A boy with bandages covering his face, attempting to conceal the violent red marks shrapnel has left on his skin.

This image, on page 18 of the second set of photo pages of It’s What I Do, is the most striking photo included in the memoir. It truly speaks to the causalities of war that Addario has experienced first-hand and is trying to convey to her readers. The image features a young boy, eyes glazed with tears. The sparkle in his eye is not like that of other children; his eyes burn furiously with agony, reflecting the pain he has experienced in this war.

For Addario, this image is special. She felt very strongly about this image, but it never got to run in any publication because the editor could not authenticate the cause of the boy’s injuries. This setback was infuriating for Addario, who felt that this image encompassed her mission of working to tell those in the Western world about the wars and struggles in the Middle East. But when this image was rejected by her editors, Addario simply began to work harder, throwing herself even more passionately into her work.

Another striking image included is the picture of a U.S. solider riding in a school bus that has been converted into an ambulance, attempting to protect one of his fellow soldiers on the trip to the medical station (page 4 of second photo set).

By including this image, Addario humanizes the American soldiers. Many people have this idea that soldiers are robotic, devoid of emotion in times of turmoil. But viewers of this image can see the worry lining the soldier’s face as he fears for his peer’s life.

With the inclusion of multiple images from throughout her career, Addario is able to add another level of depth to her novel. She not only illustrates her personal stories and reflections, but also channels her growth as a photographer. As the story progresses, the photos get better and they speak more powerfully to the viewer.

In my own personal blog, I could use images to chart the different stages of my social experiment. I could document the different looks I wear and try so readers can follow along with what I am doing and have a visual.