Nine years ago, when Vancouver-based photographer Albert Law was finishing his third year of university, he began looking for a challenge that would help him get out of his comfort zone. In addition, Albert ended up joining the Canadian Army Reserve, and after four years as an artillery gunner, he transferred to the Public Affairs Department, where he had the opportunity to document daily life in the army on various assignments as a photographer.
The images were not created for a specific campaign. They went into the Army’s image library where they will use them for various projects. Most often, they use them on recruiting posters and brochures. The goal of the images was to show the general public how someone in the Army performs their daily duties.
Considering that the assignments were photojournalistic, Albert was not able to have a hand in planning the exact details of what he was shooting for each assignment.
Albert prepared to document raw moments as he traveled with various teams while they worked. Embedded with them in most cases and typically carrying the same gear to be self-sustaining, Albert also remained conscious of every bit of camera equipment he packed. His pre-production planning typically consisted of getting a rough idea of activities, weather, and light conditions for desired times of the day. So he could plan accordingly and leave behind all non-essential gear.
The main challenge of shooting these assignments was being a fly on the wall and making sure that he wasn’t in the way of the training. Albert learned to adapt to spontaneity. Additionally, he found that the restrictions he worked under forced him to try different compositions and camera angles.
The primary goal is training for the soldiers and photography is almost always the secondary aspect. This often means restrictions on where I can position myself as well as not always knowing what’s coming next.
Moreover, the work has received a very positive reception, with newspapers and various internal publication covers featuring the images. As part of a larger image library, Albert doesn’t receive notifications when one of his images is online. However, he sometimes receives a copy when someone uses an image he has shot.
Albert’s favorite part of the project was working with the soldiers who dedicate their lives to what they do. He enjoyed having the opportunity to photograph things that most people never have the chance to experience. He has loved the longevity of this experience. Albert plans to continue in the future, possibly including photographing overseas deployment.
See more of Albert’s work on his website.
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