Beyond the Killing Fields
Written by John MacphersonPeter posted a fascinating article last year about Nic Dunlop’s book ‘The Lost Executioner’ and the photographs taken of those incarcerated by the Khmer Rouge prior to execution.
“Shorty shows his killing-field tattoos in Philadelphia” © Pete Pin
I came across a related, and insightful project, by Pete Pin featured on NPR recently – ‘Cambodian Diaspora’:
Pete’s website has a larger collection of his images from the project, which are gently revealing and beautifully observed. This is the kind of work that reminds me of how important photography can be in informing, educating, but more simply connecting people with people, and with their shared past.
Well worth your time having a look.
Author — John Macpherson
John MacPherson was born and lives in the Scottish Highlands. He trained as a welder in the Glasgow shipyards, before completing an apprenticeship as a carpenter, and then qualified as a Social Worker in Disability Services. Along the way he has cooked on canal barges, trained as an Alpine Ski Leader & worked as an Instructor for Skiers with disabilities, been a canoe instructor, and tutor of night classes in carpentry, stained glass design and manufacture, and archery. He has travelled extensively on various continents, undertaking solo trips by bicycle, or motorcycle. He has had narrow escapes from an ambush by terrorists, been hit by lightning, caught in an erupting volcano, trapped in a mobile home by a tornado, kidnapped by a dog's hairdresser, rammed by a basking shark and was once bitten by a wild otter. He has combined all this with professional photography, which he has practised for over 35 years. He teaches photography and acts as a photography guide & tutor in the UK and abroad. His biggest challenge is keeping his 30 year old Land Rover 110 on the road. He loves telling and hearing stories.