kathleen

How shall I go in peace and without sorrow? Nay, not without a wound in the spirit shall I leave this city.
Long were the days of pain I have spent within its walls, and long were the nights of aloneness; and who can depart from his pain and aloneness without regret?
Too many fragments of the spirit have I scattered in these streets, and too many are the children of my longing that walk naked among these hills, and I cannot withdraw from them without a burden and an ache.
It is not a garment I cast off this day, bit a skin that I tear with my own hands.
Nor is it a thought I leave behind me, but a heart made sweet with hunger and with thirst…

...These things he said in words. But much in his heart remained unsaid. For he himself could not speak his deeper secret.

“The Prophet”
Kahlil Gibran
1883-1931

This is in the artist profile in the portfolio of cbarker – Chris. At this time of year it would serve all of us well to remember that yet another year of war and conflict in so many parts of this globe rage on with godless and cruel intent.

Chris Barker has a bachelor degree in photojournalism and is a returned American serviceman with more to share than this interview allows… but a little window of light into the heart of a soldier and documentarian can be read below.

1. You have some pretty extreme images on Redbubble, there are photos of high emotions in protests, arrests and to me the irony is the passive feeling ones are of the men at war in Iraq. How would you describe the diversity of your folio given your experiences to capture such moments?

The diversity of my portfolio seems to stem from that instant moment, that blink that becomes etched in stone. I cannot, and will not, ever take credit for what others do, because I feel that I am a storyteller and nothing more. Photographs are a solution, so to speak, based on certain mixtures, all dependent on that given situation and your influence upon it. I believe the irony felt between the violent images of protest compared to the passive images of war is derived from my specific involvement as a soldier. When I photographed the protests, I was not there as a demonstrator, I was there as an unbiased historian. The war is a different beast all together. I was in Iraq as a soldier, as unbiased as I could manage, and the images you see appear to capture those few peaceful moments that are so difficult to hold onto because of the incessant violence and death that we were enveloped by day in and day out. I won’t argue with the irony in it, but that is the most concise way I can describe my intentions, portraying things that most people do not picture when they think of “war.”

2. You have a bachelor degree in Photojournalism, what scenes from Iraq did you want to report on but just could not use the camera?

I can honestly say, as a trained Photojournalist, it is more than incredibly paining and frustrating when something of significant importance happens in a combat zone and your instinct is to pick up your camera and shoot, but you’re more recent military experience tells you that a camera is not what you should be shooting should you choose to go home by any other means than a flag draped casket. It is a gamble and when fight or flight takes hold, you fight for what little you have. I wish I could have reported on many of my experiences in Iraq, but my safety and the safety of my men, who depended on me completely, prevented such. There is so much more going on in Iraq then anyone state-side, or even abroad, realizes; good and bad. I lost a couple of good rolls of film that I wish would have made it home and I always wonder what images that acetate held, but will never know.

3. If there was one thing that you could photograph for the rest of your life (without fear of starving to death) for the fascination of it, what would it be and why?

I would probably continue to travel across Africa and try to capture those fleeting moments of joy and happiness amid the great overwhelming despair that Africa has endured over the centuries. Africa is an amazing place, that has captivated my soul, filled with incredible people that can teach us important lessons in life, family and perseverance.

My heart goes out to all soldiers of all nationalities (and the suits and dollars that drive these conflicts), no matter your cause… please find a way to stop killing each other! Make it this year’s Christmas wish AND New Year’s Resolution…

I am praying for Peace.

Thanks for the interview Chris, hope we cross internet paths again.

Kathleen