Photographer Peter van Agtmael is using his two-decade career documenting combat to illustrate the connection between overseas conflicts and life within the United States.
In his new photo book, 'Look at the U.S.A.: A Diary of War and Home,' van Agtmael pairs images from war zones with snapshots of American life in the post-9/11 era.
According to a report by France 24, the photographer’s work seeks to show how wars in Iraq and Afghanistan echo back home.
Van Agthel has spent years working alongside US soldiers in various conflict zones. His latest project moves beyond the battlefield to examine the lasting impact of these wars on the American landscape.
From the battlefield to the home front
The book uses jarring contrasts between combat photography and everyday domestic scenes. The outlet reported that the collection draws a stark connection between distant military engagements and their consequences for the United States.
Speaking to the program 'Perspective,' van Agtmael discussed how his focus has expanded from the front lines to the domestic repercussions of American foreign policy.
France 24 noted that the photographer is equally interested in how these global conflicts manifest within the domestic sphere of the US.
