Eddy van Wessel’s job can be summed up in two words: he’s a conflict photographer. He risks his life to record the tragic events unfolding in Chechnya, Syria, Iraq or other regions in crisis. Because he’s always in search of dignity and the drive to survive, even his most gruesome images draw us into the events, rather than putting us off.

In his book The Edge of Civilization, self-published in three different language versions, he has collected photos taken over a period of eighteen years. The texts are printed in a lean typewriter font on thin sheets inserted at intervals. The images are mostly full-spread and are printed on matt pale cream paper. A hollow back means the book lies open nicely, and sections of only eight pages ensure that nothing of the wide images is lost in the fold. QR codes link to additional information.

Most impressive of all – apart from the photographs themselves – is the superb optical density throughout the book. ‘Almost like intaglio.’ ‘Density over 200, if you ask me.’ ‘Stochastic screening – lets you use loads of ink without it clogging.’ OK, these are fragments of the conversation from the panel’s own comfort zone. Remember that the choices that have turned this uncomfortable material into such a powerful book were also made in the same comfort zone…