American Soldier

American Soldier

A. I think the most powerful image is the one of the soldiers stringing up Christmas lights. I guess I never really understood the amount of holidays, moments, and events people in the army don't get to experience. Being able to see them putting up the lights amidst the cots and makeshift holiday decor is really powerful and makes the appreciative that I get to spend the holidays with my family.

B. The images all evolve and change with the positives and negatives of Fisher's story. They make you feel like you're the photographer and you can understand a soldier's journey as best as anyone can without actually being one.

C. The captions are so well done and descriptive that they enhance the picture by making sure that the viewer fully comprehends the picture with some background information. From all the captions being so close the Ian, I feel like I can understand what he's going through.

D. Ian joins the army at the young age of 17, and is sent to train, leaving behind his family, his friends, and his girlfriend. Fisher endures the 'red zone' period of training, filled with extreme training, intense commands, all paired with little to no sleep. Ian goes through a rough patch with drugs, girls, and even gets lowered a rank. Once it's time for his one year deployment to Iraq, Ian feels like he's finally making a positive impact. He fights long and hard, understanding the meaning of war, and the loneliness of deployment. When Ian comes home, he marries his girlfriend Devin, and feels a sense of accomplishment and pride for everything he's overcome.

E. When Ian is the main subject of the picture, the caption is usually written in present tense.

F.

1. The captions are usually about 2-5 sentences.

2. In the first few sentences, it explains the subject and action of the picture.

3. In the second sentences, it provides background information and an explanation for what is happening.

4. If there is a third sentence, it provides why the subject may be doing what it's doing and an emotional connection.

5. Yes, many captions include quotes.

6. Yes, depending on how much explanation the picture needed, the caption could extend up to 5 sentences.

G. Because if the photos are done well enough, they can tell as story on their own through facial expression, body language, lighting, and point of view. So the captions are actually just short explanations, and aren't necessarily needed.

H. A story can help a reader imagine for themselves how situations or subjects react to events.