Images of bombed-out houses, scenes of war, dust, rubble, and ash: The images of Iraq shown on the news are authentic, but they don’t tell the whole story. This country—which is actually rich yet plagued by extreme poverty—has other facets as well. Selfies, hookah, bike races, pool, and excessive drinking under one of Baghdad’s Tigris bridges, where young men gather at night. At night, “at a bearable 35 degrees,” as Vincent Haiges says. People’s lives take place outdoors.
The former student at the Steinmühle boarding school lived in Iraq for two years—first in the north, then in the capital. He also visits other crisis-stricken areas—to touch on sensitive issues, to contribute to global transparency, and to get to know other perspectives. To provide a more complete picture, offer explanations, and share knowledge.
“Freedom comes with responsibility”
After graduating from high school, Haiges went on his first trip; at age 21, he arrived in Morocco. “Tell me about Germany,” he can still hear Mustafa say today. That was the moment Haiges began to become aware of global inequality. But what was he to do with that realization? he asked himself.
He realized that freedom comes with responsibility. Vincent Haiges began his studies in Vienna and London, focusing on conflict studies and international law.
He graduated from the university with a master’s degree in political science. His drive to seek out the world’s hotspots, capture the events through photography, and present them has remained undiminished.
This works well through images, and his documentaries resonate with audiences. A high-profile group of clients in the media sector is interested in what Vincent Haiges brings back to the safety of Central Europe: *Der Spiegel*, Deutsche Welle, *Die Zeit*, and the Goethe-Institut. But foreign publications are also interested: from Japan, Switzerland, and even Al Jazeera. Vincent Haiges also documents events in crisis zones for the UN.
“They were wearing masks— not because of COVID-19″
When the reporter talks about excessive drinking under the Tigris Bridge, he does not intend to downplay the violence and terror in the country. His visit to a maximum-security prison in Mosul, northern Iraq, remains his worst memory. According to Haiges, photos were able to capture what was happening there. “You could see people wearing masks.” “…But not because of COVID-19, but because of the smell of corpses.”
Over time, these experiences have instilled a certain humility in the reporter. Not everyone is cut out to be a crisis reporter, even if they can write or take photographs. It takes the ability to connect with people, a clear willingness to adapt, and a genuine desire to be one of them—at least temporarily. Vincent Haiges learned Arabic and always works with a female colleague who conducts on-site interviews with women—due to the social role of Iraqi women. In their presence, a foreign man is taboo, let alone as an interview subject. Nevertheless, bringing in a local producer and translator—a so-called “fixer”—is a necessity. It’s a system—albeit a manageable one—that must be organized and made to function.
“Let’s not get too at once”
During the lecture at the Steinmühle, Haiges is asked if he ever burns out. He finds peace during necessary breaks at his apartment in Berlin-Kreuzberg—a place whose very name instills respect in many people from the provinces. Some ways to maintain strength and energy are time-honored but still effective, says Haiges: taking breaks, not trying to do too much at once, eating well and sleeping well, and exercising.
His invisible adversary: post-traumatic stress disorder.
Vincent Haiges, born in 1988, still remembers rowing coach Martin Strohmenger as the head of his boarding house. Memories linger on both sides, though their priorities are certainly different today. While the Steinmühlen community began the new year quietly amid the ongoing lockdown, Haiges was preparing for his next mission in January. This time, it was in Europe—Bosnia, near the Croatian border.
He was asked if he would be ready again so soon, and his answer was clear: “Believe in what you’re doing. It’s the most important factor in resilience.”
(Vincent Haiges gave the presentation in December to 13th-grade students, in compliance with pandemic-related regulations. The event was organized by Bernd Hülsbeck, a teacher of politics, economics, and history at Steinmühle.)
