The Korean War  While his Coney Island work has been much celebrated, Harold Feinstein’s

The Korean War 

While his Coney Island work has been much celebrated, Harold Feinstein’s breadth and exposure is far greater.  His photographs from the Korean War, taken from the perspective of a draftee, offer an intimate look at the daily life of young conscripts from induction to basic training to the front lines.

In 1952 I was drafted into the infantry to serve in Korea. While I’d hoped to be listed as a photographer, it was a blessing that I wasn’t. Had I been official, I would have been commanded to photograph medal presentations and officer’s ceremonies. Instead, I carried my camera around with me all the time – during basic training, on the troop ship, and in Korean villages. My attempt in this series was to capture the humanity of all involved and find beauty and comraderies in the midst of tragedy.

- Harold Feinstein