xcapekey.com Posted August 24, 2005 Share Posted August 24, 2005 here's something else you don't see about the war...how it affects families and the humanity of individuals...my brother is in iraq as i write this...make no bones about it, he is very disillusioned about the war...the first time they convoyed into iraq he was so upset because they didn't have any armor for their humvee and had to pull scraps of metal where they could...he's upset at the media portrayal or lackthereof of what goes on there everyday...<center><br><br><img src="http://www.xcapekey.com/images2004/june05_1.jpg" border=1><br><br>my brother returning home from iraq for 2 weeks R&R...greeted by his childhood dog..<br><br> <img src="http://www.xcapekey.com/images2004/june05_2.jpg" border=1><br><br>my brother taking off his uniform for the first time after months in iraq<br><br><img src="http://www.xcapekey.com/images2004/nate5.jpg" border=1><br><br>portrait<br><br><img src="http://www.xcapekey.com/images2004/nate1.jpg" border=1><br><br>my brother before basic training...<br><br><img src="http://www.xcapekey.com/images2004/nate2.jpg" border=1><br>on graduation day at fort benning, ga....<br><br><img src="http://www.xcapekey.com/images2004/nate3.jpg" border=1><br><br>the day before leaving for iraq for the first time...<br><br><img src="http://www.xcapekey.com/images2004/july05_2.jpg" border=1><br><br>the day leaving to go back to iraq the 2nd time after R&R<br><br><img src="http://www.xcapekey.com/images2004/july05_3.jpg" border=1><br><br>minutes before boarding the plane to go back to war....<br><br><br><br>www.xcapekey.com</center> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edmo Posted August 24, 2005 Share Posted August 24, 2005 some great shots with feel there Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uhooru Posted August 24, 2005 Share Posted August 24, 2005 Thanx Russ. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad_ Posted August 24, 2005 Share Posted August 24, 2005 These photos are very moving- nice work. www.citysnaps.net Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doris_chan Posted August 24, 2005 Share Posted August 24, 2005 Russ, this is the strongest set of images I've seen on this forum. Ed, and others, have posted stronger individual images but I've never seen anything as relevant, coherent, and moving as this here. You have to continue with this, whatever the outcome. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rjacksonphoto Posted August 24, 2005 Share Posted August 24, 2005 Excellent, moving series. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ray . Posted August 24, 2005 Share Posted August 24, 2005 Has he ever considered the possibility of declining to go back? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gabri Posted August 24, 2005 Share Posted August 24, 2005 nice stuff mate...nice stuff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xcapekey.com Posted August 24, 2005 Author Share Posted August 24, 2005 thanks for the kind comments...it has been the hardest thing i've ever photographed....many times i'm fighting back tears while shooting but it helps me cope with the situation....it's weird to think of composition and lighting while you're shooting a loved one going to war but i know if i don't consider those things the images won't communicate the longing and sadness and frustration that i feel or that he feels... i take days off at work whenever he comes home to photograph and will easily burn through 15 rolls in a day....it's my way of honoring him and in some way trying to capture him for myself because i don't know when i'll see him again....photographs are poor substitutes for people but i hope these photos will transcend and speak to other people about the quiet tragedies that happen when a country is at war... i think of lisette model's advice to diane arbus, that the more specific the subject the more general it's voice....these are family photos...my family photos...these are scenes that occured in my parent's house...it doesn't get any more specific to myself than that... yet at the same time, what is happening to us is no different than what is happening or has happened to other families who have members of their families at war...there is a strength and power, i hope, in the intimacy of private pictures...these moments, however quiet and ephemeral, especially in contrast to scenes of soldiers at war, soldiers tearing down saddam's statue, our president landing on an aircraft carrier, will have their own power to move, perhaps not with a bang but with a whimper and maybe that's all it really takes.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jenna_g Posted August 24, 2005 Share Posted August 24, 2005 Moving images Russ, especially the last two. Thanks for sharing them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bds1 Posted August 24, 2005 Share Posted August 24, 2005 Great work Russ, maybe expand it to shooting letters your brother sends home, bits of his kit etc? Picture everything you can and carry on shooting. maybe take a look at antony sau's Fear This for another look at the war at home Brian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thomas_sullivan Posted August 24, 2005 Share Posted August 24, 2005 well done Russ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
._._z Posted August 24, 2005 Share Posted August 24, 2005 Homer Simpson <u><A href = http://www.fortunecity.com/lavendar/poitier/135/iamgay.wav>figured out how to get out</a></u>. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b_kosoff Posted August 24, 2005 Share Posted August 24, 2005 Russ, very moving images. I hope, as many others here do, for a safe and speedy return home for your brother and all our troops. Whether one is for or against this war may be a point of debate, but the appreciation for the sacrifice and hardship of our men and women in service is one of the things that unites all americans. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrew_sowerby Posted August 24, 2005 Share Posted August 24, 2005 I echo the comments above -- very moving images. Best wishes for your brother's safe return. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael s. Posted August 24, 2005 Share Posted August 24, 2005 Exceptional, Russ. I remember having seen a few of these before, and now it's good -- good in a somewhat painful way -- to see them again as part of this powerful series. They do honor your brother and your family. They are important photos. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boris earth Posted August 24, 2005 Share Posted August 24, 2005 Thanks for the photos. This is what documentary photography is all about. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad_ Posted August 24, 2005 Share Posted August 24, 2005 Russ, don't know how you feel about this, but it's pretty easy and inexpensive to put together a small one-off book of photos. Your images would tell a great story. A set of 30 or so images, either in an Apple iPhoto Book, or the equivalent from mypublisher.com if you're pc-based, would be great. I've done a few 6" x 8" softcover books and they're easy to do and communicate well. www.citysnaps.net Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beauh44 Posted August 24, 2005 Share Posted August 24, 2005 Good job Russ. I'll keep my fingers crossed for your bro'. What a bummer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xcapekey.com Posted August 24, 2005 Author Share Posted August 24, 2005 i've considered a book and that's how i would like to ultimately present the work...mixing in IM's and emails that we've had while he's oversees...also including photographs of how the war presents itself at home, through protests, signage, flag imagery, etc., everytime i see a flag i can't help but think about the war i shot all this in BW and have made prints of these images but it's been draining emotionally....i'm still editing as i have about 60 rolls of film to sift through... i want to keep shooting until he finally comes home for good so i can find some closure in the story.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve_muntz Posted August 24, 2005 Share Posted August 24, 2005 Fantastic series, Russ. Very moving - especially the amazing "Portrait". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barefoot Posted August 24, 2005 Share Posted August 24, 2005 God Bless America. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
klimax Posted August 24, 2005 Share Posted August 24, 2005 Wonderful shots. Well done. My best wishes for your brother. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_cire_. Posted August 24, 2005 Share Posted August 24, 2005 i want more. thanks for this Russ. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maria_s. Posted August 25, 2005 Share Posted August 25, 2005 I remember your first post with your brother taking off to Iraq. This one has even stronger compositions. But why not use Tri-X or or Ilford HP and take care of these underexposures? No matter how emotional & strong the content, it's important to take care of your images quality. Most of them don't look good. That's too bad because clearly you can compose and you have a very strong subject matter. And a lot to say. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now