Albert Londres himself was equipped with a small camera.

[Shishirgano9]

"Terre d'ébène", his work published in 1929 on the more than dubious practices of the French colonial world, has its counterpart in images, more than 200 photos taken by the reporter. Precisely, some made the front page of "l'Excelsior". And when he was violently attacked by the fierce defenders of the French Empire, Londres replied that he was serene, having all the proof of what he was saying. ..



In any case, the image had acquired its force of gambling data asia truth, testimony from the field. Crime or war, it was demanded by the greatest number. For the press bosses, and the journalists, it was necessary to be where the drama was happening, to capture the scene and send it for rapid publication. Competition and speed against a tragic backdrop. Collective emotion was at this price, sales too.

Thus on August 8, 1915, in its illustrated supplement, the Petit Journal published the drawing of a soldier, sounding the assault with a trumpet in his hand, his other arm torn off by a shell... Heroic exaltation by an already old technique.


While the same day, the daily newspaper displayed on its front page a photo of English troops storming the battle of the Dardanelles – yet another one. A little further on was an interview with a photographer. He had captured the terrible spectacle of suffering inflicted on Louvain by the Germans.