Revolutionary Eyes: How Che Guevara & Dennis Morris Documented Their Times

Recording from Within

Guevara: The Revolutionary's Perspective

Guevara documented the battles in the Sierra Maestra mountains not as an outside journalist, but as a revolutionary participant. His photographs captured Castro in everyday moments and interactions with peasants. These were records from the "inside" of revolution.

Morris: Community Member

Morris also photographed Bob Marley and the Sex Pistols from "within" rather than "without." He explained his approach: "You find a way of being invisible. Fitting in so people are not aware of you." This wasn't mere stealth—it was the result of being accepted into the community.

Focus on the Marginalized

Guevara photographed peasants and workers, while Morris captured 1970s Britain's black communities and punk youth. Both pointed their cameras at society's margins rather than at power.

Between Myth and Reality

Ironically, both photographers' works later became cultural icons. Guevara's revolutionary photos became political symbols, and Morris's Bob Marley images spread worldwide "like the Che Guevara picture," as Morris himself noted.

Yet what both sought to capture wasn't myth but human reality. To deconstruct authority, they first documented humanity.

Shared Techniques

Both used Leica cameras and prioritized natural moments over staging. They avoided flash and relied on small, mobile cameras. This enabled their "invisible presence" shooting style.

Questions for Today

In our era when everyone carries a camera, Guevara and Morris's fundamental questions remain crucial: "What do you photograph?" and "Why do you photograph?"

What they demonstrated was photography's potential to transcend mere documentation and become a tool for social change. Their "rebellious gaze" still challenges us today. Do we conform to power, or do we shoot the truth? That choice continues.