This is WAR!
The best way of experiencing a war is not by stories or paintings, but by photographs taken from the scene. This is the mentality that Robert Capa used as he traveled along side the soldiers. His exhibition, titled “This Is WAR! Robert Capa at Work,” is currently on display at the International Center of Photography. His photographs managed to capture both the action and emotion involved in war. When shooting his pictures, Capa paid close attention to the variables that go into a photograph, such as contrast, angle, and depth of field.
One of the first photographs in the exhibit managed to catch my eye, “Two Boys On a Barricade,” Barcelona, August 1936 was a picture that captured emotion rather than action. Robert Capa’s skills in photography enabled him to evoke different emotions from his photographs. Since the picture is shot from a very low angle, it felt as if there was a stronger emotion felt when staring at the innocent children. The picture seemed to convey childhood innocence during a time of war.
“Vittorio Vidali,” Barcelona, August 1936 was another powerful photograph that caught my attention. Vidali is supposedly an Italian communist & agent. All the faces are blurred but his violent hand gestures are caught in motion. This photograph showed the power & ferocity that is brought forth during wartime. Also, the lack of contrast in color gives the feeling of a loss in identity during violent times.
“Republican Militiamen,” Aragon Front, Spain, August 1936 was a difficult photograph to take. The angle was shot from below with the faces looking elsewhere. There was mild ambient light with no motion and strong contrast between the soldiers. This picture helped recreate the feeling of bravery and fearlessness during wartime. Each of Robert Capa’s pictures not only tells a story but also shows his skills as a photographer.
Capa also wanted to make a point that war is not always horrifying. “Republican Soldier Reading,” French Bridge, Madrid Front, 1937 shows a side of tranquility during war. There is an intense amount of contrast and ambient light, which makes the photograph feel as natural as possible. It shows the search for peace in a time of war. What makes this photograph meaningful is Capa’s ability to capture emotion in any environment.
My personal favorite would have to be “Air Raid Victims in the Morgue,” Valencia, 1937. This photo is shot from the belly but takes the picture from the feet of the bodies. There is ambient light shining through the window but the top of the body cannot be seen. I felt as if this photograph portrayed the lack of individuality and death during wartime. Since the photo was taken from the feet, it gives the realization of how many deaths go unrecognized during war.
“Child Killed While Trying to Save his Chicken and Piglet During the Battle of Tai’erzhuang,” Xuzou Front, China, April 1938 was a painful picture to see. The image clearly reflected the title. Capa’s wide-eye lens was able to capture both the dead child and the animal. There was a sharp focus on the background with a touch of contrasting shade. These effects contributed to the feeling of injustice and the destruction of innocence during wartime.
These photographs were my chosen favorites from the exhibit. There are so many other photos that are worth mentioning. “American Soldiers Landing on Omaha Beach” is famous for being almost synonymous with photographs from D-Day. The exhibit had a delicate balance of photographs combined with old magazines, journals, newspapers, etc. It gave a genuine feeling of the war and its effects on American society. Robert Capa’s work revealed war from a realistic point of view. His photographs captured not only the action, but also the feelings and emotions during wartime. The exhibit at the ICP has done a great job in recreating a visual story about human conflict around the world.