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| August 28, 2009 | (Use j/k keys to navigate)  Email to a friend  Permalink |
Ballots, bullets and bombs in Afghanistan
Earlier this year, Afghanistan embarked on its second presidential campaign season, with over forty candidates registering to run for president, and over 3,000 candidates for provincial offices. The election itself took place on August 20th, and the results are still being tallied - but, according to preliminary results, the two front-runners are current president Hamid Karzai and former Foreign Minister Dr. Abdullah Abdullah. Members of the Taliban boycotted the election process and threatened those who participated with violence. Although security was heavy, nearly 800 polling stations (out of 7,000) were not opened due to feared insecurity - insurgent attacks having spiked in frequency leading up to the 20th. The Afghan government also issued a ban on media coverage of violence during election day, fearing such news would drive down turnout. Find below photos from around Afghanistan during its recent election. (40 + 3 photos total)
An Afghan woman displays her finger marked with indelible ink after casting her vote at a polling station in Kabul on August 20, 2009. Afghans voted to elect a president for just the second time in their war-torn history as a massive security clampdown swung into action to prevent threatened Taliban attacks derailing the ballot. (SHAH MARAI/AFP/Getty Images)
Afghan President Hamid Karzai holds up his ink-stained finger as he gestures during a news conference on election day in Kabul August 20, 2009. Millions of Afghans went to the polls on Thursday, defying Taliban threats of violence and sporadic attacks across the country to choose a president in the midst of a worsening war. (REUTERS/Ahmad Masood) #
An Afghan election worker counts votes at a polling station in Kabul on August 21, 2009. Faced with a sea of unknown faces, many Afghans confessed they saw little option but to pick the pretty girl, the TV star or the good Muslim in a turban when voting for provincial councillors. About 3,400 people ranging from elderly tribal chiefs to young students - almost a tenth of them women - ran for provincial council seats in elections held simultaneously with presidential polls on August 20. (SHAH MARAI/AFP/Getty Images) #
Spc. Ken Dykes, 19, of Greenville, Tennessee, holds the hand of another soldier as they both lie wounded side by side in a medivac helicopter after their armored vehicle hit an improvised explosive device in the Tangi Valley of Afghanistan's Wardak Province on Aug. 19, 2009. The soldiers serve in the Army's Apache Company 2nd Battalion 87th Infantry Regiment, part of the 3rd Combat Brigade 10th Mountain Division based out of Fort Drum, N.Y. One soldier, Spc. Justin R. Pellerin, 21, of Boscawen, N.H. (not pictured) was killed in the attack [ed. note, Pellerin, of Bravo company, was killed in a different attack in the Nerkh District] (incident also seen in this photograph from earlier this week). (AP Photo/David Goldman) #
Afghan men are pictured on the site of a bomb blast in Kandahar city on August 25, 2009. A massive bomb ripped through the downtown area of the troubled Afghan city of Kandahar, killing up to 36 people and wounding dozens near hotels and government offices, officials said. The truck bomb ripped through 10 residential buildings, trapping casualties under the rubble as rescue workers frantically tried to dig them out of the debris under the cover of darkness, officials said. (HAMED ZALMY/AFP/Getty Images) #
A man holds a charred Kabul car license plate at the site of a suicide attack in Kabul, August 18, 2009. Seven people were killed and 52 wounded by a suicide car bomber who rammed his car into a convoy of Western troops in the Afghan capital on Tuesday, said Farid Raeed an official at the public health ministry. (REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson) #
U.S. Marine Cpl. Russell pays his respects to Lance Cpl. Joshua Bernard during a memorial service at a forward operating base with Golf Company, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Regiment, 2nd MEB, 3rd MEF, Thursday, Aug. 27, 2009, in Now Zad in the Helmand Province of Afghanistan. Bernard was mortally wounded during a Taliban ambush on Aug. 14. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson) #
Afghan police carry the bodies of three suspected insurgents in the back of a truck after they were killed in a gunfight in Kabul, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2009. Gunfire and explosions reverberated through the heart of the Afghan capital Wednesday on the eve of the presidential election after three militants with AK-47s rifles and hand grenades overran a bank. Police stormed the building and killed the three insurgents, officials said. (AP Photo/Kevin Frayer) #
Photographing Afghanistan
As a sort of epilogue to the photos above, I'd like to share with you three images from the past few weeks depicting what it really means to be a photographer in Afghanistan these days.
AP photographer Emilio Morenatti takes pictures as he is carried on a stretcher out of the University of Maryland Medical Center's R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center to be transferred to the Kernan Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation Hospital in Baltimore, Tuesday Aug. 25, 2009. Morenatti, whose left foot was amputated after he was injured by a bomb blast in Afghanistan, was transferred Tuesday to a rehabilitation hospital in Baltimore, where he will be fitted for a prosthesis. (AP Photo/Enric Marti) #
More links and information
Afghanistan 2009 Elections - (Preliminary) election results
August Deadliest Month for U.S. in Afghanistan - NYTimes.com, 8/28
Afghan presidential election, 2009 - Wikipedia entry
Behind The Scenes: Latest Threat to Photographers - NYTimes.com Lens Blog, 8/19
The Kopp-Etchells Effect - photographer Michael Yon, in Afghanistan, 8/17
This blogger might want to review your comment before posting it.
so beatiful...
Photo #32 looks like an art instillation due to its surreal appearance.
LOL #41
that guy loves his job
Great shots, but the violence is terrible...
The last three pictures really show the perseverance that war photographers have. Great shots!
Beautiful Girl on Pic 36. I hope her future is bright!
Excellent collection of pictures as always..
Amazing collection. Great, great photographers we have in world.
Oops. I made a typo that should have read: Photo #32 looks like an art installation due to its surreal appearance.
The last 3 are really powerful. Makes my photography job look like vacation.
My hat is off to the men and woman in the field!!
#42 & 43
It's good to see the photographers as the subject, I've always wondered how safe/unsafe it is for a photographers to go in regions of the world at war or in difficult situations. Photographers carry very expensive equipment in some of the poorest regions of the world. My admiration goes to all the photographers who takes these risks to show us these amazing pictures .
#13 Can't imagine what its like to be 19 years old and wounded in a war.
#7 is best
Amazing country, amazing people and great pictures. no doubt we live in another world.
#13 has so much sadness in it. Very emotional photo.
#13 is heartbreaking. Sending our young off to die or get maimed—no matter who they are fighting for—is tragic.
Wow, we really take our right to vote for granted here in the US.
##38 Succinctly captures the phrase "ballot or the bullet"
19#, f*ck
#41-#43 Does every photographer in Afghanistan use Canon gear? Nobody uses Nikon out there? Whats up with that?
Where are the folks who kept waving the banner of Islam being the true religion in the last series of pictures about Ramadan?
The religion of peace indeed.
hatz off to the photographers !
"An Afghan policeman aims his weapon at photojournalists"
If that idiot pointed that gun at me he would be wearing it up his arse!!!
@Comment 20: You really think that such violence has not existed in Christian, Jewish, Buddhist, and other cultures both in the present and in the past? Ignorance makes you seem no wiser than these violent people, who do NOT represent their entire religion.
US attacks have killed more civilians in Iraq and Afghanistan than those Iraqis and Afghanis have! So is Christianity automatically a violent religion now? Israeli attacks killed more civilians than the Palestinian attacks, is Judaism a violent religion now?
I'm an Israeli-American, and the actions of those others don't represent me, as much as my actions don't represent them.
On topic: Beautiful photos. I really love the clothing there. Some damn brave photographers too, good on them for bringing us such interesting content.
Wow I can't believe Emilio Morenatti lost his foot. I remember his name from the amazing images in the "Scenes from Pakistan" post back in February. I wish him and his family well.
#41: So sad to see Emilio Morenatti was hit by a blast. Sorry to see him loose a foot, but I guess he might be feeling lucky anyways. I have enjoyed his coverage. I look forward to see more of your great work Emilio. Keep it up!
Mattan (# 23), stop pulling statistics out of your rear end.
Just stunning, moving. I am so grateful to have seen this collection of images. They have explained to me, more clearly, events that I have read or talked about - but a picture can reveal so much more than words alone. Thank you.
#19: does it matters what brand is it out there? you are more concern about which brand being used other than how the pictures are taken? You do not fit to be a photographer.
La n°7 est un cliché magnifique ! Réellement superbe.
So its safe to assume...everyone likes the 5d Mark II...and it doesn't protect you from bullets.
I found #11 very poignant for some reason. I guess it's the unusual juxtaposition of a poor young Afghani child and a well-equipped soldier in a single picture. It seems very cruel to me that more people care more about the latter than the former. A failure of human society that the young and helpless aren't afforded the protection and the environment they deserve.
Canon gear generally breaks down less often (at least in my experience) than equivalent Nikon gear. Both are excellent, but a slightly higher MTBF is a big plus in Afghanistan.
Paula Bronstein is such a great photographer! Be safe!
Good Photographs, you can feel how hard it is to be on their situation. Canon FTW btw.
#28 is so moving; it perfectly captures the entire moment - boy just walks in to an empty mud room which he calls home, to look upon a knife, which seems completely unused, placed on the smaller opening next to mere scraps of food.
Wow, Shah Marai's image (#7) is amazing. Perfect capture of light.
Some Afghans are so incredibly beautiful. Wow.
wow those are such powerful images.
These are so revealing of what is going on in Afghanistan. Some of these photos are some of the best quality I have ever seen. They are all outstanding but my favorites were 7, 9, 28, and 32. And what is with the unmentioned child in 40? That photo has such amazing contrast. Thank you Big Picture and thank you to the photographers.
War, war, war,...war. And Peace?
Great Photographs.
Thank you!
#1 beautiful eyes
I'm still so confused! I was not raised in any certain culture..... just brought up to believe in what is RIGHT! I have opened my eyes to ALL religions and cultures.. although i use the term loosely! i know you can be ALL about one thing or another i just BELIEVE we all need to choose as adults... when we are able to account for our lives and when we TRULY want what is RIGHT! so read on if you must... i have my own beliefs! I just don't JUDGE other pep for theirs.. and i am open to learn more and make the BEST decision of the way I want to live my life!
#36... incredible
the country in the worn but young hands of the people. The smile, the red scarf, the eyes! how can I get a print of this photo? email me please.
afghanistan or afghaniwar ?
i guess election was forced, and the result was well-knowed many days before...
just a little show for people...press and nothin' else...
dictators must die !
greetings from Moldova
Great selection of pics as usual... True that the 5d mark II seems to be everywhere... I guess it's the new perfect camera for journalists.
#7 hats of to Jonathon Burch.... for this photo
After viewing each photo, I hope you stopped and counted your Blessings!!
Photo #36 so beautiful and touching. The smile of hope ?
#28 really described the term: A image says more than a thousand words.
#9 sums it all up. Amazing photo.
Boston Globe does it again and again.
Micke Thorsby, Tokyo
Amazing photos. Gives a thin idea of afghan through different kind of pictures.
#20 is a classic
Maybe After 20 years we would be going to have #36 as the girl to be searched by boston.com, like that natgeo girl from the cover?
#19, Killing cows to feed? What has happened to humans, So thankless and so emotionless ? someone who gives milk to make your tea, coffee or helps kid grow. killing them for their flesh, be more thankful to god, grow wheat, eat vegetables.We hindus consider them very sacred animals and see them as a part of god, though we see god in all the beings on this planet.
#22, I feel bad when rain falls on my bike's helmet? how can he see through all that mud over his face.
Good work Alan!!
Here is a personal invitation, I am getting married in December, you are invited to India.
earth future?
Emilio Morenatti....what a savage!! Loses a limb and still keeps taking photos while he's in the thick of it! HARDCORE!
Seems a great country, with lovely people, ruined (ruled?) by some criminals.
Shame...
Great images as usual, only at www.boston.com/bigpictures. Thanks God I have finally found such a beautiful web site because of this new fabulous experience. And this pictures from the votes are gorgeous. Thank you although the situation over there is not very nice. HAVE A GREAT LIGHTING *
War is not the Solution.
Not worth the blood of even one American soldier. Bring them home.
You are dying we are dying for what? for political games of others
Shout out to Emilio Morenatti for giving up his foot so we could bear witness to life across the ocean (I'm in Canada)
Who knows that picture nr 32 is a woman? Could be a guy with a bomb-strap.....
whenever i see journalists going to afghanistan i pray for their safety
These pix brought pain within my heart and tears to my eyes……….Because, my country still need more time to be recovers …..
I wonder where people who commented about the unity & religion in Ramadan page are & how they can express their views about this page.
picture 1 beautiful so much
Thank the American soldiers for protecting this nation and for protecting the rights of all free Afghanis!
God is great!
Fantastic! Thanks for bringing me the world!
Hey, Brahmin, i agree with your comments & understand your feelings. As i understand, its all evolution & Monkeys take their own time to turn humans. Evolution is faster with US forces in Afghanistan.
wow... #36 she is so beautiful, I remember the afghan girl in national geografic magazine, ago 20 years, I was impressed, and now, again...
The two girls with green eyes and the red scarf.... is fantastic.
But, I am sad for she, because, she live in the war, the discrimination, we need doing something, for she, for the afghan woman, for the afghan people...
PD: excuse me for the bad English, I am Latinamerican...
Ex Soldier UK: You've clearly never been in the military, otherwise the importance of securing an area after an attack would go without saying. Those troops had just killed a bunch of fighters that had attacked a bank with guns and grenades. The photographers do not get to crawl all over that area until the troops are satisfied that it's safe. Photographers who get too pushy are liable to get a rifle barrel pointed in their direction. Big talking tw*ts who try to shove that rifle up the soldier's arse are liable to get shot. That's the way it needs to be in order for the public to be kept safe in those situations which, again, you'd know if you weren't talking out of your arse.
Excelente trabajo!!!
An awesome picture no 13, where Afghan children are playing soccer.
We are such a spoiled and complacent nation. These spectacular images should remind everyone how lucky we are to have escaped such terrible, and unwarranted violence and suffering. These photographs should be on mainstream press and television every night at dinnertime, like those of the Vietnam War were. That's how we ceased the violence then, and could do so now if only people COULD SEE the horrible waste of life war actually is.
I have been working on something similar when I started watching these pics...Touched my feelings.
Describes what a country looks like after decades of war! Endeavor for peace...We've the painful hearts and tearful eyes...Blood everywhere and change no where... Still struggling for having peace but still humans get killed, rather civil or military. I hope at least after this election peace maintains in Afghanistan. The dream of Afghan people for peace comes true at least once ...
Interesting Photoes and even more interesting photographers. I think the job photographers do in afghanistan is something very Interesting because Afghanistan might be the only place for most of the terrible and shocking phtoes. So they must sacrify for not missing any scene.
@ comment 59. Dodh....! America Planed all these in Afghanistan. We didn't beg them to come. Afghanistan is a place with a very hot subjet for your government. And you should definitely wait until you get a result like Britain or Russia.
I personally thank all those who have expressed their grief for my country and the wounded soldiers and civilians shown in these photos.
But, i believe if people like some of the ones who have posted their comments above continue to exist in this world with totally unrelenting and pretentious ideas, i can surely predict the occurance of so many othere wars like this and the killing of innumber of inoccent people wouldn't cease to continue due to the irresponsiblity of these kind of people who are abundant with predominantly individualistic mentalities.
the one who believes that all these don't worth for one american soldier should be reminded of the fact that american soldiers aren't their to fight for us, they could do it in the past when we were burning in fire due to war and were left with nothing but a ravaged state,... those soldiers are fighting for YOU, in order to safeguard your useless life while u roam around the streets in manhattan. They are fighting your enemies and the fact that they happen to be our enemies also is merely a coincidence,...
and a ravaged state but it dthose
those are pictures that speak more than millions of words...i cant stop my tears..really speechless..No more war in the name of God n religion please!!
hiya. really afghanistan going 100 yr back...we dnot. want this all..war is not life. killing people for nating..we dnot want .hamid karzai.. we dnot know this man.... we dnot want abdullha. abdullha. and we dnot want talban... go from afghanistan plz ..
God bless them!
Excellent photography!!
Truly amazing and provocative images. My admiration and thanks to all the brave (or insane?) photographers.
Sometimes it is easy to forget that there is a peaceful civilian population trying to get on with their lives amidst the chaos and carnage, beautifully demonstrated by #11 ( Lewis Whyld does it again!), #20 and #28.
imazing picture,from all walk of life,thanks for the hard work,and itrudusing the afghan pueple.
Picture #26, makes you wonder why people went to vote!!!!
Afghanis are a strong and beautiful people.
#36 l'innocence d'une jeune fille.
Excellent images
I like all the pics but pics
# 7 shows all the worries over the future
# 36 the young girl with her puppy: all the innocence and happiness to come
# 25 the mosque of Herat... all the splendour of the past of that Afghanistan that we too often read only from history.
All the pictures that i come to see from this website are excellent. The best.
casting U vote for chaos ?
great
impressed me so much!!!
Wow, amazing! Thank you!
Incredible images. Emilio is from my city. Jerez de la Frontera. I am very proud of him
Very nice site!
I FEEL TERRIBLE AND I FEEL HURT INSIDE MY HEART.
WHY CAN'T THESE AFGANSTANS GET ALONG. I PRAY FOR
THEM TO STOP FIGHTING. THEY SHOULD LEARN THAT LIFE
IS PRECIOUS AND OBEY GODS WORDS.\
BLESS ALL OF HE PEOPLE. HOPE THE BOMBING IT'D
KILLINH CHILDREN, OLD PEOPLE AND MORE.