American Soldier

A. I think the most powerful images were either the one of him getting his head shaved or the one of the three boys on the bed hugging each other. I think the one of him getting his head shaved is powerful because it shows that this experience is real and it's really happening to him. Also because his face portrays a lot of emotions through the lens. The one of the three boys is powerful because it shows that the boys are in this together and that they've bonded and have become brothers.

B. Set 1 - At home - Image #1 to Image #3
Set 2 - Basic Training - Image #4 to Image #7
Set 3 - Iraq - Image #8 to Image #26

C. I think the set of images that was the most powerful were Set 2, the ones taken at the Basic Training Camp. These images were especially powerful because it's the transition from a normal life to a life of an American Soldier. Also he is still learning how to cope with everything, so there are a lot of emotions throughout the set.

D. The images work together to tell a story of a young boy becoming a man. They go from his normal everyday life to him working hard and making sacrifices for his country. At first the pictures are happy and youthful, but as the pictures progress they become darker and more realistic.

E. The photos with Ian as the subject have captions in present tense.

F. The captions enhance these photos because they show a new perspective of these photos and provide background information that the viewer might miss to give the full impact of the photo. 

G. Ian Fisher announced his plan to enlist in the army on his 17th birthday. Once he arrived at the basic training camp, he began questioning his intentions, but he stayed. He faced a few difficulties while he was in training including an injured elbow and a bad heat rash on his back and neck. Ian visits his dad, and his dad shows his concern for the amount of pain medications he's taking, but Ian brushes it off and says he's fine. After he returns back to his post, he confesses to having a drug problem and is close to getting kicked out of the military. Fisher is then deployed to Iraq where he's faced with bombings and Iraq citizens. Ian returns home and celebrates with his family and new girlfriend Devin. He goes to get a marriage license with Devin and they get married in a court room hours later.