The series was shot entirely in the Helmand Province, after Commanding Officer Brigadier Andrew Mackay invited Wilson to join his troops during the end of their tour of Afghanistan in 2008. Wilson, a commercial photographer, was to act as a ‘war artist’ documenting the life of the 52 Brigade.
Documenting Soldiers Working in the Helmand Province
Wilson’s work is a mixture of portraits of the troops, Afghan troops and children in the area as well as images of their living quarters and work spaces. The portraits of soldiers very often show their faces covered in sand, dust or dirt from a hard days work.
There are images of the troops going about their daily work, firing machine guns, operating aircraft and patrolling the dangerous streets of a nearby town. The troops are also shown totally exhausted after a heavy day and napping in the back of a vehicle as they are taken back to base.
Photographs of the Base Camp in Afghanistan
The shots of the base camp show the living and sleeping quarters with posters and other small home comforts dotted around. The viewer is also treated to a glimpse of other areas such as the medical quarters and dining room. Most of the camp locations are surrounded by sandbags and other war paraphernalia ensuring no one forgets exactly where these images were taken. There are also photographs of the wider area in which the regiment was stationed, the surrounding war-torn countryside criss-crossed with barded wire and other dangers.
Day-to-day Life Inside a Warzone
Helmand Province is an extremely dangerous area and Wilson would have relied upon the regiment to ensure his own safety therefore he would have worked tirelessly to create strong and emotive images in honour of the brave people he worked alongside.
The photographs give the viewer an insight into what a soldier’s life is like when they are on tour. Of course everyone knows that these men and women fight in extremely difficult conditions but have they ever really thought about how it affects their daily lives and the simple tasks such as washing, shaving or preparing food?
Although these photographs might not change viewers’ opinions of the war in Afghanistan maybe the images will open their eyes to the reality of living in a warzone and consider the hidden struggles of living a normal life.
One of the most striking aspects of the series are the expressions on the faces of the troops. They do not try to hide the fact that they are dirty and dusty and many are covered in sweat and tears as well. These images make the viewer question what that particular soldier has witnessed and how well they are coping with the horrors of war.
Extra Information:
‘Helmand: Faces of Conflict’ was displayed in the National War Museum within Edinburgh Castle between February 2009 and January 2010 and also resulted in a book published by Jonathan Cape Ltd.
