The Masked Man..Friend or Foe? Photo

Photographer’s Note

This is an American soldier in Baghdad, Iraq. I think this question runs through many Iraqi's heads, "Are these people our friends or foes?" Although for some the question is up in the air, in the end I think most will realize we are their friends.

Phil Bentz

Tim, fapmap, shutterbug, bojoku_66, bscheller has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

jane-d (154) 2004-09-07 11:22

But not the friend of all Iraqi´s, are you? Looking at your picture, it almost looks like a soldier being in training in a European forest. Strange! Hope everything goes well for you and your mates!

langaloo (489) 2004-09-07 17:15

Good shot, man!
I don't think you really have to precise this is an American soldier, you can see (or hear?) theese guys from a hundred miles. They are the best dressed, equiped guys around, (I would not say sexier, for descent reasons ;-)))
Do you know that now the press in France hold it against you the American troops for our two french journalists to be kept hostages and not being freed, because, you guys are making the country unsafe for theese poor terrorrists to cross the line between Baghdad and Babylon.
Keep up the good work, Phil, I like it (Mosby-the-Gray-Ghost's gr-gr-gr-gr-gr's niece).

shutterbug (531) 2004-09-07 19:27

Very creative and heartfelt note, but what's new? :)
I would have liked to see more of the soldier's face (probably not much skin showing, but you know what I mean:) We would always get in trouble on the ship(T.Roosevelt), when shooting photos to send to home newspapers, if we didn't get both eyes of our subject in the frame. I guess, this has kind of engrained itself into my memory so that's why I like to see 2 eyes...Wow, it took a lot of typing to get that minor little detail out. Keep em' coming Phil. They always make my day.
~Stacey

fapmap (250) 2004-09-08 13:30

Good shot my friend... you used the DOF judiciously so that the gun and helmet come out sharp against the blurred trees. I like how you left space on the left, so that the gun and face are looking into the picture.
Frank.

RandomCameraGuy (3063) 2004-09-09 20:48

You have a unique opportunity to take some shots of a difficult region there. For a photographer that's a blessing man!

This one is ok, but you are halfway b/w 2 better vantages. 1) move to the left and a portrait of the soldier and his gun (a profile is best); 2) move to the right and look over his shoulder so the shot includes both the soldier AND what he is looking at. Cheers Phil!

centurion (0) 2004-09-15 0:25

Good shot, I can feel the situation (or at least I think so...) All your picture are very sharp. I like it.

rabani (9421) 2004-11-29 3:05

It is not liked those days Of John Wayne or Good Guys Vs Bad Guys anymore is it? Now regardless who is right or wrong, it is more like whose side you are on. But the truth is, regardless whose sides we are, its the side of our 6s which count the most. And especially the soldiers on our sides.
Eyes wide open Phil. And take care.