After the Darkness: Meet the photographer

To commemorate the 80th anniversary of VE Day, we worked with award-winning photographer Richard Cannon to capture 13 powerful portraits of our veterans who were there.

In this look behind the scenes, Richard shares what the After The Darkness project means to him, the veterans he met, and why telling their stories is more important than ever. 

A graphic of a big red V with the word' VE Day 80' in a box

Watch: Why Richard returned for VE Day 80

Photographer Richard Cannon talks to camera
“I keep on coming back to Blind Veterans UK because they’re a charity that do so much good work for veterans… and being a photographer, sight is the most important thing. I always felt that I’d like to give something back.”
A black and white portrait of photographer Richard Cannon, wearing glasses
Richard Cannon
Portrait photographer
Ruth sits for a photograph in her living room as Richard Cannon holds a large professional camera.
Peter stands for a photograph in his living room, as Richard checks his camera. Lighting equipment and a black backdrop are seen in the background.
Arthur stands for a photograph in his living room as Richard Cannon holds a large professional camera. In the background, there is a black sheet background and a lighting set up.

Richard visiting the homes of WWII veterans to capture their portraits

Creating the portraits

Richard travelled across the country to photograph veterans in their homes. He shared: 

“You’re working with people that are 100 years old. I think the oldest was 104.. some of them don’t hear very well. And because their sight is really impaired.. if you want them to look in a certain place, you ask them to follow your voice.”


Richard photographed each veteran against a black background, carefully lit to reflect the end of conflict and the return to peace.

“After the Darkness was the theme for this project… we wanted to have this black background and then light them so that they would be coming from the darkness. Out of the end of the war and all the atrocities they had to deal with.”
Read Peter's VE Day story
A portrait of Peter on a black background
Former Petty Officer Peter was just 18 when found himself tasked with policing jubilant crowds on VE Day
"There's always that one frame that just stands out from the other frames, even if it's a slight different movement."
A black and white portrait of photographer Richard Cannon, wearing glasses
Richard Cannon
Portrait photographer

Richard's favourite portrait

While Richard shared that all the portraits are his favourite in one way or another, two stories from the veterans he met stood out. One was blind veteran Matt, who was one of the first ever SAS soldiers.

“When I looked back at his photograph, you could really see a sense in his eyes that this guy is not to be messed with… and the reason why he was an SAS soldier.
"He told me his stories of going behind enemy lines. It was a real privilege."
Read Matt's VE Day story
Matt photographed against a black background, wearing his badges and cap

Witness to history

The other was blind veteran John, an RAF navigator who delivered documents to the Nuremberg trials after the war.

"He said he remembered being in the courtroom seeing the Nazis - the high profile Nazis - sitting on benches. And just hearing that, that he was the eyes of that moment in history.
"And here I am taking his photograph. It really brought it home why I did this project and how much these veterans went through."
Read John's VE Day story
A portrait of John on a black background

The support behind the stories

While capturing the portraits, Richard saw how our support helps veterans every day.

" The only shame is that they don't see the photographs as clearly as you and I would - but some of them do and have the equipment that Blind Veterans UK kindly gives to them.
“Whenever I speak to them, I always ask: how does it help you? And they all say it helps them such a great deal.
 "So I'm really happy to be involved in something like that."
A portrait of Neena on a black background
A portrait of blind veteran Derrick
A portrait of blind veteran Alice
Read more VE Day stories

Honouring their legacy

“I think it’s really important to commemorate anniversaries like these because it’s an ageing population.
"If we don’t commemorate or note down their stories and take their photos, it’s lost forever.
"They should never be forgotten - what they went through. They’ve gone through these atrocities in the beginning of their lives and still made a life for themselves. Grown old. Still able to tell their story.”

Please support our VE Day veterans.

With the right equipment, training and social interaction, our blind veterans can live safely and happily. 

They fought for us. Now it's our turn to fight for them.

Make a donation today

Read more

VE Day 80: After the Darkness

Read and listen to our Second World War veterans share their remarkable stories of VE Day.

A graphic of a big red V with the word' VE Day 80' in a box

From D-Day to VE Day

Our D-Day veterans look back on the moment they heard the war in Europe was finally over.

Blind veterans John, Thomas, and Syd edited together over a sepia background of a beach on D Day.

D-Day 80 special exhibition

We’ve teamed up with award-winning photographer Richard Cannon to capture the portraits of 16 D-Day veterans

A black and white portrait of blind veteran Alec, overlaid on a scene from D-Day