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War and Terror: What Shocks Me Most About the Bloody Marathon Bombing Pictures (GRAPHIC)
What takes me aback are how graphic the news photos are (#8 especially) as compared to the almost total visual censorship of American war casualties over the past twelve years.
After the battle over Julie Jacobson’s AP image of a wounded U.S. soldier from afar in Iraq, and the censorship detailed by NYT war photographer Michael Kamber in our POY-winning audio slideshow in 2011, what was just as surprising to me was the quiet publication last week of even this buttoned up image of a U.S. military fatality after a helicopter crash in Eastern Afghanistan. (Here’s the slideshow.)
Yes, I’m having trouble reconciling the bloody images from Boston yesterday when they very well might exceed in a day the number of media images of U.S. deaths and even casualties in the Iraq and Afghanistan battlefield over more than a decade. That’s in light, of course, of the use of the terrorism label by the White House yesterday which automatically repurposes the symbolism of the U.S. flag in so many of those blood-stained images.
In this case, where do you re-plant it?
It can’t be lost on the viewer, if even subliminally — all these pictures by Boston Globe photographer John Tlumacki having gone viral — that the flag is not just sotted but stepped on.
It took a second pass to consider this a war photo — if you notice the fatigues.
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(photos 1 & 3-5: John Tlumacki—The Boston Globe. photo 2: Rahmat Gul/AP. caption: The remains of two U.S. soldiers are wrapped in an American flag and body bags after a NATO helicopter crashed killing two American service members, in a field near Gerakhel, eastern Afghanistan, Tuesday, April 9, 2013. The U.S.-led International Security Assistance Force said the cause of the crash is under investigation but initial reporting indicates there was no enemy activity in the area at the time. It did not immediately identify the nationalities of those killed. But a senior U.S. official confirmed they were Americans.)
Bag’s Take-Away:
Jesus died for somebody’s sins, but not mine.
Just saying, it’s an odd match up. Odd that he even knows who she is.
(Photo Credit: L’Osservatore Romano/AP Photo caption: US artist Patti Smith, right, is greeted by Pope Francis at the end of his weekly general audience, in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican, Wednesday, April 10, 2013.)
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Topping LIFE.com’s 2011 Best Photo Blogs — also follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
Bag’s Take-Away:
I suppose there is another table, unseen to us, that says ‘uomini’, but I find it odd that Italians separate the vote — and least, in their list keeping — between men and women. Am I translating that wrong or do we have a great photo of the plasticized Berlusconi walking away from ‘women’ (donne) to cast his vote?
via: Charlotte Observer
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Topping LIFE.com’s 2011 Best Photo Blogs — also follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
Bag’s Take-Away:
This is a pool photo of George Zimmerman and his lead counsel Mark O’Mara a Zimmerman’s hearing on his motion to delay trial February 5, 2013. I found it interesting that both men have gotten overweight since their intro to the American public (it’s not just the camera angle that enlarges O’Mara). And in this country, “overweight” means disintegrate.
Here’s O’Mara at his first news conference. Maybe the message isn’t about my body image-centric viewpoint, but from the idea that when justice has been delayed long enough for you to get huge, it’s been delayed enough. The judge denied Zimmerman’s motion at the hearing.
via Road Runner
(Photo Credit: Pool/AP Images)
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Topping LIFE.com’s 2011 Best Photo Blogs — also follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
Bag’s Take-Away:
I’m having trouble imagining Kerry getting tough with anybody, so this photo caught my eye even though it’s most likely Kerry is describing his battle for a primo spot in the State Department parking garage.
via Getty Images
(Photo Credit: Alex Wong/Getty Images caption: U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry (L) talks to U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) (R) after Kerry was sworn in during a ceremonial swearing in at the State Department February 6, 2013 in Washington, DC. Kerry was officially sworn in on February 1 at the U.S. Capitol as the 68th Secretary of State, succeeding Hillary Clinton.)
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Topping LIFE.com’s 2011 Best Photo Blogs — also follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
Vine video taken from news wire photos of Ct legislative hearing on gun laws. (Photos: Jessica Hill/AP)
Bag’s Take-Away:
To start with, I think this photo is one of those that won’t catch much notice due to its subject matter. The American public doesn’t care much about Karzai negotiating for American troop strength to remain at high levels in Afghanistan after 2014. After all, this transition will occur after the next Afghan election, i.e., after Karzai and his family are safely ensconced in Dubai or some other safe haven. But in terms of composition, color, and symbolism, I really like this Alex Wong photo. The deep, brilliant colors of Karzai’s traditional Uzbek coat play off against the crisp whites and deep blues of the honor guard at attention behind him. His face is lit heroically as he takes a statuesque pose. But he stands as if supported by a dwindling number of soldiers to his back and with the “zero option” trial balloon floated by the Obama Administration, even that number is in question.
Though a floated balloon doesn’t always become a reality, Karzai’s “heroic” stance during this visit to the U.S. may actually be a last stand against strong public opinion in America.
(Top Photo Credit: Alex Wong/Getty Images caption: Afghan President Hamid Karzai (L) reviews the honor guards during a full military honors ceremony welcoming Karzai to the Pentagon January 10, 2013 in Arlington, Virginia. Karzai is on a visit in Washington, to include a meeting with U.S. President Barack Obama at the White House, to discuss the continued transition in Afghanistan and the partnership between the two nations.)
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Topping LIFE.com’s 2011 Best Photo Blogs — also follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
Bag’s Take-Away:
Well, it was hardly avoidable, especially as TV zoomed in closer on the pair. In the background of the Obama - Romney White House pic, the boxing gloves stand out at the not-so-vanishing point like an alarm. It wouldn’t have anything to do with Obama coming out swinging after Nov 7, would it? On the table, by the way, is the white turkey chili that was on the menu. Serving (a) white turkey, get it?? And then another nice touch: in the Today piece there is actually quote from the Majority Leader (and former boxer) about the photo. Reid said he liked it.
(photo: Pete Souza/White House caption: President Barack Obama and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney talk in the Oval Office following their lunch, Nov. 29, 2012.)
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Topping LIFE.com’s 2011 Best Photo Blogs — also follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
Bag’s Take-Away:
1. Still photo-op shopping at the dollar-brand store. 47% sure he doesn’t need any more flack over the bank roll.
2. And then, reeking of upper crust, there’s always the British version. Cheerio!
3. By the way, who buys cereal at a drug store?
4. Shorts in late November. Ah, the good life.
5. All about the hair.
look who just waltzed in last night and bOUGHT HIS FUCKING CHEERIOS
didnt even look at the camera when i asked for a pic
(Source: asssquake)
Bag’s Take-Away:
Embarrassment of riches.
via:Wall Street Journal Photos of the Day 11/28/12
(photo: Getty Images caption: STATE BANQUET: Queen Elizabeth II delivered a speech during a state banquet for Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah of Kuwait in Windsor Castle in Windsor, England, Tuesday. The Amir of Kuwait is conducting a three-day state visit to the U.K.)
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Topping LIFE.com’s 2011 Best Photo Blogs — also follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
