Shot at dawn analysis

http://www.chloedewemathews.com/shot-at-dawn/

"shot at dawn" is a photography series by Chloe Dewe Matthews examinging the places that deserters were executed during the first world war in europe. the images are taken as close as possible to the time of day and season that the shootings actually happened. Matthews claims in her writings that she is trying to "reinsert the individual" back into these places were these traumatic events have happened, so that the people are not forgotten.

 The thing that sticks out the most about these pictures is the sense of serenity in them, there is no performative sense of horror or an attempt to portray these places as scary or sinister.

 they at first seem like normal images of rural towns/villages. This adds a layer of surprise factor when you learn what happened in these places, which gives the images more impact.

 I especially enjoy the use of mist in a lot of these pictures, they are taken at dawn (as the title implies) but this is not used to add a sense of dread but instead to add a sense of mystery or other wolrldyness. I prefer this to other image series on similar topics, which can sometimes feel like they are trying too hard.

lastly there is a real sense of "serenity" to this image in particular, it is quiet and sombre, which makes finding out why it was photographed all the more shocking. however in it's quietness it maintains its sense of dignity. this is something I will be trying to add to my process moving forward.