"Be ready in 30 minutes," he said.

When I think of traveling, it's never like this. Not really. I tend to imagine observing carefully, watching, listening, marveling at the landscapes, architecture, and people, maybe even running—but not for my life. Not in flight from those who would kill me and the people I'm with.

At the same time, those are the moments that tend to create the most striking images, that if captured, more easily become legacies in themselves. At times I think war photography is the best photography of all. The most intriguing to me, that is. I've never even been close to experiencing it or observing it in person, but my imagination leads me to think of several skills and traits one must have: quick technical camera fingers, a heart of sensitivity to recognize the emotion in a scene, a heart of stone to withstand the horror and sadness and fear without going fetal, courage, fitness, traveling sense, cultural sense, ideally looks that aid in blending in, and at least some familiarity with the local language and customs. What a stressful adrenaline rush it must be.

It makes me think of the film Triage. And of the photographer I did a report on during my photojournalism class, Eugene Smith. Powerful stuff, but it must take its toll.

I suppose from a comfortable distance war photography fascinates and intrigues me. I wonder myself into war scenarios and imagine the images I'd capture, full of fear and pain and sometimes hope. Then my mind takes the next step and questions how I could get into that kind of job. And then it all stops because I realize that's ridiculous and I'd be too afraid anyway.

I'm not even paying attention to why Syria is having such a war, what is being done about it, what the losses are, or even the photographs coming out of such a conflict. But since I did happen upon her story, I have to say, I have a lot of respect for—and yes, curiosity about—photographers like Zohra Bensemra and all the others who risk their lives, and the lives of those supporting them, in conflict zones. It's almost unbelievable. But they've got pictures to prove it.