Robert King, 38 years old from Memphis is stalking the Tennessee woods. As he raises his Kalshnikov he reflects on what first took him to a war,

• "Fifteen years ago I was very naive, I was going on my only option in life to stay alive..."

Sarajevo,1993. Robert, a 24-year art graduate is aiming to be the youngest ever Pulitzer Prize winner. He’s got 800 bucks in his pocket, has never been to a war and his ambition is proving tough. He gets shot at on the frontline, fired by his agent and nearly burns down his apartment - all within his first month. Despite all, he is funny, charming, engaging and continues to be optimistic about his life’s possibilities.

Grozny,1997. We find Robert in Chechnya’s bombed out streets and he’s a far cry from when we last saw him. He’s tougher, meaner, wiser and his pictures have adorned the covers of the world’s top publication - from Time to Figaro. He’s become a force to be reckoned with in the industry. The Pulitzer is in sight. He is also much darker,

• "you can get into a lot of trouble here, you can just focus on booze and women and night clubs."

Robert moves to Russia and continues to traverse conflict. In between bouts in Afghanistan, Rwanda, Albania, Kosova, he parties in the vane of what he calls ‘the Robert Capa’ approach to journalism.

• "I didn’t want to mourn silently in my fucking room." The allure of wine, women and war is an intoxicating, if self-destructive mix.

Iraq, 2007. Robert now married with a family is in many ways more settled than we’ve ever seen him. Although the Pulitzer remains elusive he is now considered one of today's leading combat photographers and Iraq has become his main pay cheque. But journalism has become much more deadly than it was in Bosnia. Robert is forced to embed with the US military - as it’s almost impossibly dangerous ‘outside the wire’. With numerous restrictions imposed by the military, Robert is frustrated, unable to work and nostalgic for the relative freedom of the Bosnia days. And again - we find him a changed man,

• "yeah I’m cynical, how many dead bodies have I stepped over... I’m kind of damaged goods."

Blood Trail explores the complex web of motivations that drive someone to extremes: The insecurities and aspirations, the striving for excellence, acknowledgement and the seemingly conflictual need to be 'at peace' and yet near 'danger'. Over 15 years and three wars - from naivety to cynicism and finally achieving the recognition he sought, this film addresses the two questions that are always asked of those who report wars: Why do you do it? How does it affect you?