Capitaine, 8e Régiment d’Infanterie de Ligne, France- 2009 Photograph - Limited Edition of 15

Sam Faulkner is a London-based photographer known for his distinctive approach to both fine art and documentary photography. His work began in 1994 with a pivotal reportage project in Afghanistan, which earned him The Sunday Times Ian Parry Scholarship. Sam’s early work focused on exploring the human condition, capturing shared experiences across diverse cultures, often in conflict zones or challenging environments. His ability to document the raw reality of human life in extreme situations marked him as an important voice in the world of reportage photography. Faulkner’s best-known fine art project, Unseen Waterloo, re-imagines soldiers of the Battle of Waterloo through a contemporary lens. This series, exhibited at Somerset House in London, presents haunting portraits of re-enactors on the battlefield, exploring themes of memory, history, and the personal cost of conflict. The project was an exploration of how we remember wars and those who fought in them, particularly through the medium of photography. Unseen Waterloo challenges the way conflicts are visually represented, focusing on the individual soldiers rather than the grand narratives of war. Sam’s fascination with the breadth of human experience extends to other areas of his work, including his Cage Fighter series, which captured the intensity and vulnerability of MMA fighters immediately after their bouts. This series, much like Unseen Waterloo, is concerned with documenting the human condition in moments of extreme physical and emotional strain. In both projects, Faulkner has employed a meticulous approach to portraiture, focusing on the raw, unfiltered aftermath of intense experiences. Faulkner’s early work, strongly influenced by the traditions of black-and-white reportage photographers like Henri Cartier-Bresson and Robert Capa, gave way to more controlled, studio-based photography as his career evolved. His time in the fashion world, particularly alongside Mario Testino, played a crucial role in shaping his approach to portraiture. This experience helped him blend the spontaneity of reportage with the precision of studio work, creating a unique visual language that spans both commercial and fine art photography. His work has been widely exhibited, including at the National Portrait Gallery, Brighton Photo Biennial, and Paris Photo.