Somehow, the still image brings a degree of reality to conflict as its stasis on the page, giving it a weight that can't be ignored. Historically, war’s distance has often made it seem unreal or unfelt, and on many occasions, photography has played a critical role in shifting public consciousness. 'As someone who spent a decade photographing war and conflict for Reuters and the AP from 1989-1999, this is very disturbing,' wrote former photojournalist Santiago Lyon in response to the commercial. The idea that anyone could “wish” that they had been present in a war zone to take some cool photos demonstrates the extent to which popular culture has transformed war into a consequence-free spectacle designed for mass consumption. “What war do you wish you could photograph,” the photojournalists are asked, making the death of 20 million soldiers and 40 million civilians sound more like some legendary game of football. In-game photography is nothing new, and while Activision’s decision to use this feature as a marketing gimmick is not unusual, its presentation is a reflection of how video games can trivialize brutality and annihilation. “Not only does it transcend them into the game engine, but back in time, as if they were a photographer there, in the period.” The resulting commercial portrays mankind’s most brutal act of self-destruction as little more than a game of football.įor its ad, Activision invited two respected conflict photographers to wander through its motion capture studio and experience the recreation of World War II, taking photographs on a virtual camera - “a portal into the game engine,” according to the game’s senior visual director, Michael Sanders. To market the game’s new photography mode, two conflict photographers were immersed inside the virtual world and tasked with photographing it. In a few days, Activision will launch the 18th installment of Call of Duty, returning players to the Second World War.

Behind enemy lines lol