Does anyone know the story behind this photo?
Asked by
aviona (
3260
)
March 29th, 2009
I StumpledUpon it on some Russian what seemed to be “photos of the year” website. There weren’t any captions (besides I can’t read Russian).
It intrigued me. A lot can be postulated. Anyone know the particular photo?
Observing members:
0
Composing members:
0
34 Answers
I don’t know it, but do you know if it is categorized as fine art or as documentary? I know a lot of fine art photographers who do similar kinds of images, even with deformities. It almost looks too staged to be real. Whose wedding photo actually is in front of a backdrop like that?
Unfamiliar, but I am wearing my skeptical hat
It is obviously a burn victim of some kind.
I’m pretty sure this was real. I think I saw this pic on a news site. It was quite a while ago, so I have no idea exactly where it was.
@Darwin: I googled the name from the article you posted. I think you solved it.
NM I read the article… clearly they weren’t.
The photo and story have touched me deeply. A rare case of something cynicism-free.
It is too bad they couldn’t make a go of it, but that type of injury is a horrendous thing to cope with by both the injured party and those who cared for him before the fire. Add to that problems resulting from having been over in Iraq to begin with and the marriage didn’t have a lot of hope. However, you have to give the wife some points for trying.
The picture was taken by Nina Berman. More here.
when I was active duty I had sort of a pact going with my best pal. We promised each other to “finish the job” if one of us would be “half done”.
Yep.
I don’t find enjoyment in mocking those with serious injuries or disabilities.
Wow. This is an amazing example of what war can do. My brother-in-law came home after only 3 weeks with his right arm 3rd degree burned in horrific ways from an IED. My step-sister is only 21 and so is, it was a huge struggle for them to cope with the reality of war injuries, but they’re doing great. After reading the articles I am really touched by this guy’s story. Those who die in battle at least get to rest in peace, it’s those that are mutilated by battle that live with it for the rest of their lives. It’s so hard to see stuff like this happening.
Another question…does anyone know if he can hear anymore? I’m just curious.
@adreamofautumn that is a good question…probably not as well since our physical ear shape act as sort of funnels and if he just has holes…well then…
Thanks for being such amazing detectives guys.
It is obviously being used as propaganda. The first thing I noticed was that it was a Marine uniform not a Russian one. What would be the use of a photo of an American’s wedding, they surely weren’t trying to raise funds for injured American vets.
It also appears to speak to the Russian psyche. Americans who wanted to speak out against the war or seek to help injured vets are more likely to interview the guy or show a straight photo. The wedding picture is telling a different story. It seems to elicit pity instead of I am a proud man. I would have serious questions about whether the couple would have given permission for this instead of a straightforward portrait of the man.
I don’t think @galileogirl is on the right track – the original page actually ISN’T in Russian, so it has nothing to do with the Russian psyche, and, from the context of the names and dates, it looks like the photo is used to illustrate the story of the couple.
The page referred to was in Russian ergo aimed at a Russian audience. It is quite possible that the original site may have been posted by the couple to share the wedding photos with friends and family. That doesn’t explain how this picture appears on a site with non-related pictures. Propaganda does explain it.
If this is the website, it’s definitely not in Russian. After pages of google images, I was unable to find any website in Russian. Also – the photo isn’t the couple’s personal wedding photo, it is a fine art photographer’s image, used in a set of photo documentary images. See @johnpowell‘s post above. I think you have some underlying issue with Russians.
Just going by what the questioner wrote, the site she looked at was in Russian, or do you suspect aviona of prevaricating? I don’t.
I could see someone mixing up Russian and other Eastern European languages like Czech or some such if they didn’t have a lot of experiences with them, yes. That also doesn’t address the fact that it is a fine art photo, and that @aviona mentioned that it appeared to be in a set of photos that looked to be a “best of” list. Somehow, that doesn’t reek of propaganda to me. Maybe you’re reverting back to McCarthyism and the Red Scare?
Tits: Pick a side, Am I a flaming liberal or a McCarthyite? <;P
Or a flaming liberal with McCarthyist tendencies. Fucked up world we’re living in, eh?
Although most flaming liberals don’t flip their lids over drugs either, so maybe you’re teetering towards the latter more than you think?
WARNING STRONG IMAGE FROM VIETNAM WAR
Super Flaming Liberal Vietnamese monk
Now that’s power of conviction
Tits: Anybody who has watched drugs damage lives for 50 years would object to the casual attitude of the ‘kids’. I’m not even talking about heroin or crack. It also isn’t just the user, there is always collateral damage. I know I am not reaching many people, but I have to say what I know. That is a moral and ethical stand not a political one. I hope one day you will be clear enough to know the difference.
My morals and ethics direct where I stand on political issues. People are free to make the choices they want to; that belief makes me a liberal. No one is asking you to take drugs or send your kids to private school, but, please, don’t tell me what to do.
And don’t play into stereotypes about Russians either. That’s just not nice.
[Mod says] Ok you two, take your argument elsewhere please.
Answer this question 
This question is in the General Section. Responses must be helpful and on-topic.
Composing members:
0
