War photography changed how people perceived war and how news
publications reported armed conflict. While people may not fully
understand the grim reality of war by reading a news article, they often
immediately grasp it by viewing graphic pictures of war.
War photography has always been controversial, both in terms of the
explicit nature of combat photography and potential military censorship
of images. Both issues are as true to day as they were when Mathew
Brady’s team first took pictures of the American Civil War during the
1860s.
War Photography History
The American Civil War marked the first time a team of
photographers took pictures of war. The resulting photos of battle and
death shocked the public, who were used to seeing war portrayed as a
romantic, noble endeavor.
While combat photography had been around for over a century before
World War I, not many pictures were taken during this war due to
extensive military censorship. Combat photography during World War II
prompted both patriotism and public outrage, culminating in the horrific
pictures of the Nazi concentration camps.
Since the Second World War, war photos have become almost
commonplace. The Vietnam War proved war photography could sway public
opinion against a war.
Famous war photos from the Vietnam era include one of a little girl
running as she burned from a napalm attack and one of the massacre of
Vietnamese villagers by U.S. troops in My Lai.
In recent years, war photography has covered the Gulf War and the
invasion of Iraq. In both cases, war photos influenced both supporters
and protestors of the wars.
Combat Photography Dangers
Combat photographers place themselves in great danger to
capture pictures of war. Although international law protects journalists
and photographers, both are still targets in a war zone.
In addition to the dangers inherent to a war zone, war photographers
are sometimes deliberately targeted, abducted or executed. Evidence of
this has become clear with the abduction of journalists during the Iraqi
War.
War Photography Subjects
War photos cover a wide range of subjects, both on and off the
battlefield. Pictures of war and combat are only one possible subject
for war photography. Often combat photography shows images of the
aftermath of conflict, depicting destroyed buildings and casualties.
Combat photography has been accused of desensitizing the public to
scenes of violence and death. However, many war photos attempt to put a
human face on war. Such war photos might include a portrait of an
exhausted soldier, civilians fleeing a hot zone or the sad features of a
child caught in a war zone.
While the subjects of war photography are varied in nature, pictures
of prisoners of war (POWs) are considered to be off-limits to this
genre. Although military groups do air photos of captured prisoners, war
photos of POWs are considered an unnecessary humiliation.
Terrorist groups operating in Iraq have broadcast images of captured
American military personnel to the outrage of the American public.
American forces themselves came under fire for publishing a photo of
Saddam Hussein after his capture.
War Photography and the Public
War photography can have powerful effects on the general
public. Sometimes war photos reinforce the belief that the war is
justified, stirring up feelings of patriotism and solidarity within the
troops. Such pictures show a country’s forces in a positive light or
depict crimes committed by the opposing forces.
However, pictures of war can have the opposite effect, turning public
opinion against a military campaign. Vietnam War photos are a prime
example.
A steady stream of images of American dead in Vietnam slowly turned
popular sentiment against the war, as the public began to believe the
war was not worth the lives of so many U.S. soldiers.
Combat photography can also prove that a country’s own soldiers are
capable of atrocities, a fact that can quickly turn public sentiment
against a war. A country’s public generally wants to believe in the
decency of their armed forces. Combat photography that contradicts this
belief, such as war photos of the massacre at My Lai, can quickly turn
pubic support into public outrage.
War Photography and the Military
The power of combat photography is not lost on military
organizations. The right war photos, published at the right time, can
either serve as demoralizing propaganda or as a rally for public
support.
The history of war photography shows that pictures of war can turn
public sentiment against war. As a result, the military tends to see
combat photography is a double-edged sword.
During the 20th century, various military and paramilitary groups
have attempted to censor or use war photography for their own ends. In
countries that value freedom of the press, censorship inevitably brings
the military into conflict with journalistic freedom.
To be fair, the military must walk a tightrope: Too little censorship
can put military forces in jeopardy on the battlefield or cause them to
lose public support. Too much censorship causes the public and
journalists to wonder what’s being hidden.
The Gulf War saw the U.S. military attempt to control almost all
journalism and combat photography in the war zone. Critics believed that
the military was attempting to “sanitize” the war and avoid negative
reactions. Similar charges have been made during Operation Freedom in
Iraq.
Combat Photography Today
War photos have often been decried as too gruesome or violent
for the public. Attempts by the military (in any country) to control
pictures of war have led to what some call a whitewashed portrayal of
war.
War photos released of smart bombs striking buildings are not as
personal as pictures of dirty, exhausted combatants. Some have claimed
military-sanctioned war photos attempt to portray the image of a war
without casualties.
One fact remains clear: For better or worse, combat photography influences how we see war and conflict.