Night Vision 2013-2016

 

Sculptural photomontages using night vision photographs taken by American soldiers in Afghanistan, sourced from field blogs, examine military technology used to "conquer" landscape. My father, a helicopter pilot in the National Guard, described the precariousness of flying with night vision goggles during Nap of the Earth missions — flights as close to the tree line as possible. During these risky maneuvers he was awe-struck by the overwhelming stars made visible through night vision amplification. These battlefield photographs reveal what he saw: visuals both coldly strategic and strangely sublime.