Kabul
Amir Shah
Associated Press
When I want to take a picture, my first concern is that the people or person shouldn’t see the camera. In Afghanistan when anyone sees a camera everyone crowds around and suddenly the situation is a mess, lots of people are trying to get into the picture. Then I look at the setting, the background, to decide the best way to take my picture. Where do I want to stand? How am I going to get what I want in my picture? A photographer’s eyes must be strong, always watching. Your camera should always be on your shoulder, day and night.
Preview
A picture is like a bird. If you are careless it suddenly flies away and you miss it. And you can sit and sit for 10 days and it won't come again.
During the Taliban rule I had a small camera in my pocket, hidden from the religious police because photographs were forbidden. But still I took pictures, even during the attack by the U.S.-led coalition. But always I was watching for the Vice and Virtue Ministry and Justice Ministry people. They were the tough ones. But I had experience. First I would look around the place trying to identify who was nearby, whether there were any religious police. If not, I would quickly take my camera out of my pocket and take my picture.
But always there were worries because I didn't know whether an ordinary person would tell the Taliban.
