warphotography

The Female Ukrainian Soldier Behind Iconic Invasion Photos

Iryna Rybakova's photographs have been published throughout the world's media, yet using her camera is only one part of her job as a junior lieutenant and press officer in the Ukrainian military.

Photos from Inside the Russian Invasion of Ukraine

On February 24th, 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin launched an all-out invasion of its neighboring country Ukraine following years of escalating conflict and failed diplomacy since 2014. The world has watched as ordinary Ukrainians have taken up arms to join soldiers in the defense of their nation.

One of the World’s Oldest War Photos is Going Up for Auction in 22 Days

Sotheby's has announced the contents of its upcoming Spring photography auction, and it's quite the lineup. The April 3rd auction will include photos by Dorothea Lange, Irving Penn, Ansel Adams, Edward Weston and a salt print by Roger Fenton that's thought to be one of the earliest war photographs ever made.

This is Why the World Needs War Photographers

Reporters Without Borders just released this new video, titled "War Reporters," as part of a new campaign to raise awareness and support for conflict photographers.

"Without independent reporters, war would just be a nice show," the video says. "Support those that risk their lives to bring us the truth."

These World War II Photos Were Actually Captured During a Modern Reenactment

Conflict photography is typically a dangerous, traumatizing and, at least in part, heroic profession that puts you in the line of fire with only a camera as a weapon.

But as Penn State grad and former Onward State photographer Mitchell Wilston recently demonstrated to great effect, you don't need to put yourself in harm's way to capture the kinds of gritty, black-and-white conflict photography that has become iconic through the ages.

My Experience Photographing on the Front Lines of the Syrian Civil War

It’s cold. The air is stinging my ears and my hands are numb. I pull back on my gloves and resume huddling in the conner of the courtyard. It’s December in Aleppo and the air is bitter, but the overwhelming sense of dread comes not from the cold, but from overhead. Early morning, midday, through the night; the aerial bombardment doesn’t stop. The sound of a jet buzzing overhead and those terrible trails of white streaming from the underbelly as missiles launch. Distant blasts and then closer ones. Mortar strikes as well. Silence and then an explosion.

Conflict Photogs Reflect on the Realities of the Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan

Conflict photographers like Michael Kamber and Louie Palu have spent years covering the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. They've lost friends, been very nearly killed themselves, and come back with incredible (and sometimes hard to stomach) photos.

Both of their work is currently on display alongside many of their peers' at the Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington DC, and in the short video above, they share the stories behind some of their most moving imagery. (Note: the above video contains some strong imagery)

Photographer Escapes Afghan Insurgents After Four Months in Captivity

Being a photojournalist in a war zone is a dangerous job. In addition to the physical hazards of combat photography, there's always the possibility that you will be kidnapped and taken hostage by insurgents.

Back in August of 2011, Australian freelancer Tracey Shelton had her gear stolen even as she barely managed to evade kidnappers in Libya. Unfortunately, 29-year-old French photojournalist Pierre Borghi wasn't as lucky.

Vietnam Veteran Rediscovers and Shares His 45-Year-Old Photo Archive

In October of 1967, at the age of 24, Charlie Haughey received a draft notice from the US Army notifying him that he would be spending a tour of duty in Vietnam as a rifleman. A couple of months after he arrived, his commanding officer put a camera in his hands and asked him to start taking pictures for Army and US newspapers. His only instructions: "You are not a combat photographer. This is a morale operation ... "

Haughey brought back nearly 2,000 negatives from Vietnam, shot between March 1968 and May 1969, none of which ever saw the light of day until very recently.