A Waltham vet's photographs from Iraq

Staff Sergeant Sean Durkee of Waltham took hundreds of photographs while he was stationed in northwestern Iraq from October 2005 through September 2006. Next week, he’ll share some of them at the Waltham Public Library.

Durkee, a member of the Massachusetts Army National Guard, said he intends his presentation to be informative rather than political.

“I’m not an expert on Islam and I don’t speak for the Army,” he said. “It’s just me offering my individual perspective and giving people the opportunity to ask questions.”

While some photographs depict Durkee and his fellow soldiers carrying impossible amounts of gear in all weather conditions, the vast majority are not typical military scenes. Instead, day-in-the-life images depict Yazidi Kurds in brightly colored traditional dress; children in impeccably clean clothes, though they may not own shoes; one-room, clay huts housing large families; bright red flowers contrasting the otherwise brown landscape; and the most beautiful sunsets he has ever seen.

“[Serving in Iraq] had a profound effect on me,” he said. “It gave me a year to reflect on my life and appreciate what I have.”

Durkee will present “Images of Iraq: One Soldier’s Perspective” at 7 p.m. on May 13. For more information, call (781) 314-3425, ext. 2 or go to waltham.lib.ma.us.