Amazing Film Shots

[John C]

I happened across these in one of the flickr groups I follow.

They're the work of a guy whose username is Ducatirider - this is from his introduction to the work;

It was always a dream of mine to be a photo journalist (still is) and on one of my tours of N.I. I was lucky enough to have a certain amount of free movement among the troops on tour there. This is a collection of those photos I took between 1986 and 87.

Most of the photos were with my trusty and brilliant Nikon F1 and any lens I could "borrow" from the stores. The film was also mostly Ilford HP5 and have been scanned using a Canoscan 8000F

I'll be scanning the most relevant of about a 1000 negatives throughout the next few weeks so keep coming back to check-up on what's new. If I get it right then the viewer should have a better understanding of the conditions and life of an operational soldier in N.I at that time.

There's some really good stuff in there, and I encourage you to check it out.

Link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/paulcrispin/sets/72157600006647300/

 

[Chris101]

Fascinating stuff John. It's especially pertinent now that there is an uneasy peace - Crispin sees the war as unendable, coming as he does from an nineteen eighties perspective. It does well to remember, and learn from, the past, eh?.

 

[John C]

I've no doubt that in the eighties, it seemed utterly intractable to most people (I was only a nipper at the time, but I can't remember feeling particularly hopeful about things). The trick is to remember the past whilst not being trapped by it, I suppose, it doesn't seem particularly easy to do.

His images are very strong though - I like his use of contrast (both photographically speaking, and in terms of subject - e.g. the little girl walking to school past the soldiers) and perspective (those views along the rifles and down roads and alley ways) particularly.

 

[W.Ray]

Very poignant reminders of not too distant events that are hopefully well behind us. I was always interested in that situation as my great grandfather emigrated from Ireland to the UK in the early part of the century - changed his name from O'Brien to Bryan.

 

[stephen.s1]

Who said; "Those who do not remember history are doomed to repeat it" ?

 

[Rich Gibson]

George Santayana

Rich

 

[Beezle]

Last I was in the UK, the Catholic/Protestant thing seemed to be alive and well.

(I am an American because several hundred years ago my Catholic ancestors fled England for America)