There's more to war photography than dramatic images made by photojournalists in combat zones. Photography and War encompasses a far broader terrain of geographies, chronologies, practices and viewpoints.
In this book, I consider photography’s fundamental role in military reconnaissance, propaganda and protest, exposure of war crimes, and the memorialisation of war, among other themes. While iconic images by well-known names such as Roger Fenton and Robert Capa are included, the viewpoints of people who have historically been overlooked - women and photographers from diasporic and non-Western backgrounds - are forcefully present. As a result, this book offers a nuanced and more inclusive understanding of war as a far-reaching undertaking in which anyone might be implicated and affected.
Richly illustrated, with some photos published for the first time, this book offers an accessible and well-rounded introduction to photography’s perhaps most contested, complex and emotive subject.
Published by Reaktion and distributed by University of Chicago. Supported by British Academy/Leverhulme Research Grants.
Available to buy from Impressions Gallery and all main booksellers.
Girl in mourning dress, c.1861-1870 © Library of Congress
From the series Today’s Life and War, 2008 © Gohar Dashti
Alfred Philip Mighell, Lawrence McVey, of the 369th Infantry Regiment, 'Harlem Hellfighters', c.1914-1918 © Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
Capt. Frank Hurley, An episode after the Battle of Zonnebek, 1918 © State Library of New South Wales
Paintball Portrait #1, 2007-2008 © Jill Cole
Private R. W. Turner (attrib.), British and German soldiers fraternizing at Ploegsteert, Belgium, on Christmas Day, 1914 © Imperial War Museums
The Madres de Plaza de Mayo, Buenos Aires, 1981 © Eduardo Longoni,
Digital Globe inc, Aerial view of Darfur, from the Amnesty International campaign 'Decode Darfur', c.2016 © Digital Globe / Amnesty International
Nabiela, 'Warnings are painted on the walls to tell people to take care of mines…' from the PhotoVoice project 'Shooting Kabul', Afghanistan, 2002 © Nabiela / PhotoVoice / Aschiana
Praise for Photography and War:
"Essential reading" - Sophie Wright, Global Cultural Director, Magnum Photos
"A must-read for anyone interested in war reportage or who wants to know the story behind the representation of conflict in all its forms." - Antony Penrose, Co-director, The Lee Miller Archives
"A monumental study... a brilliant book and an excellent resource for all photographic historians." - Photographica World
"A vivid, perceptive enquiry... Highly recommended." - Stuart Allan, author of Citizen Witnessing
"An important contribution to the thematic historiography of conflict photography." - Source