thenationofartists.com

Richard Parry's documentary on war photographer Robert King bears the tagline "15 years, 3 wars, 1 photographer." 

Hardly original subject matter, "Shooting Robert King" follows "An Unlikely Weapon" (which found its focus in war photographer Eddie Adams, as well as the benchmark film in the genre, Christian Frei's Oscar-nominated "War Photographer," which delves into the work and worlds of arguably the greatest war image correspondent of all time, James Nachtwey.   

Part of the beauty of "Shooting Robert King," however, is the intimacy gained by Parry from sheer bad luck or good fortune. The fact the film took 15 years to come to fruition no doubt caused consternation and an overwhelming period of conflict from which to choose footage, but it also provides a depth to the film not otherwise achievable by a single cinematic portrait. Aiding Parry's up-close-and-personal track on the man subjected to his lens is that Parry is also a war correspondent, knowing King's daily routines, hardships and responsibilities as they also pertain largely to himself.

The period of discovery of his subject within his documentary enables Parry to catch something unique, which is the making of a career photojournalist from newbie to seasoned pro. Parry begins his coming-of-courage story of King as a scared 24-year-old with a strange sense of humor and a vapid familial support system, and follows the photographer's progress into a well-regarded war zone junkie... still with his strange sense of humor.

The paradox between shooting film and firearms is driven home by an interesting set of scenes of King on hiatus from work, relaxing... on a hunting trip. That King chooses to pick up a weapon to relax when he's not in a war zone speaks volumes to the connection this man feels to his setting, and psychologists could wax lyrically for many hours about whether the subject of the film were substituting the mania of battle with his own controlled version of war to help him deal with his downtime.

Attempting to create art/commerce while dodging bullets can't be the most nurturing of artistic environments. Sometimes, however, a lensman needs someone or something to force him to take the shot.

WATCH THE FILM ON SNAG FILMS HERE, FREE! You might have to put up with some intermittent ads for cosmetics, confectionary and personal hygiene products, but that's a small price to pay.