The Many Faces of Afghanistan

mosack · October 20, 2009

Here is a photo I took in Afghanistan. There are 6 girls faces looking through their school's muddied window. These 6 girls express emotions like Shock, Hope, Fear, Curiosity, Anger and Dispair. It might be a representation of their entire country's struggle to regain their infrastructure, their lives and their culture, from the era of the Russians and Taliban rule. Once, these girls wouldn't be allowed an education. Now, what future, might these girls have?
I welcome all comments -
good or bad!

Richard · October 20, 2009

mosack wrote:

Here is a photo I took in Afghanistan. There are 6 girls faces looking through their school's muddied window. These 6 girls express emotions like Shock, Hope, Fear, Curiosity, Anger and Dispair. It might be a representation of their entire country's struggle to regain their infrastructure, their lives and their culture, from the era of the Russians and Taliban rule. Once, these girls wouldn't be allowed an education. Now, what future, might these girls have?
www.michaelmosack.com or http://tinyurl.com/yz9cptq
I welcome all comments - good or bad!

Hi Michael and welcome to Dgrin.

I saw that pic on another forum and really like it, but I wish you would put a bigger version of it up here. How To Post on Dgrin

Qarik · October 20, 2009

mosack wrote:

Here is a photo I took in Afghanistan. There are 6 girls faces looking through their school's muddied window. These 6 girls express emotions like Shock, Hope, Fear, Curiosity, Anger and Dispair. It might be a representation of their entire country's struggle to regain their infrastructure, their lives and their culture, from the era of the Russians and Taliban rule. Once, these girls wouldn't be allowed an education. Now, what future, might these girls have?
www.michaelmosack.com or http://tinyurl.com/yz9cptq
I welcome all comments - good or bad!

fabulous on many different levels. if you could post a larger size and not attach it (compression in this process can cause rsolution loss).

Richard · October 20, 2009

Qarik wrote:

fabulous on many different levels. if you could post a larger size and not attach it (compression in this process can cause rsolution loss).

Since it is hosted on SmugMug, you can just link to it.

mosack · October 20, 2009

The Many Faces of Afghanistan
Thanks for the help and the link. I think I've got it now! :ivar

Richard wrote:

Hi Michael and welcome to Dgrin. I saw that pic on another forum and really like it, but I wish you would put a bigger version of it up here. How To Post on Dgrin

Jermbubba · October 20, 2009

wow. well done. this photo made me stop and look for quite a whle! thanks

mosack · October 20, 2009

The Many Faces of Afghanistan
Thanks for the comments!

I fixed the image too!

Qarik wrote:

fabulous on many different levels. if you could post a larger size and not attach it (compression in this process can cause rsolution loss).

Cuong · October 20, 2009

Beautifully done. It looks like an old photo in a wood frame, but it's not.

Cuong

bdcolen · October 20, 2009

mosack wrote:

Here is a photo I took in Afghanistan. There are 6 girls faces looking through their school's muddied window. These 6 girls express emotions like Shock, Hope, Fear, Curiosity, Anger and Dispair. It might be a representation of their entire country's struggle to regain their infrastructure, their lives and their culture, from the era of the Russians and Taliban rule. Once, these girls wouldn't be allowed an education. Now, what future, might these girls have?
I welcome all comments -
good or bad!

Terrific image - excellent!

But I really, really, really could do without being told what to see when I look at an image - especially when I look at an image as strong as this one. In fact, having you tell me what to see really takes away from the viewing experience.

Now, if you want to tell us something, tell us how you came to take this, and if you have more images from Afghanistan, please share them with us.

bradpowellphoto · October 20, 2009

A wonderful powerful image with so much to say and so much for you think about.

I think the Mods should start a sticky with the best of "street and pj" and this should be one of the images.

Thanks for sharing.

mosack · October 21, 2009

The Many Faces of Afghanistan
I appreciate your comments. I guess the photojournalism part of me wants to tell their story as much as show it in pictures. I am over here in Afghanistan and was with a US Military Unit as they stopped at a school to hand out school supplies that have been donated by Churches and schools back home. At first, the girls would run everytime they saw the camera come out, but then slowly got used to me. Using a 400mm zoom lens I was able to catch this candid shot of them looking through their school's window. I do have many more photos from different parts of Afghanistan on my website www.michaelmosack.com and I am adding more when time allows. Be forwarned though, that I also have write ups on a lot of them as well, so ignore the reading if you prefer!
Mike

bdcolen wrote:

Terrific image - excellent! But I really, really, really could do without being told what to see when I look at an image - especially when I look at an image as strong as this one. In fact, having you tell me what to see really takes away from the viewing experience.

Now, if you want to tell us something, tell us how you came to take this, and if you have more images from Afghanistan, please share them with us.

torags · October 21, 2009

Hi Mike...

I have to disagree with BD on this one.

Your story plus the shot is (to me) the definition of PJ. I mean its "photo + journalism" isn't it?

Sometimes the story can give context (and appeal) when the image can't tell the whole story. Your image is strong and the comments embellish it for me.

For example: Your image in B&W could look like kids in the 30's in the dust bowl US Midwest. But it's today, and that fact gives it more relevance.

mosack · October 21, 2009

The Many Faces of Afghanistan
I appreciate your comments. I admit to initial confusion, upon reading BD's post as I thought that the PJ was for photojournalism and that my adding an explanation or description of the image or story idea behind it was expected. I did shorten it quite a bit from the write up I did on my website because I didn't want to get too long in the tooth... especially on my first posted image

The funny part is that on my Kabul Begger image, I initially didn't really write anything and that caused the opposite reaction, so in the followup posts, I added a description that I failed to do at first.

torags wrote:

Hi Mike...

I have to disagree with BD on this one.

Your story plus the shot is (to me) the definition of PJ. I mean its "photo + journalism" isn't it?

Sometimes the story can give context (and appeal) when the image can't tell the whole story. Your image is strong and the comments embellish it for me.

For example: Your image in B&W could look like kids in the 30's in the dust bowl US Midwest. But it's today, and that fact gives it more relevance.

Tee Why · October 21, 2009

I like it. Nice framed too.

bdcolen · October 21, 2009

torags wrote:

Hi Mike...

I have to disagree with BD on this one.

Your story plus the shot is (to me) the definition of PJ. I mean its "photo + journalism" isn't it?

Sometimes the story can give context (and appeal) when the image can't tell the whole story. Your image is strong and the comments embellish it for me.

For example: Your image in B&W could look like kids in the 30's in the dust bowl US Midwest. But it's today, and that fact gives it more relevance.

Well, actually I didn't suggest converting it.

bdcolen · October 21, 2009

mosack wrote:

I appreciate your comments. I admit to initial confusion, upon reading BD's post as I thought that the PJ was for photojournalism and that my adding an explanation or description of the image or story idea behind it was expected. I did shorten it quite a bit from the write up I did on my website because I didn't want to get too long in the tooth... especially on my first posted image The funny part is that on my Kabul Begger image, I initially didn't really write anything and that caused the opposite reaction, so in the followup posts, I added a description that I failed to do at first.

I made the comment I did because I simply want to see images - I believe if an image is any good, it will speak for itself - and this image does - as does your beggar image. Even good PJ images can often stand alone. But I know there are other people here who want to know everything they can about the situation surrounding the photo. So be it.

In any case, it's a wonderful image.

Awais Yaqub · October 21, 2009

As i said earlier i like this one.

I wonder if Afghans sale their special burger wrapped in the long bread full of chips and sausage. You should try that with special afghan sauces. There are some afghan shops in my area who sale this burger. I prefer Afghan food over Pakistani food.

Sorry for going off topic. :eat

HoofClix · October 21, 2009

Awais Yaqub wrote:

As i said earlier i like this one.

I wonder if Afghans sale their special burger wrapped in the long bread full of chips and sausage. You should try that with special afghan sauces. There are some afghan shops in my area who sale this burger. I prefer Afghan food over Pakistani food.

Sorry for going off topic. :eat

No apology accepted.. Those sound pretty tasty..

saurora · October 23, 2009

I only wish this image was in my gallery instead of yours!

That is my highest compliment! Looking at such a strong image as this is like being given a gift that is wrapped in luxurious papers and ribbons. My eyes want to go over the "wrappings" again and again, enjoying and seeing something new with each pass. I want to savor the moments and anticipate what the gift might hold inside. What might these children be thinking? What could be happening here? What might they see? I prefer not being told 'what' to see in an image....it's like telling me what's inside the gift before I take off the ribbons. It halts the viewing pleasure immediately. You might consider giving viewers a few posts at least to form their own ideas about the shot before commenting on what you 'see' in the photo. All that being said, I think this is a real jewel of a shot!

Flyinggina · October 23, 2009

I can't say it any better than the others have.

Absolutely wonderful, moving, mystifying, gorgeous capture.

Bravo!!

Virginia

Nir · October 25, 2009

Beautiful, powerfull and thought provoking!!

Art Scott · October 25, 2009

What a great and powerful image.....I get lost looking into those eyes......tons of emotion in there.......

bow

The Many Faces of Afghanistan

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