Book review - 'Infidel', Tim Hetherington and 'Outposts', Donovan Wylie

Infidel - Tim Hetherington and Outposts - Donovan Wylie
I chose to review both these books as they show images from the same conflict, I was interested to see how they differ in style. The first book I reviewed was Infidel by Tim Hetherington. This book appears to be in the style of a journal on the surface having a faux leather cover and being A5 in size which feels nice to hold and fits nicely in the hands. Infidel is an intimate portrait of a single U.S. platoon, assigned to an outpost in the Korengal Valley-an area considered one of the most dangerous Afghan postings in the war against the Taliban. I felt an instant warmth with this book. There is a certain charm about it, an intamacy between the viewer and the soldiers not really portrayed in the media. The book shows the soldiers living through a situation that I imagine is little understood by those who have never served. The images tell a story of life in a war zone, with humour and warmth coupled with a certain level of anticipation. The men play cards, laugh and mess around together even playing guitar hero on a games console. There are photo's and sketches of their tatoo's which they gave to each other which gives a feeling of closeness between the men. What made me feel closer to these images were the pictures of their families, the images of them sleeping, which in another review was described as 'boys sleeping, like their mothers remember them', so true. I found the portraits touching as many are close up, you look into the eyes of these young men who are ready to fight at any given time with the possibility of a deadly outcome. Looking into their eyes you see a father, a son, a brother and you are left with a feeling of wanting to know they are ok, you feel a connection with them as individuals.
The second book I reviewed was 'Outposts' by Donovan Wylie. This too is a lovely book to look at in its horizontal format. The book shows images taken in the Kandahar Proince from 2006 - 2011. The images show forward operating bases built during this time. These outposts were constructed by military engineers as a network throughout the province, built on promontories with multiple lines of sight. My initial thoughts are those of bland documentary images, from a hilltop, of man made structures, some with rows of military vehicles, some with ariels for communication, they all blend into the vast landscape. The photo's are taken at a distance, almost like viewing war at a distance, those that included people show them almost as ants, whereas Infidel showed close up portraits. These images show jagged mountain ranges overlooking vast desert plains. The images give the feeling of surveillance, of territory, of control but strangly in a neutral position, whereas Infidel evokes emotion for the viewer by the personal depth of Hetheringtons images. Donovan's book seems to be a book of archtechture of conflict yet calm and non-judgemental whereas Infidel is a personal book showing the lives of men living in war. One book shows war at a distance, the other right in the front line. Donovan's is a socially significant book, Hetherington's a personal portrait. My feelngs on the books, I preferred Hetherington's style, I enjoyed the warmth, and the portrayal of soldiers doing their job, the almost shocking contrast of 'boys sleeping' and men ready to fight and playing cards inbetween, this gave a feeling of how it really is, a snapshot of behind the lines.