning photography allows the reader to see the negative impact Afghani War.