notturtle
Well-known
I am posting this to see what others think of this work:
www.robertjwilson.com
http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2008/nov/06/robert-wilson-photography-war
Personally, I find it far too much like a commercial photographer has exchanged his regular clients for soldiers and made them look like actors in a B movie (Universal Soldier and the like). I do not feel the images say anything to me at all. I find them sterile, detached and to be honest, a bit annoying... kinda like producing rufty tufty shots of David Beckham wearing Police sunglasses for an advert with stubble and a bit of grime and sweat, only using soldiers who ARE doing that job for real. It makes the gritty reality of their work look like the faux product of a make up artist and wardrobe dept. They look over photoshopped and just 'other worldly' in a way that entirely distracts from rather than relates to the reality of their activities in Helmand. While the eye contact is good, there is nothing behind the eyes, other than an 'art/creative directors' needed twinkle.
Personally I think the MoD should have gone for something that said a little more, rather than made soldiers, whose bravery and tolerance of adversity is best demostrated in the ordinariness of who they are, look like cheap B movie actors.
This is not a rant and I am sure the guy is a very good commercial photographer, only the style combined with the subject matter, I find jarring to say the least. Perhaps others see it entirely differently. I am particularly curious because I dislike them so much! As a former soldier, this is not what I expected. The MoD could do worse than to be a bit more flexible and have allowed something more insightful. I wonder whether the brief was to show nothing about anything because they have become far too media wary?
www.robertjwilson.com
http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2008/nov/06/robert-wilson-photography-war
Personally, I find it far too much like a commercial photographer has exchanged his regular clients for soldiers and made them look like actors in a B movie (Universal Soldier and the like). I do not feel the images say anything to me at all. I find them sterile, detached and to be honest, a bit annoying... kinda like producing rufty tufty shots of David Beckham wearing Police sunglasses for an advert with stubble and a bit of grime and sweat, only using soldiers who ARE doing that job for real. It makes the gritty reality of their work look like the faux product of a make up artist and wardrobe dept. They look over photoshopped and just 'other worldly' in a way that entirely distracts from rather than relates to the reality of their activities in Helmand. While the eye contact is good, there is nothing behind the eyes, other than an 'art/creative directors' needed twinkle.
Personally I think the MoD should have gone for something that said a little more, rather than made soldiers, whose bravery and tolerance of adversity is best demostrated in the ordinariness of who they are, look like cheap B movie actors.
This is not a rant and I am sure the guy is a very good commercial photographer, only the style combined with the subject matter, I find jarring to say the least. Perhaps others see it entirely differently. I am particularly curious because I dislike them so much! As a former soldier, this is not what I expected. The MoD could do worse than to be a bit more flexible and have allowed something more insightful. I wonder whether the brief was to show nothing about anything because they have become far too media wary?
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