Adam, this is fantastic. Powerful images - as always - and great to hear a bit about the trade. Also really appreciate the clearly written, detailed technical section. (Which has spared me an awkward DM about lighting diagrams!)
Stunning work. Inspiring to learn it was created outside the studio. This is the power of a concept rooted in story and purpose, filtered through practical execution, leading to magnificent images. Bravo.
These photos are beautiful--with the dark circle from which they emerge, they remind me of a Rembrandt painting. I actually thought the first two I saw were paintings, then realized they were photographs. Having worked with Afghan refugees on Lesvos, whose broken lives are constantly filled with uncertainty, these faces remind me once again of the horror of war.
This is a great read with powerful pictures. Love the way you provide the links of the other works to understand your journey in Afghanistan. My question is, did you get an assignment before traveling or manage to get an assignment after entering into the conflict zone?
Hi Mushfiqul, thank you for commenting. My first trip I didn't have an assignment. I started covering Afghanistan independently. But I already had a client base so once I started reporting in Afghanistan I quickly started receiving assignments.
"As time went on, the work began to feel limited. I became disillusioned making photos that, despite my best intentions, turned soldiers into heroes and reinforced the spectacle of the military-industrial complex." that's such a heavy realization I imagine. Beautiful work.
Interesting, compelling work. I worked for the USG for a long time. We're all just cogs in the MIC machine. Glad you found a way to get outside that framework.
Yes, you are talented, but for some odd reason, you only photographed Pashtuns. Oddly enough, Pashtuns are the Taliban, Pashtuns are the government-backed by the western governments for centuries, Pashtuns have been and brutally still are the persecutors of Hazaras, and yet you found them and photographed them and depicted them as innocent faces of Afghanistan people. Did the CIA paid you and sent you on a special mission?
Adam, this is fantastic. Powerful images - as always - and great to hear a bit about the trade. Also really appreciate the clearly written, detailed technical section. (Which has spared me an awkward DM about lighting diagrams!)
Stunning work. Inspiring to learn it was created outside the studio. This is the power of a concept rooted in story and purpose, filtered through practical execution, leading to magnificent images. Bravo.
These photos are beautiful--with the dark circle from which they emerge, they remind me of a Rembrandt painting. I actually thought the first two I saw were paintings, then realized they were photographs. Having worked with Afghan refugees on Lesvos, whose broken lives are constantly filled with uncertainty, these faces remind me once again of the horror of war.
This is a great read with powerful pictures. Love the way you provide the links of the other works to understand your journey in Afghanistan. My question is, did you get an assignment before traveling or manage to get an assignment after entering into the conflict zone?
Hi Mushfiqul, thank you for commenting. My first trip I didn't have an assignment. I started covering Afghanistan independently. But I already had a client base so once I started reporting in Afghanistan I quickly started receiving assignments.
"As time went on, the work began to feel limited. I became disillusioned making photos that, despite my best intentions, turned soldiers into heroes and reinforced the spectacle of the military-industrial complex." that's such a heavy realization I imagine. Beautiful work.
Interesting, compelling work. I worked for the USG for a long time. We're all just cogs in the MIC machine. Glad you found a way to get outside that framework.
Yes, you are talented, but for some odd reason, you only photographed Pashtuns. Oddly enough, Pashtuns are the Taliban, Pashtuns are the government-backed by the western governments for centuries, Pashtuns have been and brutally still are the persecutors of Hazaras, and yet you found them and photographed them and depicted them as innocent faces of Afghanistan people. Did the CIA paid you and sent you on a special mission?
You are wrong, there are other ethnic groups pictured also. And no, I'm not on the CIA payroll.