This is an award-winning documentary war photograph from the Vietnam War, a high-contrast dark work with an end-of-the-world style, reminiscent of the film "Apocalypse Now", featuring a monochrome sunset color palette dominated by dark shadows, all capturing a scene during the Vietnam War, at low altitude above the jungle, all the equipment is worn out by war, the soldiers are too. From a Chinook helicopter in flight, the photo captures in a three-quarter angle from below the near shoulder of a black wounded U.S. Marine sitting on the running board of the Chinook, ready to jump, blood and black combat paint on his burnt face, Shaved Sides Pixie Haircut, hair dirty and wet from the wind and the rain, khaki tank top, blood covered tattoos on his forearms. The Marine commando has his old rusty M16 machine gun pointed at the ground, ready to fire at Vietnamese soldiers who return fire from the ground, his old rusty M16 machine gun still ready. Despite the speed, we can make out a small village typical of 1960s Vietnam, middle of the jungle, with mud huts and straw roofs, some are on fire, from which the enemies on the ground are firing. In the background, in the distance, you can see the black silhouettes of the rear of two old Huey helicopters, flying in formation low to the ground. The setting sun highlights the outlines of the soldiers, creating a striking play of light and shadow. The atmosphere is tense and imbued with the urgency of the mission, capturing the raw and brutal reality of war. The very cinematic scenery is inspired by the "Apocalypse Now" movie.
