WWII Photography, Koln Cathedral

"Beyond this point you draw fire on our Fighting Men. He risks his life 24 hours a day, Do You?"

Just found this photograph on a cathedral architecture website. It shows an American soldier and a destroyed Panther tank in front of Koln, Germany Cathedral- 4th April 1945. I don't always like war photography, because I think they often always aim to capture the same theme of horror, when there are so many other reasons and affects of war. I particularly like this photograph though, as I think it captures a different side to war other than the process of destruction- It makes you wonder what the soldier is reading as he reads the sign. Pride? Guilt? You can see that previously there must have been lots going on, as the residue of the tank remains. But whats left is this aftereffect of war, and the emotions that this soldier is feeling as he reads that sign.

I also like the depth of field on this photo- the crisp, clear focus on the soldier and the sign, and the slightly, but not totally out of focus cathedral and tank behind them. It highlights the connection between the sign and the soldiers emotions, and the fact that both are a product of the destruction of war seen in the background.