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"I don't get it, I have to be here. You don't."
I can't tell you how many times I've heard that from a service member while on an embed, and I'm still struggling to figure out why I do this.
I'm not a war photographer. I spend the majority of my life kneeling on hearing room floors in the Senate in Washington, or lined up with fifty other photographers in front of a podium.
But working in Iraq or Afghanistan is my passion. Like many photographers I was inspired by James Nachtwey, Christopher Morris, Robert Capa, and Sebastiao Salgado among others. Like them, I wanted to be a famous war photographer. But the first time a bullet snaps past your head, those shallow motivations go out the window.
For every new trip there is a certain level of excitement and fear.
While on assignment I rely on the U.S. military for protection, food, transportation and shelter. I spend long days with these men and we pass the time by getting to know one another. I'm always amazed by their openness, willingness to talk, and hospitality. Not all the stories are positive, but they're honest. It's not easy walking into a platoon's life after they've lost a member to injury or death, but the guys "in the suck" just want their stories told.
The last day of our embed a young man lost his leg in an IED blast. It was a horrific scene, and another reminder of just how dangerous Combat Outpost Nolen is. Dangerous enough that we cut our embed short by a few days. We made a decision that no one in the military can make -- we left. As you are reading this, the young men at Nolen are still leaving the relative safety of the combat outpost to go on patrol, still dealing with the heat, the flies, the gunfire, the homemade bombs and the rocket propelled grenades. They can't pack up and leave.
I'm a war zone tourist -- I fly into an outpost, spend a few weeks telling the stories of those men, and then I leave.
So why do I do this? I guess I'll never have a great answer. But I do believe in the power of photography to spark a conversation. The image of a lone Chinese man standing in front of a column of tanks, an execution in a Saigon street, a Vietnamese girl running naked after a napalm attack, charred remains hanging from a bridge outside of Fallujah, a young soldier fighting in a pair of pink boxers all add to our collective understanding of war.
But at the end of the day, it's about capturing a moment that leads to insight of a battle fought a world away. It's about coming to grips with man's ultimate inhumanity.
Leave a Comment:
Thank you for your pictures. I search them, praising Jahovah, that I have not seen my son. Unfortunately, he is there somewhere with you "in the suck." He is an awesome man and will take care all who are in his and his partners company. I will pray for all of you. Thank You again!!!!
Evan- I could not do what you do - but thank you for doing what you do.
As others have said, without the photos from you and other photographers, putting your lives in danger, we Americans back home would have no idea what its like out there. And unless we go ourselves, we never fully will. Thank you for the glimpses into this war that you give us. And if you ever go back - be safe.
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Amazing photographs of our men and women in a combat zone. Praise the Lord that someone like you has as much guts as they do to be there! Let's keep praying for all our troops and ask for God's Blessings on America.
Thank you for being there and supporting our troops. From a 26 1/2 year Army veteran and Grandmother!
I am impressed by this photographers work. The imagery is great and the fact of where he gets it. There is something, however, I want to point out. The U.S. military has, in every branch Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines, Combat Camera units. These units are active and deployed constantly. Right now we have servicemembers from every branch serving as combat cameramen in every theatre and at every level. These men and women capture amazing imagery on a daily basis, much of which cannot be released due to its nature and how it was acquired. These photographers have logged hundreds of thousands of images and hundreds of hours of video that truly tells the story of the American G.I. Also, these photographers are not just photographers, but they are soldiers in the field shouldering cameras, rucks and weapons like the rest of their fellow service men and women. They are driving trucks, gunning .50 cals, running patrols etc.
I point all this out because, while they take photos, they are rarely in them and hardly anybody knows the job they do. I am impressed by civilian war photography but even more impressed by combat cameras photography. The imagery is amazing and not only are they photographing the war, they are fighting it as well. Hooyah brothers and sisters!
Combat Phrogs Rock!
I've worked with Michael Dolas, a WWII infantry phrog who did work in the pacific ampitheater. To me it doesn't really matter if imbedded or inlisted, the idea is to get The Story out, no matter what, so that those "Back Home" understand what's going on.
I just hope they all come home, safe and sound. Ribbit.
Im a disabled Iraq veteran and i would love to do some embedded photojournalism overseas........If anyone has any info on how to get started please let me know......Thanks
Dear Mr. Foret, If you have already have experience with photography (or video), great. If not, you need to get some. Although it DOES help that you were in the military (photojournalist Eddie Adams was a marine), I don't think any one would send you off on assignment based solely on your military experience. If you DO have experience behind some form of camera, put a dvd or cd of your work together and show it around. Unfortunately, we are also in the middle of a recession, so a rookie finding work might be tough, but that is where your previous military experience would be helpful. As far as content on your portfolio...I can't say. It depends on where you live and what is available to you. If you live in a BIG city, great. Lots of action. Small town, not so good, but there IS still news to be had!! These days every thing is digital. Take a while to learn the equipment, taking shots of every thing; explore composition. Maybe there are freelance jobs at your local paper(s)? Where to go with your portolio or demo dvd? That's a question, I cannot answer. I was in the offices of BLACK STAR many years ago, speaking with Howard Chapnick. All around me were photos taken by James Nachtwey. Yes, I was looking for some kind of a job. It brought me back to earth. You have to make some good connections along the way. I am NOT a good shmoozer. Ask questions - LOTS of them - about what the best route might be for you. Any way . . . obviously, you cannot be afraid to travel. Family and home responsibilities will have to come in second to you wanting to go over seas. Be forewarned, this might take a few years for you to get your first gig. Any way good luck, bring good shoes - but then again - you already know that one.
Thank you for your article. It's so nice to hear and see what's going on with our young brave lads. I'm a marine mom, and grandmother. I'm praying for all of you and it's nice to hear that others are as well. I can't believe there are only 7 posts. It's Fri night and people are buzzing about with their lives. And it's our soldiers whom are fighting bravely for those freedoms. Thank-you!
Interesting views. Personally I always disliked the hoopla surrounding the arrival of the press and resented the special treatment they are afforded. (when things get scary and they say they want out- guess who has to take care of that) It is distracting and increases the work load in a time and place where lives are on the line. There is also the issue of what kind of spin and political alignment the photogragher may apply to his work. Also have seen many times when facts are wrong or presented in a misleading manner. The military has its own journalists and photo journalists that can work seamlessly in the field and are held to high standards of accountability. The pictures may be nice, but are the worth the cost?
good photographs of our men and women in combat.you see with your eye what we are experiencing. the art you show to us is amazing,and heart warming also. great pictures,be safe,and the marines will take care of you,for you are one of us when you are there by our side.
semper-fi
sgt 72-81
ao1 usn retired
I once commented on a similar blogpost about the photo of a critically wounded Marine who later died. While many criticized the photographer, I lauded him and the news organization, saying that if enough people saw what really happens in a war, they might just get upset enough to affect a political change; in other words sound off when politicians want to drag us into wars with out future governance plans, etc. I have grown up worshipping combat photogs like Larry Burrows and James Natchwey. They, like this photographer, have lived the maxim, "If your photos aren't good enough, you're not close enough." Thank you for being close enough.
While the utmost respect should be given to the servicemen and women acting as combat camera units, they are still members of the U.S. Military and therefore their images are filtered and screened by the military before any of them are presented to they eyes of the public. And even though there are rules the working press must follow in an embed, only civilian photographers are capable of producing the closest thing to unfiltered imagery from a combat zone.
I am a fan of your photos. Thank you for being there and for the brief commentary. An Army mom.
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