Introduction to the Special Issue on Tim Hetherington and conflict imagery.

This article introduces a special issue on Tim Hetherington and conflict imagery, which is the result of an international research project led by the University of Leeds and the Imperial War Museum. The project aimed to understand Hetherington's work by engaging with his associates, contemporary photojournalists, scholars, and the public. The special issue explores themes such as humanitarian photography, military masculinity, and the changing landscape of image-making during conflict. It includes articles that analyze Hetherington's representations of Afghanistan, focusing on aesthetic themes, soldiers' experiences, historical context, and audience interactions. The article concludes by encouraging further research using the Tim Hetherington collection. [Extracted from the article]