Few Remain of the Brave Ones
A WWII veteran salutes the flag at a 911 ceremony in Smyrna, GA on 9/11/2021. Every week we lose hundreds of veterans of WWII. The bravery of the thousands of men and women who helped the US and allied forces bring WWII to an end is without parallel. In their wake a flotilla of tens of thousands of young men and women have stepped up to continue the effort and make a pledge, not to a man or government, but to an idea, the US Constitution. It is part of the Oath of Commissioned Officers and Enlisted Soldiers: "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same..."
Assignment
To keep things even, this week we're highlighting the men! Your challenge this week is to portray what MAN means to you --care, kindness, toughness, guidance and so much more. Tell us a story that resonates with both you and the viewer. What does masculinity look like to you - let's have a look at facets of your subject - whether physical or emotional. Your subject need not be a professional male model - they could be someone you know or even a perfect stranger that might have caught your eye. Whoever your model is, your image should be about their story, their life and who they are. You can also opt for detail --get in close, men offer different textures than the female form which can be very interesting to highlight, especially with a hard light. If you really feel stuck, feel free to photograph something you feel represents masculinity to you. To all the six packs and dad-bods out there, you are all perfectly imperfect.
