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Re: Soldier Boys

archiearchive — Tue, 19 Dec 2006 18:28:44 -0000

Nils, Our emails don't want to talk with each other (quite probably the error is at my end as I am working away from my normal base. I think I fixed the feed problem.

With respect to the "Diphthong" I began to use that when I found there was a much more talented "archy" out there. ( http://www.donmarquis.com/a... ) On occasion I have been known to impersonate him :)

Re: Soldier Boys

Nils — Tue, 19 Dec 2006 05:50:34 -0000

Thanks Ærchie. Normally I would reply with something like 'glad you liked it' but in this case that feels out of place. I guess it moves me, then, that a post of mine reached out and registered with people. I think I know what you mean when you say it makes you guilty, but I'm not entirely certain. As far as I'm concerned, you don't seem to carry any direct responsibility and you certainly don't appear to condone many wars, so I'd say: don't feel guilty. But I still know what you mean, and guess I've felt it too.

I've spelled your name with the Æ aesc, since that is how it appears in your About section – it's a peculiar spelling. I looked in to this familiar but forgotten ligature and was remembered of the fact that beside in Latin and Old English, it also appears in Ossetic, Icelandic and Faroese (among others).

Re: Soldier Boys

archiearchive — Tue, 19 Dec 2006 04:15:49 -0000

Nils, I was so affected I had to make my own post on this, not to spread my ideas, but so that your post may get a wider recognition. I included Rachel Popo's site in there as well. As I say, somehow all those images make me feel guilty. Thank you for showing them to me.

Re: Soldier Boys

AndrewE — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 10:43:57 -0000

No, touch wood, I've not had problem with copyright, like you I always get permission or use creative commons licensed material.

That documentary looks interesting. I'll try find it. Funny it reminds me of something else, another border, different place:

http://www.borderfilmprojec...

We could continue this link rally for quite some time I imagine...now there's an interesting idea for a post: site hopping through user link association.

Re: Soldier Boys

Nils — Sun, 17 Dec 2006 14:48:46 -0000

Thank you for that link Andrew. These photographs by Papo are equally absorbing, if not more, since they are shot 'on location' so to speak. In turn, that reminds me of a documentary I saw, called Checkpoint. It's a strange, ambiguous fascination that we have with soldiers, isn't it?

Obviously I always look for images under CC. In this case, however, I reasoned that since the photographer put them up on a photography forum himself, I could show them as long as I linked to them.

The reasoning being that some kind of 'fair use' as a 'review' might apply. If he would object to that, I would obviously take them off. I have in the mean time discovered who he his (the pseudonym of Kissyfur didn't reveal all that much) and linked to there, as well. Have you had problems with this before perhaps?

Funnily enough I read a post on Lowebrow today that addresses a similar issue.

Re: Soldier Boys

AndrewE — Sun, 17 Dec 2006 13:28:52 -0000

These are absolutely fascinating and somewhat reminiscent of Rachel Papo's work in Israel, albeit a male version.

http://www.rachelpapo.com/s...

I was just wondering about issues of copyright and displaying this photographer's material. How did you tackle that, if at all?

Re: Soldier Boys

Nils — Sat, 16 Dec 2006 08:41:33 -0000

When asked on the Dutch forum what his intentions were, the photographer replied: "I just wanted to show something", without explaining what that 'something' could be. You're right, these photographs are more than just portraits, they do have more to them and it's only natural that we all read different things into them.

Personally, I'm not even sure yet what it is that I see in them myself. There is unease here, little 'pride' or 'patriotism' or anything you might expect from young boys on an adventure like this. I guess, in the end, the reason I posted and linked to them is not dissimilar to that of the photographer: I just wanted to show you something. And I'm glad you enjoyed it.

Re: Soldier Boys

Aidan L — Sat, 16 Dec 2006 07:49:00 -0000

You are very right in what your saying, young people going into war are completely inexperienced, I often wonder if they know what they’re getting themselves into. As a person of the younger generation I would never think once about going into the army, I obviously have no idea what it is like but from what you hear, reports wise, I personally don’t like the sound of it.

The Dutch Soldiers which you have posted I think tell quite a big story but I'm not sure what exactly. When you look at them none of them look particularly happy. Some of their facial expressions suggest to me that they perhaps regret their decisions.
I may be completely off the mark; I suppose it is just everyone’s own perspective isn't it...