Fields of Silence is a long-term documentary photography project by photographer Bill Hobbs examining the enduring human, social, and environmental impact of landmines in Cambodia. Decades after the official end of conflict, unexploded ordnance remains buried beneath farmland, forests, and village pathways, continuing to shape daily life in ways both visible and unseen.
The project documents the quiet and often overlooked reality faced by communities living alongside the remnants of war. While Cambodia has made significant progress in demining and recovery efforts, vast areas of land remain contaminated, affecting agriculture, mobility, economic opportunity, and personal safety. Beyond the physical danger, the presence of landmines continues to carry psychological and generational consequences for those who live in affected regions.
Through a combination of environmental portraiture, landscape photography, and documentary coverage of active demining operations, Fields of Silence explores the relationship between people and land marked by conflict. Survivors, deminers, and local communities are photographed within their own environments to create a visual narrative grounded in dignity, resilience, and lived experience.
A major focus of the project is the work of demining teams who continue the painstaking process of clearing contaminated ground. Their work—methodical, technical, and often dangerous—represents both the ongoing legacy of conflict and the possibility of renewal. By documenting these efforts alongside the landscapes themselves, the project seeks to reveal the tension between natural beauty and hidden danger that defines many rural areas of Cambodia.
Rather than relying on graphic imagery, Fields of Silence approaches the subject with restraint and respect. The work emphasizes atmosphere, memory, and human presence, creating space for reflection on the long-term effects of war and the resilience of communities rebuilding their relationship with the land.
Initial documenting began in Cambodia in 2026, with continued fieldwork planned through multiple phases of production. The second phase of documenting will begin in June 2026 and will include expanded coverage of affected communities, demining operations, environmental studies, interviews, and immersive visual storytelling components.
The long-term goal of Fields of Silence is to develop a comprehensive body of documentary work that can be presented through exhibitions, publications, digital platforms, and educational outreach. The project aims to contribute to a broader international conversation about the hidden legacies of conflict and the ongoing human cost of unexploded ordnance long after war has officially ended.