Captured
This year marks the 70th anniversary of the start of the World War II. It was arguably the first conflict that saw widespread front line coverage by photographers, many of whom had honed their skills during the civil war in Spain which immediately preceded it.
The language of photojournalism developed during the conflict, and publication in picture magazines which had the budget and desire to publish the images, such as Life and Picture Post, ensured that the public came to understand what made a news picture.
Today, there are many photographs from World War II that are burned into our cultural memory, such as Joe Rosenthal's shot of the , or the bombing of in Japan.
These are undeniably defining moments, yet one area of the conflict that has not been widely explored is the daily life of prisoners of war. There are obvious reasons for this, but a new exhibition, Captured, at the in Manchester comprises a wide range of pictures showing daily life for those held captive.
The exhibition looks at the real stories behind those portrayed by Hollywood and contains photographs as well as many other items that have survived.
The pictures on show are not grand photographs, not defining moments; they are snapshots of people whose lives have been shattered by a global conflict.
In one image (top), we see an RAF crew member from a Halifax bomber that was shot down over Bremen in 1943 surrounded by officers from the Luftwaffe. There is no violence in the picture, and yet it carries a weight of intimidation. The RAF pilot's eyes are down, avoiding contact.
I have no idea as to the events before or after this split second was recorded - but, as with all pictures, we can layer our own thoughts and beliefs on to it. I find it a disturbing image and one that will stay with me, as I'm sure the moment stayed with this man.
Other pictures of note include one taken inside a prisoner of war hut at Lamsdorf in Germany on Christmas Day 1943. It was taken by William Lawrence, who pretended to be too sick to attend roll call, hence the empty room. We've all taken a few risks in our time to get a picture, but this was a big risk.
There are plenty of pictures that show prisoners playing cricket, tending to vegetable gardens and putting on theatre productions which capture the quiet moments and the long days endured with nothing to do.
For me, though, one other picture that stands out is one of three German prisoners at Glen Mill camp in Oldham on Christmas Eve 1940. Strip away the situation and it's a delightful photographic study, with wonderfully tight composition and great tonal range.
The photographs on display are essential documents that help us to understand the conflict. They are quiet, seemingly everyday moments that often pass us by. So, while you are chasing the big news story, the lead picture, or the defining image, don't forget that there are plenty of other angles to a story and plenty of other ways to reveal the world through a lens.
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Captured is on at the 23 May 2009 to 3 January 2010.
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