Giles Duley began his photography career at an enviable pinnacle, shooting for GQ and Vogue and even touring with Oasis. Despite this early success, he found himself unfulfilled by the culture and sought a greater sense of purpose. Over time, his lens shifted from backstage glamour to the frontlines of conflict, where he began documenting the impact of war on ordinary lives. A life-altering moment came in Afghanistan when an IED explosion claimed three of his limbs, yet Duley returned to conflict zones with a renewed commitment to capturing stories of love and resilience.
“There is a connection from where I started to where I am now which is stories and empathy,” he says. “There’s the story, there’s the storyteller, and then there’s the amplifier. And what brands and individuals can do is be those amplifiers to make sure those stories are heard around the world. … I've realised the way I live my best life is to make sure others are living their best life – and that is my purpose.”
Through his Legacy of War Foundation, Giles demonstrates how creativity and empathy can break down barriers, urging each of us to use our own platforms and talents to enact meaningful change.
Key Insights:
- Duley documents conflict zones, but he views his work through a radically different lens: “I’m not a war photographer. I photograph love,” he says, highlighting ordinary moments that reveal our shared humanity: “a grandmother brushing her granddaughter’s hair, a mother feeding her baby, a father on the floor doing lessons with his kids.”
- Though Duley lost three limbs after stepping on an IED in Afghanistan, he refused to let that trauma define his future. “The next day I woke up and I said, ‘I will never think about the things I can’t do, but I will focus on what I can and I will be the very best at that,’” he recalls, referring to the mantra that has guided him ever since. Duley went on to found an organisation that offers direct support to conflict-affected communities — underscoring his conviction that real change demands both bearing witness and taking action.
- Duley has faced enormous challenges in conflict zones and through personal injury, but he insists that creativity can outlast even the harshest setbacks. “As creative people, even in ultimate lockdown, we cannot be stopped,” he says. “Trust me, there is no barrier that can stop you … because creativity is greater than anything else.” This mindset, forged in dire circumstances, drives his commitment to show that imagination can break through the boundaries of physical limitations and societal constraints alike.
- Duley dedicates himself to telling the stories of conflict-affected communities, yet he believes the real impact comes from those who amplify these narratives. “There’s the story, there’s the storyteller, and then there’s the amplifier. What brands and individuals can do is be those amplifiers to make sure those stories are heard around the world,” he says. As for his own driving force, Duley affirms, “The way I live my best life is to make sure others are living their best life. And that is my purpose.”
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