Nothing Gold Can Stay
But aside from the striking veracity with which the two are able to encapsulate the inner life of their subjects, the true power of the series lies in its ability to capture that tension between vulnerability and strength in the photographic realm. Its this very tension that provides insight into each Marines personal transformation.
These men and women simultaneously embody qualities of softness and hardness, and the longer you gaze into their youthful eyes, the more you’re reminded that despite the mature nature of their vocation, these Marines are just kids. It's this very paradox that beckons questions such as how long will their youth, their innocence, last? Will these brave Marines ever be the same as the face in their portrait? The future may not align with the present, the shaping of these individuals identities falls into the structured hands of the Corps.