In the midst of warfare in Russia, a picture was taken by an unknown photographer that portrays a Special Troops soldier as he stumbles across a fragile butterfly. This soldier risks his life by adverting his attention away from the whizzing bullets flying past his head to admire the simplicity and beauty of the creature. A dark overcast adds an ominous atmosphere as the bright orange monarch butterfly adds a sense of hope and peace. The close up of the subjects intensifies the meaning and gives the viewer a more personal connection. This photograph contrasts the delicacy of life, represented by the butterfly, and the violence and brutality of warfare, represented by the soldier. In a setting of chaos and conflict, we see that the soldier finds a miniature manifestation of peace and hope by analyzing the symbolism of the subjects, representative colors, and viewers perspective. 

Forced to leave home at a young age, Russian soldiers are trained to kill and thrown onto the battlefield to fight in combat. The trooper’s worn-down helmet tells us that this is not his first battle while the gentle and tender position of his hand reminds us that he is still human. While out in the war field, this soldier, who is apart of the Russian Special Troops, encounters a small monarch butterfly. By diverting his attention to the misplaced creature, the Russian allows himself to become vulnerable to the environment around him. He now is susceptible to the combat and war zone that surrounds him which increases his chances of injury or death. With turmoil surrounding him and the knowledge that he could possibly die in 2 months, 2 days or even in 2 minutes, he is momentarily at peace while staring at this butterfly. The delicateness of life is contrasted to the harsh violence of the war zone.

In the middle of the fighting, a butterfly perched itself on a curious soldier’s hand. The delicate and fragile creature calms the soldier and gives him peace of mind for the few moments they spend together. Butterflies are known for being a symbol of hope and peace. It gives the soldier hope that the war will soon end and that he will make it out of the battle alive and unharmed. The Russian is surrounded by disharmony while he fights for his country. The butterfly, which somehow wandered it’s way into a war zone, tranquilizes the situation for him. The insect represents life in that it is fragile and delicate which contradicts the soldier and the war.  The minute butterfly, which humans typically dismiss due to lack of importance, became a manifestation of peace and hope to this Russian soldier. 

Colors always catches our eye and draws our attention to certain objects. In the case of this photograph, the vivid, orange, monarch butterfly directs our attention to the picture. It stands out against the earth tones that cover the rest of the image. We are allowed access to a small glimpse of the soldier’s identity through his eyes. There is a break between the black face mask and the dark green army helmet where his bright white skin and his eyes are peering through. This gives the unknown soldier some sort of identity reminding the viewer that he is still human. Both the soldier and the butterfly share the trait of camouflage in common. Camo, is used to hide from predators. In the soldiers situation, his army fatigues helps him blend in to the surrounding environment, shielding him from his enemies. Similarly, butterflies have specific patterns on their wings to warning off big attackers. By sharing this trait, the subjects are able to connect and relate to each other without exchanging words.  Without the pop of color from the orange butterfly against the natural tones or the bright white skin against the darkness of the army uniform, this image would not be as effective or as striking. 

Position means a lot when we are dissecting the meaning from an image. The subjects of this photograph, the soldier and the butterfly, are in a close up. Close ups give the subjects an increased intensity. It allows the viewer to get a more clear look into the emotions and facial expressions of the subjects. In this image, the Russian soldier is unusually tranquil for the situation, war, that he is in. Being close up to the subjects, puts the viewer as if they are in the image with the soldier and the gentle butterfly. If the photograph was taken from further away and the entire body was visible, the effectiveness of the image would not be as impactful. The viewer is able to see all the details from the expression on the soldiers face, to the expression in his eyes, to the minuscule details on the butterfly's wings while all creating a more impactful and powerful image due to the close up. 

The gentle butterfly juxtaposed in many ways to the Russian soldier. It is rare to find two unlikely creatures, such as a trained killer and a simple, kind butterfly, together as the subjects. This image portrays a cold Russian killer with a majestic butterfly perched on this finger. The soldier represents the rugged, animalistic side of humans, however in this picture the viewer is reminded that at the end of day he is still human. The bright butterfly catches our attention and draws us to the picture. It represents peace and hope intertwined within the picture. The subjects are in a close up which throws the viewer into the narrative being told. We are able to see the soldiers facial expressions which helps us better understand the kindness he has hidden under his rough exterior. Throughout this picture there is a contrast between the fragility and delicacy of life and the barbarity and inhumanity of soldiers and wars. 
