Foreign Policy Blogs

War Photography Almost Too Close for Comfort

A noteworthy group of photojournalists gathered at photo agency VII’s Brooklyn studio last week. The small group represented some of the cream of photojournalists that had gathered in NYC for the recent New York Photo Festival. Among them were Gary Knight and Ashley Gilbertson.

Photography legend Gary Knight in front of one his photographs for dispatches journal. (Genevieve Long for The Epoch Times)

Photography legend Gary Knight in front of one his photographs for dispatches journal. (Genevieve Long for The Epoch Times)

Also on hand was Tim Hetherington, whose notable photo installation “Sleeping Soldiers” is causing quite a stir in the photography world. The installation is notable because of the incredibly creative way it approaches depicting the war in Afghanistan. 3 panels show images of sleeping American soldiers in Afghanistan, overlayed with video and still images. There is then an eerie related soundtrack of helicopters, gunshots, explosions, and crying men.

A recent display of Tim Hetherington's "Sleeping Soldiers" photo installation. (Brian Rose/www.brianrose.com)

A recent display of Tim Hetherington's "Sleeping Soldiers" photo installation. (Brian Rose/www.brianrose.com)

“Sleeping Soldiers” is a shocking look at the war in Afghanistan and the impact it has had on American soldiers. To watch it literally feels like being in the middle of a restless, hellish nightmare.

At this point, Hetherington won’t put the installation online for viewing, but other examples of his work can be seen on his website. A launch of his new book, “Long Story Bit by Bit: Liberia 2003-2007” will also be held in Brooklyn, New York on June 4. More details available here.

 

Author

Genevieve Belmaker

Genevieve Belmaker is a freelance journalist and contributing editor with The Epoch Times (www.theepochtimes.com). She also contributes to Quill, the magazine of the Society of Professional Journalists and Poynter.org. Her blog on journalism is http://artofreportage.com.

Genevieve has traveled throughout the U.S., Asia, Central America, Israel and the West Bank for reporting assignments, including major investigative reports on the recovery of New Orleans, the encroaching presence of China in Costa Rica and Nicaragua, the dangerous import of melamine-contaminated milk into the U.S. and settlement outposts in the West Bank. She regularly reports on issues related to journalism, and the work of journalists.

She holds a BA from the University of Southern California in International Relations, and has been a member of several prominent national and international professional media organizations, including the Society of Professional Journalists, Investigative Reporters and Editors, the International Women’s Media Foundation, the New York Press Club, and the Newswomen’s Club of New York. She lives in Jerusalem, Israel with her husband and son.

Areas of Focus:
New Media; Journalism; Culture and Society