'I remember well taking this picture. I was traveling in the Hindukusch mountains and saw that girl on the fields near a small village in Kalifitan, at the border area...
"I remember well taking this picture. I was traveling in the Hindukusch mountains and saw that girl on the fields near a small village in Kalifitan, at the border area between Pakistan and Afghanistan. It’s a small valley surrounded by the snowcovered mountains of the Hindukush. I asked my driver to stop and went to the girl asking if I could take her picture and with a smile in her face she said "yes". I was very exited started setting up my backdrop and my lights. Looking on the focusing glass of my 4x5 camera I felt many years back in time. It was beautiful and after a while my friend and travel companion got really nervous and interrupted my intense work whispering in my ears “she is a girl Jan… We need to go!” I replied no, I am not finished… She is amazing! My friend asked me to look around and I realized I was surrounded by a group of Taliban. All of them with Kalashnikovs in their hands… When I take pictures and I am really excited I forget the world around me and did not realize them being there at all. So I looked at them and asked “do you want me to take a picture of you?” And yes, that was my next shot… I used Polaroids that I could give them. I got invited into their village. It was an amazing time. Photography builds bridges and relationships. I love that"
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