Infidel is one of the best photography books to come out that documents the United States involvement in Afghanistan. I would go so far to say that it is one of the most powerful photobooks to come out this year. Photographer and film maker Tim Hetherington's Infidel tracks a detailed account of one US platoon serving in the Korengal Valley -- their bravery and vulnerability all come forth in this brilliantly designed book. The book looks and feels like a journal -- adding an additional layer of intimacy to what already comes through in the pictures -- that these men unavoidably shared everything with each other. The design aspects -- along with the revealing pieces written by the soldiers weaves together to make a strangely unique book. Somewhat of a companion piece to Hetherington's film Restrepo, Infidel mixes a series of portraits, battle scenes, tattoo designs and still-lifes into one detailed account of what war is for these men. The photographs are simply beautiful and telling.
This book doesn't form a political standpoint, it is a simple story of camaraderie and reality.... and it works. I wish more projects were approached as simply as this one... maybe the staying power of those projects would resonate in the way Hetherington's book does.
