We had the good fortune of connecting with Ryta Gaal and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Ryta, what is the most important factor behind your success?
Perhaps the fact that I achieved what I call the highest potential career peak as a Hungarian photojournalist all by myself, without any external help or support. Naturally, it took a lot of sacrifice, will power and persistence, and more importantly, humility.
Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Photojournalism and war correspondence: both are incredibly tough and demanding professions, being responsible for both making high-quality photos and tell captivating stories at the same time. Getting the Pentagon award must have been a remarkable life event.I am very proud of that award. I had the honour to receive it personally from the Secretary of Defence Mr. William Cohen, (Senator) with whom I am still in contact. There has always been a need for war correspondents: politicians, governments used them; they were the ones who informed families whether their soldier sons were still alive at the war. This is not only a profession; this is a vocation that stays with you the rest of your life. I did not do it for awards, either. I simply wanted to show people the horrors of war through my pictures, to show how many innocents victims fall to the terrible, senseless massacre committed by us to fellow humans. War is the most horrible act of humanity.
If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Wynwood is south of the Design District and Little Haiti, north of Downtown Miami, west of Edgewater and east of Allapattah. It’s easily accessed from South Beach via the Venetian and Julia Tuttle Causeways.Known for blocks upon blocks of incredible, world-renowned murals, Wynwood is a neighborhood dedicated to the pursuit of fun and pleasure. Around every corner, you’ll find interesting shops, some of Miami’s best restaurants, vibey bars fit for every mood and a number of Miami’s top breweries.
Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My grandfather was a writer. My father worked as a journalist at a military magazine at the air force in Hungary. I did not intentionally pick this career – it was a matter of course with my family background. Naturally, at the time that was not all that rosy. I remember that while my buddies were going on vacation or to camp, I had to spend my entire summer holiday reading. Then I was mad at Dad for this, but now I am very grateful.
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Other: ryta.gaal@gmail.com
Image Credits
Ryta Gaal