Afghanistan at the Crossroads (2003)
Spc. Matthew Rogers, B company, 2nd Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, keeps an eye out while on patrol in the Deichopan Valley during Operation Mountain Viper, September 29, 2003. A photo story titled “At the Crossroads” that looked at U.S. soldier-Afghan/Afghanistan relationships during the 10th Mountain Division’s second visit to the country. 
Sgt. 1st Class James Gannaway of the 1st Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment lets a young Afghani look through his binoculars while on patrol in the Pir Kotay Valley in Afghanistan, October 1, 2003. The 1/87 was on an interdiction patrol in “Ambush Alley,’ looking for Taliban members moving into the country, as well as performing ‘presence patrols.’ 
Maj. Brian K. Maijala, left, executive officer, and soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment orient themselves in the Deichopan Valley after being dropped off by Chinook helicopter on Thursday, September 4, 2003. Photo by Michael Fagans NOTE: All the stuff in the air is kicked up from the helicopter it is NOT on the lens. 
Sgt. Arthur Williams Jr., 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, smiles as he talks with his Commanding Officer after leading his squad through an urban assault building drill outside Kabul, Afghanistan, September 27, 2003. The 4/31 has been charged with overseeing the training of the Afghan National Army in addition to patrolling areas east of Kabul. 
Pvt. Christopher Lane, a forward observer with C Company, 2nd Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment has the New King James version of the 27th Psalm tattooed on his arm. Pvt. Lane is part of a quick response force quartered at Bagram, Afghanistan, September 27, 2003. 
Soldiers of the Afghan National Army’s 11th Kandak practice marching at their camp at Pol-e-Charki prior to their graduation from basic training, September 30, 2003. 
The interpreter for a U.S. soldier sticks his head out of the cab of a pickup truck to communicate with the ANA soldier manning the machine gun during a live-fire drill on an ANA range outside Kabul, Afghanistan, September 30, 2003. 
An Afghan National Army (ANA) unit charges up a ravine while an ANA Maj. Gen. Mohammed Moen points toward a mortar crew during a live-fire exercise outside Kabul, Afghanistan, September 30, 2003. Photo story titled “Army of Reconciliation” about the Afghan National Army that is being trained by U.S. and coalition forces. Because the army is being integrated tribally in every unit, the forces are well received wherever they go in the country. 
Soldiers in the 41st Engineer Battalion play basketball as an Apache helicopter takes off from the U.S. firebase at Orgun, September 29, 2003. 
Soldiers in the 11th Kandak celebrate their upcoming graduation from basic training by dancing at the end of the day at their base in Pol-e-Charki, Afghanistan, september 30, 2003. 
‘who the hell are we?’
I will stand my ground. 2020 
The look and the counter protest. 
Hide the flag. 
The new ‘welcome to Oxford’ greeting committee. 
The counter-protest at the circle on campus. 
The neo-Confederates perform for the gathered media on the University of Mississippi campus. 
March Diptych 
The statue downtown protected. 
Student athlete march. 
Oxford strong. 
First bump post march. 
Take the statue down. 
The protestors, law enforcement and the statue. 
more postcards from COVID-19
postcards from COVID-19
Fujifilm X100F
Stacey Moore and the good folks at Fujifilm gave me the opportunity to ‘borrow’ a X100F for a few weeks after the Atlanta Photojournalism Seminar. I am still ruminating over a few things and will talk with them about what I liked and what I wanted (and perhaps what settings I might have used differently). The amazing ability to have that many mega pixels literally in my back pocket really pushed me to try some new things with this camera. Like many things in life, growing keeps pushing us into uncomfortable places. More to follow. Peace.