Joel Bluming was sent to Vietnam in 1966 where he served as a dentist in the field units near Saigon, the village of Cu Chi, and later in the city of Tai Ninh, near the Cambodian border. In addition to assisting American soldiers, Bluming volunteered to provide dental care for Vietnamese citizens. In doing so, he was able to befriend local people and document their lives with his camera. Joel currently resides in Vermont.