Monday, May 24, 2010

Iraq

Finally getting to upload some of my personal photos from Iraq. Didn't get to shoot as much for myself as I had wanted. Many many many rules there. Between shooting my assignment and the fact that most people there do not want to be photographed, it was pretty difficult. One of the most eye opening experiences I've ever had. It's been well over a month since I got back and it seems so long ago already. Almost surreal. Most of the photos here are from Kurdistan. I was in Baghdad for most of the trip but it wasn't till we hit the road and drove up to the city of Sulaymaniyah in Kurdistan (northern Iraq) that I was able to be a bit freer with my camera. Kurdistan is really mellow, comparatively speaking and has been since the war began. We didn't need any security while shooting there and there were many westerners around.

The main assignment was to produce photographs for the Iraqi Ministry of Energy. The idea is to encourage energy conservation and to ensue confidence that the Iraqi government was doing all they can to make the country's energy supply more stable. I will post links to the website and post some images from the brochure when they are published.

I have to say it was a great learning experience both as a human being and as a photographer. I go to go places that most senators, presidents, soldiers never get to go to and talk to the real people that this whole mess has affected. Its a sad sad place but as in most situations that you think no one can enjoy life, there are smiles and people trying to make the best of a bad situation.





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Palms
Baghdad, Iraq 2010






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Flower Garden
Baghdad, Iraq 2010






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Palm Tree
Baghdad, Iraq 2010






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Dust Storm
Somewhere in Iraq 2010






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Fence with tire
Kurdistan region, Iraq 2010






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Sheep
Kurdistan region, Iraq 2010





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Tree in parking lot
Sulaymaniyah, Iraq 2010






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Two Kurdish Men
Sulaymaniyah, Iraq 2010





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Sunrise from my hotel room
Sulaymaniyah, Iraq 2010






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Iraqi National part of my security team
Kurdistan region, Iraq 2010







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Gas station office
Kurdistan region, Iraq 2010






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Gas station attendant
Kurdistan region, Iraq 2010






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Iraqi Nationals on my security team
Kurdistan region, Iraq 2010

Unfortunately the South Africans from our security team would not let me photograph them. They were super nice guys and really hospitable. Its complicated as to why they don't like to be photographed, some political and some personal reasons. Special thanks to Reed for taking such good care of us.

10 comments:

embry_rucker said...

superawesome Adam!

Unknown said...

thanks doggy!

reggie joachim said...

that's incredible! seems like a trip of an eye opening trip.

Unknown said...

Thanks Reggie! It was intense.

Brandon Holmes said...

these look awesome man. must have been an experience.

Unknown said...

Thanks man, it was very eye openning. Hope all is well!

Zenvironments said...

dude, what is going on! this set is amazing! for real? you make the depressing look beautiful.

Unknown said...

Thanks man! Hope all is well

vanessa said...

Wow, Adam! What a challenge - I'm sure there was so much more you wanted to photograph but what you were allowed to capture is super nice. I particularly love the portraits of the Kurdish men and the landscape of the sheep herd. Those pants man! Please say you picked up a pair to enlighten the LA fashion!

Unknown said...

thanks V!

it was an experience I'll never forget.

I wanted to get a pair but didn't get to. They look so damn comfy!