Documentary filmmaker, Scott Kesterson, began his career as an embedded journalist with the Army National Guard 41st brigade in Afghanistan. His one year spent with troops brought the world an inside look at the forces of war in places few had seen before.

His combat footage, aired on both Frontline and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and through the internet has been viewed worldwide creating an iconic image of a war that only those who have “been there” could know.

Kesterson was the first full-time embedded news blogger and captured the first footage of Canadian troops in combat since Korea. In May 2007 he earned a regional Emmy Award for his combat photography.

An Afghan soldier mounts the national flag on the roof of their truck before leaving on patrol near Solemanbad, in the Daikondi Province, Afghanistan. The Afghan soldiers, in conjunction with US Army Special Operations, were in the village to return the body of an Afghan soldier to his family. The soldier had been killed by an IED. (Photo Copyright 2007: Scott Kesterson)

US Army 10th Mountain Division soldiers fire a 105mm Howizter in support of operations in the Zamburay Valley, Oruzgon Province, Aghanistan. Taliban fighters used the Zamburay Valley as an base of operations for attacks throughout the area. (Photo Copyright 2007: Scott Kesterson)

Afghan soldiers following intelligence leads, remove children from a room before searching for weapons near the village of Hesar, Oruzgon Province, Afghanistan. No weapons were found during the search. (Photo Copyright 2007: Scott Kesterson)

A US Army National Guard advisor, scales a mountain in the Zamburay Valley, Oruzgon Province, Afghanistan in search of Taliban fighters hiding in the rocks above. The yellow smoke was used to locate his position after a short firefight with the Taliban that resulted in the death of one Afghan soldier. (Photo Copyright 2007: Scott Kesterson)

Local Afghan children spontaneously raise their hands to show that they do not have weapons as an Afghan army patrol approaches. Searches are a part of daily life in Afghanistan. (Photo Copyright 2007: Scott Kesterson)

Afghan soldiers wait outside a village near Tarin Kowt, Oruzgon Province, Afghanistan, during an early morning patrol. Intelligence reports had sighted possible Taliban activity in the area. (Photo Copyright 2007: Scott Kesterson)

An Afghan soldier is rushed to the medical clinic at the Canadian forward operating base near the village of Panjawi, Kandahar Province, Afghanistan. The soldier collapsed from heat exhaustion during 100 degree temperatures. (Photo Copyright 2007: Scott Kesterson)

An Afghan soldier practices tactical movement during training operations with US Army Special Operations at the forward operating base near the village of Oshay, Oruzgan Province, Afghanistan. The primary role of US Army Special Operations and US Army National Guard advisors is to train the Afghan National Army. (Photo Copyright 2007: Scott Kesterson)

Afghan police watch as Afghan soldiers and US Army Special Operations construct a new check point near the village of Kesay, Oruzgon Province, Afganistan. Check points are used throughout the region as way of providing security along roads and near villages. The strategy was proving successful in the region by helping local villagers re-establish trade and commerce. (Photo Copyright 2007: Scott Kesterson)

An IED is destroyed after being discovered by US troops during a patrol to the Chimbarak Pass, Oruzgon Province, Afghanistan. IED’s have become an increasing threat in Afghanistan, as Taliban fighters adopt tactics used by insurgent fighters in Iraq. (Photo Copyright 2007: Scott Kesterson)

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