As this is a blog about photography I thought I'd link to this powerful collection of images by Eugene Richards called War Is Personal. I saw some of his photographs from this series at World Press Photo at the Royal Festival Hall in December.
At home with their loved ones, sometimes needy and dependent because of their injuries, I wonder what 'freedom' means to these recent war veterans? Freedom from pain, from disability or disfigurement perhaps? Freedom from the memories of what they saw and lived through?
I refuse to believe that photojournalism is no longer potent force. I still believe that a single image has the potential change public opinion or to move people to take action. It's just that I don't see powerful images like these having a accessible and mainstream outlet. Over the years I've seen some extremely powerful and hard hitting visual images at World Press Photo alongside other 'quieter' photographs which are nevertheless thought-provoking. But these images reach too small an audience - an educated and visually literate audience at that - to make a difference.
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