What I’m Reading
March 31, 2022
Continuing the theme from two weeks ago, What I’m Reading returns with two stories on another topic we mustn’t forget. My reminder on Afghanistan includes a photo story on life under the Taliban and an intriguing story about the Afghans who were evacuated last August.
The third recommendation today is a vivid conversation on photography.
Afghanistan: life with the Taliban
The Taliban retook Afghanistan last summer. The chaotic withdrawal of the NATO forces that were still in the country at the time as the Taliban closed in on Kabul dominated the news for days and weeks.
It’s gotten quiet. But Afghans have to adjust to a new way of life again. Many feared for women, artists, and everyone who had embraced the freedoms the West had slowly introduced during the 20 years of trying to democratize and stabilize a country torn by conflict. How do they fare? What does life in Afghanistan look like a good half-year into the rule of the Taliban?
I found a photo story that documents just that. Cost of Peace: Taliban Style by Adrien Vautier is published on zReportage by ZUMA Press. The story shows how Afghans deal with the regime change. You’ll see pictures that document the country’s youth, the impact for women, who had just started to gain more freedom and participation in society, and other observations from daily life.
Among the 27 pictures are very impactful pictures about the changes for women in education. One photo leaves a lasting impact. It’s of a lecture hall filled with female students who all wear burkas. I feel similarly about the one where a curtain separates the genders in a smaller classroom.
The pictures are thoughtful and offer a detailed document of what has changed in the country. The story includes signs of protest against the Taliban. But there are also signs of a liberated Afghanistan that have not yet been closed again. Seeing young Taliban making first contact with an amusement park or a zoo is interesting.
If you take a look at the story, you’ll find a country that appears peaceful at first glance. But the high price many are paying is also visible. The photographer explores the parts of life that are under threat now. That includes women in education, people dedicating their life to the arts, and freedom of the press issues. There are signs that the Taliban’s promises to be moderate aren’t fulfilled. And food scarcity points to a looming humanitarian crisis on the horizon.
Cost of Peace is a must-see piece of journalism that documents life in Afghan under the Taliban with the respect and honesty the Afghan people deserve.
Beautiful Journalism on Afghani Refugees
I found a second read on Afghanistan in The New York Times. The One Item They Had to Take When These 6 Afghans Fled is a story that’s both sad and hopeful.
Writer Alissa J. Rubin and photographer Meridith Kohut tell a beautiful story that shows the human side of conflict and migration.
It’s a story that shows what’s important in life. It makes the real problems stand out.
If you decide to give it a read, you’ll hear from six Afghans that were rescued in the chaotic withdrawal last August. The journey they had to endure included making hard choices on what to take with them and what to leave behind.
The beauty of journalism is that it can give people a voice. Here, for example, you’ll hear from an assistant to the former Afghan President, who had stayed till the very last moment, while the President had, in secrecy, already flown.
In writing and photographs, this story renders beautiful portraits of the people and the objects they chose to bring. They are objects that keep memories and dreams alive. You’d be surprised by the value some objects can have in moments of an existential crisis.
I found the story of a young man and his tattoo very emotional. Never would I have thought about a tattoo being a threat like he had to face.
You’ll also hear about technology as a rescue dog that carries the paperwork one needs and a sad but equally beautiful story of human connection. It’s a very emotional read. Beautiful journalism.
A Conversation On Photography
Finally, I have a podcast I think you should listen to.
Episode 571 of The Candid Frame is a conversation between host Ibarionex Perello and João Velozo, a young Brazilian photojournalist.
The pair talks about Brazil, how Velozo got started in photography, how he discovered journalism, and why he stopped his academic path and picked up a camera. They’ll also discuss Velozo’s work, including his important projects on environmental issues in Brazil.
I always find it fascinating to listen to two photographers talking about the craft and the power photography represents for them. If you’re at all interested in photography or visual storytelling, I highly recommend you spend the time.
With that, I’ll leave you to your readings and hope you’ve found something of value today. I have fresh posts on journalism and photography coming soon. Until then, happy reading and viewing.
