Photos from Afghanistan by RPCV John Patrick Patten
Photos from Afghanistan
I spent the first fifteen months in post-Taliban Afghanistan working for a humanitarian aid agency in Mazar-i-Sharif in northern Afghanistan. It was a remarkable experience, as I was fortunate enough to travel farther afield on surveys and more extensively around the country than most of the other foreigners there. It became home in a way and I still remember fondly the people and places we visited. I took over a thousand photographs during my travels on a variety of topics and would like to present some of them here, as it was a labor of love.
Afghanistan is a beautiful, complex country at the crossroads of history, with wonderful people despite the well-documented problems. I tried to take some photos of normal life and people enjoying themselves at times instead of solely the war damage and suffering so common in the mainstream media, who often did not venture outside of Kabul. There is suffering, and countries must work not to abandon the promises we made (this is happening now), but believe it or not people there do get through life with some of the same joys, difficulties, and family celebrations that we all have, in spite of the hardships most of us do not understand. How well you are doing often has to do with who you are, where you are, and in which time period. Many localized coping strategies had developed, however they are under strain now.
Feedback on the photos and this site are most welcome. I am trying to decide if I should do something further with the photos such as framing and selling some of the more artistic shots, as a way of contributing to funding child protection projects or necessary small projects that are chronically short of funding. I am willing to discuss ideas and the ethical implications of this. I would like to find a way for the people and villages in the photos to benefit directly. I have numerous friends and contacts still throughout the country. A book perhaps? All photos and writings are copyrighted by myself, but written permission may be obtained for educational use or other purposes if they are not exploited for profit.
My contact info is:
jppatten98@yahoo.com
Additionally, I have included my CV, as I am still looking for work since my contract ended (I'm writing in the meantime). I have also included my journal writings from that time as a link on the left. It is a very irreverent take on the humanitarian situation there and has a sense of immediacy, as many daily entries were written right in the middle of it all. It can give some insights on various issues you will not find in other publications.
I am also looking to offer my services in project photography. I will travel anywhere in the world at short notice for agencies looking to document their efforts. The cost would be a fraction of what professional photographers charge, possibly with better results! Look at the photos and decide. Cheers!
John Patrick Patten
