If you get the chance to experience “Journey: Dan Eldon’s Images of War and Peace,” a photography exhibit on display in the Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication through Nov. 23, you should brace yourself for an emotional viewing.

Eldon, who was killed in 1993 at the age of 22 while working for Reuters in Africa during the Somalian conflict, was a photojournalist who created and collected a compilation of journal entries and collages during his expedition. The display of his work is filled with longing faces and compelling text that express the emotions he felt throughout his stay in Somalia, and the emotions of the people living in Africa at the time.

In one of Eldon’s photographs, an African man with compelling eyes gazes at the viewer. The word “ROTTING” is splashed across the bottom of the photo. In another work, sketches of surreal artwork along with a Somalian photo creates an uneasy feeling with martyr-like tension. In the photos displaying the artist himself, it is easy to see his self-sacrificial attitude and his love for the Somalian people.

Almost every photo in the exhibit has been crafted in at least three mediums, which mesh together to create a well-rounded display of the artist’s emotions at the time of his journey.

The exhibit is one that would appeal to almost anyone. It has a wealth of artistic value but also displays a great deal of human courage and self-sacrifice. The display tugs at the heart and is pleasing to the eye but more than anything, it expresses a story that will inspire viewers and leave a lasting image in their minds for many years to come.

— Cassie Rhea Little is a journalism sophomore.