Walker's photo of Ostrom counting the stitches from his suicide attempt.
The Pulitzer Prize winners for 2012 were announced earlier this week and Craig F. Walker of The Denver Post won the prize for feature photography for his work as a photo journalist on the story “Welcome Home, The Story of Scott Ostrom”.
The story consists of eighteen photos follow Ostrom through his life as an honorably discharged Marine veteran living with severeĀ post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Although few words accompany the photographs they still depict anĀ in-depthĀ and emotional story.
Having spoken at length to my own siblings and friends, many of whom are veterans who served during the Iraq War, PTSD was not unfamiliar to me. One in five of today’sĀ Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans suffer from the disorder, according to Walker’s story.
I’ve always had someĀ skepticismĀ about PTSD. But through seeing the pictures and reading the story on Scott Ostrom I do not doubt that he is suffering from PTSD, or at the very least, some severe depression.
Walker’s photos truly capture the painful ordeal that Ostrom is going through. From the up-close picture of Ostrom’s stitches from his suicide attempt to the many photos of Ostrom in the middle of a panic attack, his emotional struggle is clearly seen.
Winning a Pulitzer Prize is such a prestigious honor and Walker truly deserves this victory. Congratulations to all the winners and the finalists. I strive to one day be somewhat as talented as many of you. Your work in journalism and the arts is truly inspiring.
If you are interested in reading Walker’s story you can see it here. Or check out the other 2012 Pulitzer Prize winners atĀ www.pulitzer.org.