Dulled by “Commonplace?” “Interpretation” Helps.

I’ve been covering the “War on Terror” in Afghanistan since 2002.  Many of my photographs were taken while embedded with U.S. and NATO troops.  Such access is crucial to getting the story.  But constant “military green” and routine patrols tend to curb creativity.  Seeing things with “fresh eyes” under such circumstances becomes a challenge.  One approach I’ve adopted to confront this is, “Don’t just document - interpret!”

For example, in the photo (extreme left) below, I used camouflage netting to “frame” a U.S. flag flying at a coalition outpost on the Pakistan border.  A similar “personal perspective” saw the capture of a truckload of locals approaching a border checkpoint, made through a barrier gate.

In the two images - right, I used strong sunlight and hard shadows to tell the story of a routine “pat-down” search, conducted by Afghan Border Police.  In the final photograph, I turned bright natural light to emphasizing the “watchful eye” of Border Police agent as he lifts the security gate for a just-searched vehicle, sending it on its way.

Thematically-fitting “frames,” well-placed highlights and defining shadows – elements that transform the ordinary to the dramatic can be your technique too – a personal way to describe scenes and subjects through digital photography that have become far too familiar to yield that compelling image you always want.