Raphael Seabra – In Motion Photo Editor
On Thursday, Feb. 6, United States Air Force veteran and Nikon Ambassador, Stacy Pearsall spoke at an Art Speaks Lecture at the L. Gale Lemerand Student Center on the main campus of Daytona State College. Listening to Pearsall speak was an incredible experience. As a war photographer she was injured several times in the middle of combat, and now she uses her past as inspiration for other photographers. Her lecture spoke to her passion for telling the stories of veterans and giving civilians a glimpse into war, especially for a woman in a masculine environment. hearing her speak openly was a revelation about gender bias within a military community.
Pearsall’s story is revealing, showing what happens during a war from a female perspective. The official government press releases show war from a male perspective, but rarely show an accurate image of what war is like for a woman experiencing so much turmoil. Her lecture was incredibly honest.
Seeing it through her eyes made it that much more tragic. Many in the audience had never had the opportunity to speak candidly with a veteran before about their experiences. The audience was asking itself ‘Is it in good manners to ask someone about what they endured during combat?’ when they have heard that soldiers experience heavy bouts with PTSD. It is assumed that veterans would avoid speaking about their time-fighting. Pearsall’s bravery needs to be noted as a photographer and, as a woman, putting herself into a combat situation that could not have been easy for her. She went beyond brave and took an incredible series of photos.
One must know Pearsall’s backstory to get the most out of her Veterans Portrait Project. Her black and white portraits of U.S. veterans are fun and playful. Not every photo features a man or woman in uniform. Some are as simple as a man and his dog. There is variation in her composition but she captures personality within each of her photographs.
She spoke on how to connect to a model and working with body language in a morning workshop attended by DSC photography students. Her photo series presents people as humans first and then as veterans. Her subjects trusted her and formed a connection between the sense of personality in each frame, telling a story that deserves to be told. She paid respect to her subject. Her photos are an introduction to each veteran and give audiences the chance to get to know the figure better.
Pearsall inspired students at the workshop to be able to build bonds like those that she was able to photograph. Making them laugh, smile, grin, and more adds so much to a photo.
Learn more about the Veterans Portrait Project at http://www.veteransportraitproject.com/.