Through the lens: a look at Dignified Transfer photography

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Chuck Walker
  • 436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  It's 2:30 a.m. on the Dover Air Force Base, Del., flightline. Roland Balik is standing and waiting, the smoky breath from the cold morning is flowing out from his mouth and nostrils.

He starts to get antsy. He checks his watch and glances at his camera to make sure the settings are correct. He knows he is only going to get one shot. There is no room for error in his job, not for one this important.

Balik is a civilian photographer at Dover AFB, and he is photographing a Dignified-Transfer. Dignified Transfer photography documents the return home of fallen military members.

This duty presents the photographer with many challenges that make this type of photo unique from other forms of photography. Three things set this mission apart from others: the photographer only gets one chance to get their work correct, the importance of the ceremony, and its impact on the photographer.

"You only get one shot and you can't screw up," Balik said. "Let's put it this way, it is less forgiving than photographing a wedding or a retirement. It is a no-fail photo assignment."

Balik, who has been a photographer at Dover AFB for the past 11 years, said two of the biggest challenges of photographing Dignified Transfers are the weather and lighting.

"A Dignified Transfer can happen any time of the day or night and you can't use camera-flash," said Balik. "There are also sodium-vapor lights on the flightline giving off a horrible orange tint, making it harder to get proper color in the photo. The weather also makes the job difficult; you have rain, snow and fog. No matter what -- you still have to capture the photos."

While the technical aspects of these assignments are difficult, a new photographer at Dover AFB, Steve Kotecki, has been dealing with the personal impact since May, when he photographed his first event.

Kotecki, a former U.S. Marine Corps photographer, said the Dignified Transfer mission is one of the main reasons he hoped to get a job at Dover AFB.

"It is something I respect and it is important to me," Kotecki said. "There have been guys from my unit come through here so I know how important this is. You have to have a lot of gravitas. You don't get any do-overs."

Because the event can be difficult deal to with, photographers like Balik have been recognized for their dedication to this solemn duty.

Balik has photographed more than 640 Dignified Transfers and was honored with a plaque by the Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations Center following his 600th. He said the ceremonies bring home the reality of war.

"You have to mentally separate yourself from the actual event," Balik said. "The first event I covered was in April, 2009. You just go into a photographic state of mind, and when it is over, you snap out of it and realize what you just witnessed."