A Small War at Close Quarters

by Vic Hinterlang

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A young state tax attorney decides to follow his dream of becoming an international photojournalist, moving in 1987 with his new bride to El Salvador to cover its civil war. With the help of a few contacts, he becomes part of the freelance photographer ecosystem in Central America, going out daily to cover newsworthy events in El Salvador’s “low intensity conflict.” During his time there, his professional and personal concerns evolve along with the course of the war, culminating in an intersection that directly challenges his commitment to his dream. A Small War at Close Quarters is not only a fascinating up-close look at the conflict in El Salvador, it also highlights a stultifying bureaucracy almost as tough to navigate as the country’s rugged terrain as well as the challenges of adjusting to the often dangerous working environment that journalists there faced.