The Real People Behind The Military Uniforms
Photographer and self-proclaimed Photoshop illusionist Devin Mitchell invites us to take a closer look at those who serve in the U.S. military and spend most of their time hiding their true identities behind their uniforms. His raw “The Soldier Art Project“ photo series juxtaposes soldiers’ and war veterans’ real-life identities with their reflections staring back at them from the mirror in full military uniform.
Mitchell’s series asks if soldiers and war veterans are appreciated enough as human beings after they’re done serving and risking their lives for their country. He also sees it as a chance to shake some of the common stereotypes surrounding the armed forces, which can sometimes be seen as a homogenous crowd of people with no individuality.
“The military community has expressed their interest in using my art to communicate how many of them feel to be living double lives while serving in the military,” Mitchell told Mic. “People who have never served have shown interest in knowing more about the diversified aspects of what causes veterans to feel that way.”
Mitchell also said he wishes to create “at least 10,000 of these over my lifetime, including at least 30 Congress members, three generals and one US president. Current or former.”
More info: devinography.com | Flickr | Instagram (h/t: mic)
“One photo that really speaks to me the most is the picture depicting Joshua Zitting and his husband Patrick Lehmann,” said Mitchell, who is openly gay himself. “It reminds me of how unfair it is that this man can serve while enjoying all of this constitutional rights as an American, while other men and women similar to him cannot in other parts of the country, due in part to recent decisions such as the one made by circuit judge Jeffrey Sutton. Judges like him are blind in my eyes. Maybe pictures like this will help him see better.”
Got wisdom to pour?
The point of this is that people from all races, creeds, religions, sexual orientation etc. etc. do what a lot are unable or unwilling to do. They are ALL just individuals with individual personalities, beliefs and pains. No more or no less than me except that they have put their personal and actual lives on the line to defend people like you Gourry to be able to express your opinions and live a life as safe and privileged as we can. And before you spew a bunch of hateful and, frankly, uneducated crap, you might want to know that your words don’t hurt me as much as these pictures do. I don’t need to agree or disagree with anyone’s personal beliefs or actions to know that they are human and willing to do that for me. It’s poignant and relevant. And too many of our military personnel are suffering so that we can batter them personally when they get home. My brother and father served and I couldn’t be prouder.
Of course a bigot has to complain about gay people in there.
Of course you were gonna put some homo in there.
You are a useless human