Faces of male soldiers before, during, and after war - from female photographer

[H1N1]

Through my work I come into frequent contact with a lot of guys who've done plenty of killing in the line of duty. They look like normal blokes (well, they look like tough, no nonsense guys by and large, which is less and less normal I suppose). There's no thousand yard stare, no inner turmoil over the horrors of taking a human life, or any other things you may read about in war stories. These are literary conceits. The only real exception in the well adjusted is when it comes to thinking about dead friends, or horrifically injured friends. That's the only time I've seen the far away look, with the exception of those with PTSD.

As far as I can see the changes between the photos can all be explained by photographic techniques. They are all shot in tones intended to add drama to the texture of the image, and they are deliberately unsmiling to ensure the desired effect is achieved in the mind of the reader. The general position amongst the sharp end guys I know is, 'glad I'm out, but fuck me if it wasn't a lot of fun - I'd probably go back for one more round'.

If these had been shot with the guys smiling, and the photographer had used less of a greying filter, I don't believe you'd see much of a difference between the photos. Perhaps the one thing they would convey regardless is a greater sense of confidence between the before and afters, as young men do grow up fast in war zones, where they must often assume significant responsibility that belies their tender years.

 

[Sextus Empiricus]

If these had been shot with the guys smiling, and the photographer had used less of a greying filter, I don't believe you'd see much of a difference between the photos. Perhaps the one thing they would convey regardless is a greater sense of confidence between the before and afters, as young men do grow up fast in war zones, where they must often assume significant responsibility that belies their tender years.

Completely agree. One thing I've noticed recently is that the primary media narrative, especially in more liberal outlets, has shifted from "soldiers are heartless murderers" to "soldiers are helpless, psychologically-wounded creatures."

Before, we could feel superior to our soldiers because they're morally decrepit monsters. Now, we can feel superior to our soldiers because they're objects of pity, all afflicted with PTSD and constantly struggling with their inner guilt and turmoil.

 

[Mercenary]

...




BEFORE WAR

DURING WAR

AFTER WAR

 

[Vicious]

Those guys look so British it gave me a craving for Worchester sauce.

 

[Beyond Borders]

I think it's easy to look at these photos and project meaning on them because they are already placed in a particular order. Look at them again and imagine how you would have perceived them if they were rearranged and you were told that was the proper sequence instead.

How would you read their expressions then?

Anyhow, there was an interesting guy, a war journalist named Sebastian Junger, interviewed in a Tim Ferriss podcast (http://fourhourworkweek.com/2016/05/22/sebastian-junger/). He talked about how some studies are beginning to suggest PTSD is not so much about what a man has seen and done as it is about losing the sense of belonging and male carmraderie that comes with war. Of being involved in a tribal unit, as is natural with humans, and then being put back into a society where you're pretty much left to your own devices.

To emphasize this point, he points out that PTSD doesn't correspond with greater trauma and often affects soldiers who never saw any action the most. It also tends to hit harder when you have less cohesion to help you face the trauma. For example, men who are part of elite units tend to experience less PTSD (I'm just relaying his points here - not trying to insult anyone who may have a more intimate experience with the residual effects of hard combat).

He also discusses how trauma isn't related to the level of danger you experience but rather to the level of control you have, so the more highly trained you are the less you are affected psychologically. A side note, but interesting nonetheless.

As LINUX suggests with his tongue-in-cheek comment, much of PTSD may be caused by the life you return to rather than what you left behind.

 

[xmlenigma]

Wonder why this did not get a lot of responses and got buried..

At war, focus, Sense of purpose, camradarie, Warrior Mindset, Do or Die.

I think it's easy to look at these photos and project meaning on them because they are already placed in a particular order. Look at them again and imagine how you would have perceived them if they were rearranged and you were told that was the proper sequence instead.

How would you read their expressions then?

Anyhow, there was an interesting guy, a war journalist named Sebastian Junger, interviewed in a Tim Ferriss podcast (http://fourhourworkweek.com/2016/05/22/sebastian-junger/). He talked about how some studies are beginning to suggest PTSD is not so much about what a man has seen and done as it is about losing the sense of belonging and male carmraderie that comes with war. Of being involved in a tribal unit, as is natural with humans, and then being put back into a society where you're pretty much left to your own devices.

To emphasize this point, he points out that PTSD doesn't correspond with greater trauma and often affects soldiers who never saw any action the most. It also tends to hit harder when you have less cohesion to help you face the trauma. For example, men who are part of elite units tend to experience less PTSD (I'm just relaying his points here - not trying to insult anyone who may have a more intimate experience with the residual effects of hard combat).

He also discusses how trauma isn't related to the level of danger you experience but rather to the level of control you have, so the more highly trained you are the less you are affected psychologically. A side note, but interesting nonetheless.

As LINUX suggests with his tongue-in-cheek comment, much of PTSD may be caused by the life you return to rather than what you left behind.

I think it has to do with "what next" and whether they are able to find purpose & direction or not..

 

[Rush87]

Does anyone see any photoshopping here?

What about different lighting conditions? Pupil dilation?

Regardless, in war time the men look like they are on high alert.

They're photoshopped to varying degrees. For instance, the middle photos have a higher contrast filter which is why they 'pop' more than the first and third images.