Smoke Screen

In a chilling photograph by Mark Markov, many soldiers are trapped on two makeshift boats awaiting what may reside on the other side of the smoke screen. Although the view cannot see their facial expressions, their body language speaks. They hunch over, guns ready, cautiously approaching the possibility of an unforseen enemy. 

This photograph is captivating because of its stunning lack of color. The contrast between black and white gives a certain attention the natural light that is reflected off of the white cloud of smoke. Markov's point of view captures everything: the water, the boats, the men, the smoke. His vantage point is more than anyone present could have witnessed. The frame of this photograph is all-inclusive, however, it does not reveal what is on the other side of the smoke screen. This mystery of what lies beyond what the eye can see in the photograph allows for the content to be captivating and thought-provoking.  

This photograph proves that images can surpass the test of time, remaining much longer than the emotions felt by those few soldiers. They can be a solomn reminder of a time when they did not know what was behind that smoke screen, a chilling and uncertain era of long ago. They didn't know then, but they certainly know now. This photograph captured the beauty and the still of waiting for thier future to be revealed beyond the bright silt of the smoke screen.