Brian Walski Discusses His Doctored Photo

The Los Angeles Times fired Brian Walski April 1 after the staff photographer admitted to digitally combining elements taken from two different exposures. At the time of the offense, the award-winning photojournalist had been covering the war in Iraq from the town of Basra. The composite image ran on the front page of the Times as well as its sister paper The Hartford Courant, among others.

Walski spoke at length to PDN senior editor David Walker about what he did, how he feels about his actions, and what his plans are now.

Walski: I guess you're calling to ask why I destroyed my career.

PDN: Did you destroy your career?

Walski: Right now, it's not looking good.

PDN: What are you going to do?

Walski: Maybe try to start my own business with a couple of friends here in LA who have their own gallery. I've been in newspapers 24 years, since 1979. Started my career in Albuquerque.

I'm not blaming anybody but myself. A lot of people said, 'well, you were under stress.' When I put the pictures together, I knew what I was doing. It looked good. It looked better than what I had, and I said 'wow.' Things happened so fast. Great photographers who can compose pictures under that kind of intensity--I'm amazed by how they can do it. Things are happening so fast. You have to watch out for yourself, and look what's going on to be able to compose pictures. I had ten frames of soldier totally cut off. At some point I must have zoomed out. When that guy came up with the baby, I shot off ten more frames. I had just one where you could see the soldier's face. The others he was turned away. I put four pictures on my laptop. I was going back and forth. There was no reason to do [what I did]. I was playing around a little bit. I said, 'that looks good.' I worked it and sent it.

PDN: Was it crossing your mind that you could get in trouble?

Walski: Not really. I wasn't debating the ethics of it when I was doing it. I was looking for a better image. It was a 14 hour day and I was tired. It was probably ten at night. I was looking to make a picture. Why I chose this course is something I'll go over and over in my head for a long time. I certainly wasn't thinking of the ramifications.

It's not just me. It's what I've done to my co-workers, to the Times, to other photographers that were there. I feel really bad.

PDN: What did your co-workers say?

Walski: Most have been very nice and supportive and kind. I haven't heard from everybody. A lot of them are just shocked.