Calm Photos

Russell Lee Klika - Combat Camera Photographer

Something that never ceases to amaze me is the depth and degree of photographic talent that is being displayed by our military combat photographers currently serving, or who have recently served, in Iraq and Afghanistan.

To say these men and women give their civilian counterparts a run for their money would be an understatement.

They’re good. Damn good. And Staff Sergeant Klika (gotta love that name) is one the best.

The work Staff Sergeant Klika and others are doing provides a perfect testimonial to something I’ve always felt strong about when it comes to creating powerful images.

A successful photographer is one who knows and respects his subject inside and out. They are also the ones who have the guts and initiative to go that extra mile to obtain those images that will best tell the story needed to be told.

Which leads me to my next point.

Perhaps - just perhaps - the military-trained, combat photojournalist in uniform has just enough of an edge when it comes to courage, initiative and respect for subject to overcome any possible advantage exhibited by his or her civilian counterpart may have, such as in the areas of talent, creative vision and journalistic style (where SSgt. Klika can easily compete). Not that there aren’t civilian photojournalists who have stuck their necks out and done some incredible work throughout this war, but perhaps there is even another advantage of shooting combat images while actually serving in uniform.

And this is where I will stick my neck out. Maybe, just maybe, and against all rational, civilian-type thinking, the military photojournalist has a little bit more freedom to operate, with less concern of being politically “edited,” than the civilian photojournalists who work for some of the major newspapers and publications. “Unbelievable - the U.S. military censors everything and severely limits freedom of expression” you say ?

What do you think goes on in a major news organization that clearly has a political agenda (something that is more than obvious in today’s media) ?

Incredible work Staff Sergeant Klika, and incredible service. Thank you.