Salon.com > Scenes from Afghanistan

On the line in Afghanistan

Wed, 26 May 2010 01:01:00 +0000

Editors' note: For years, a guerrilla war has made photography a very difficult enterprise in Afghanistan. Trying to keep a lens focused on the Afghan National Security Forces proved no less complicated this past April. While he was developing this fourth installment in our Scenes From Afghanistan photo-essay series, American military officials expelled James Lee from Nangarhar province after he traveled with ANSF during an opium eradication operation near the Pakistan border, a violation of media ground rules. One week later, Lee received written authorization from Afghanistan's Office of Social Affairs to rejoin ANSF forces based in Laghman province. Due to reports of suicide bombers in the province, Afghan military officials prevented Lee from accompanying ANSF patrols into populated areas. Despite these challenges, Lee continued to photograph ANSF as they worked alone, without Americans. A photojournalist and former Marine, Lee got himself to Afghanistan for an extended stay. He is also keeping a photo blog at the Ventura County Star.

Two weeks in Wardak

Thu, 08 Apr 2010 00:20:00 +0000

Editors' note: This is the third installment in James Lee's Scenes from Afghanistan series for Salon. A photojournalist and former Marine, Lee got himself to Afghanistan for an extended stay. He is also keeping a photo blog at the Ventura County Star.

Life during wartime

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 12:01:00 +0000

Editors' note: This is the second installment in James Lee's Scenes from Afghanistan series for Salon. A photojournalist and former Marine, Lee got himself to Afghanistan for an extended stay, based at Forward Operating Base Bostick near the Afghan village of Shamaser Kalay. He is also keeping a photo blog at the Ventura County Star.

Scenes from Afghanistan

Wed, 10 Feb 2010 15:01:00 +0000

Editors' note: Photojournalist James Lee got himself to Afghanistan for an extended stay, based at Forward Operating Base Bostick near the Afghan village of Shamaser Kalay. The former Marine is keeping a photo blog at the Ventura County Star.

We were so moved by his images -- a tiny girl at a window, young police recruits, elders attending a Jirga, Afghan boys jostling for humanitarian aid -- we asked if Salon could host the occasional slide show of scenes from our under-covered war. Here's the first batch; let us know what you think.