[Click here to view the video in this article]
Last year, we wrote about photographer Devin Mitchell’s arresting photo series featuring military veterans staring at their civilian selves through the mirror.
Mitchell’s latest works in the ‘Veteran Vision Project’ turn the focus on military individuals who experience Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
He told BuzzFeed News, “There are two sides to this series. It spreads awareness about the veteran community, the challenges they face during reintegration into society. But it also works as a therapy for the subjects. […] It makes visible what they feel.”
Veterans would approach Mitchell and decide on how they want to pose and what they would like to include in the photos. One such encounter led to a veteran connecting with the 27-year-old photographer, wanting to start a series on military suicide and sexual trauma.
Mitchell said, “From the beginning of the project, it was my mission to let veterans say whatever they want through my photographs. Many people who do projects on veterans only want to take a particular angle. I want to explore all of the issues, all of the darkness.”
He continued, “I think I can safely say that every person in the military has been affected by suicide. Whether it’s something they’ve tried, or considered, or has impacted someone close to them.”
Some of these military individuals share their thoughts about the project in the video below.
The Los Angeles-based photographer plans to advance the project by telling the stories of these military individuals in a photo book, currently on Kickstarter, of which the profits will be directed towards humanitarian aid projects.
Scroll down to view some photos and find out more about the project from its website, Facebook and Instagram.
[via BuzzFeed, images via Veteran Vision Project]
Last year, we wrote about photographer Devin Mitchell’s arresting photo series featuring military veterans staring at their civilian selves through the mirror.
Mitchell’s latest works in the ‘Veteran Vision Project’ turn the focus on military individuals who experience Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
He told BuzzFeed News, “There are two sides to this series. It spreads awareness about the veteran community, the challenges they face during reintegration into society. But it also works as a therapy for the subjects. […] It makes visible what they feel.”
Veterans would approach Mitchell and decide on how they want to pose and what they would like to include in the photos. One such encounter led to a veteran connecting with the 27-year-old photographer, wanting to start a series on military suicide and sexual trauma.
Mitchell said, “From the beginning of the project, it was my mission to let veterans say whatever they want through my photographs. Many people who do projects on veterans only want to take a particular angle. I want to explore all of the issues, all of the darkness.”
He continued, “I think I can safely say that every person in the military has been affected by suicide. Whether it’s something they’ve tried, or considered, or has impacted someone close to them.”
Some of these military individuals share their thoughts about the project in the video below.
The Los Angeles-based photographer plans to advance the project by telling the stories of these military individuals in a photo book, currently on Kickstarter, of which the profits will be directed towards humanitarian aid projects.
Scroll down to view some photos and find out more about the project from its website, Facebook and Instagram.
📷 Matthew Thomas Burda United States Air Force
📷 Timothy Lawson United States Marine Corps @timlawson21
[via BuzzFeed, images via Veteran Vision Project]