Iraq From Within
Photographs by Iraqi Civilians
2004/2023
INTRODUCTION
Nearly twenty years ago, Daylight Community Arts Foundation sent a box of disposable cameras to Iraq which were distributed to everyday people in Baghdad and Fallujah. The resulting photographs were published in Daylight Magazine Issue #2 and, in conjunction with Pixel Press, exhibited as part of a traveling exhibition 'Photographs by Iraqi Civilians'.
This exhibit is now part of the Archive of Documentary Arts at Duke University. Among other venues it was shown at the Council on Foreign Relations, Center for Photography at Woodstock, George Eastman House, Michigan University, Central Michigan University, Union College, and New York University.
As the 20th anniversary of the Iraq war approaches, Daylight has sent another batch of cameras to be distributed in Baghdad, Fallujah and Mosul. As before, participants were asked to photograph their lives and show the American public what they would like them to see.
Collected here are some of the original images from the Iraq From Within initiative followed by the newer images below.
April 2004
Clearly, there is no lack of imagery coming from Iraq, the photographs and video pour in every day - even soldiers have digital cameras with which to document their experience. But what of the people who live there? How are they affected by the war? What would they tell us through their own documentation? In an attempt to answer these questions ten people were given disposable cameras, shown the first issue of Daylight Magazine (to offer visual context), and told: “This is an opportunity to show the American public what you want them to see.”
The resulting images depict scenes of everyday life in Iraq. These lives have become increasingly entwined with ours, as well as our government policy, here in the United States. Sadiq and his family live in a garbage dump. His daughter, born the day U.S. troops entered Baghdad, is named Americas. Representing hope and freedom, how much longer will this name have relevancy to members of Sadiq’s community?
- Iraq From Within, Daylight Magazine Issue 2
Hamed Hasan Salman
Hamed’s family smiles for the camera
Jassim Mohhamad
Sadiq Mahdy (smoking) moved to Baghdad to join relatives after the first Iraq war. He is currently jobless and shown here with his family. His daughter was named Americas the day U.S. troops entered Baghdad
Mustfa Ahmad Yaseen
Mustfa’s local barber shop. Depicted are owner Haider Salim Abed and friend Tammim Salim Hussain
Tammim Salim Hussain in front of the barber shop where he works
Ahmed Dhiya
“Al Hussein with his friends at recess”
“The Iraqi people refuse the new flag and insist on the old one”
Jassim Mohammad
“An exploded military vehicle on the highway near Falluja”
Gravediggers walking to burial site, Falluja
Digging graves, Falluja
“This graveyard in Falluja is from when the war finished. All who died, including women and children are buried here”
Procession carrying the body of Abass Jassim
Limea Hamza
Banner reads: “Yes, yes to Islam Yes, yes to peace No to terrorism No to the occupation”
January 2023
In anticipation of the 20th anniversary of the Iraq War, Daylight Community Arts Foundation sent a box of disposable cameras to be distributed in Iraq as a follow up to the original initiative. With the help of local photographers and fixers on the ground, these cameras were handed out in Baghdad, Fallujah and Mosul.
The photographs from this round of camera distribution were remarkably unremarkable. But these casual vernacular images, of street scenes, markets, shop stalls and reconstruction belie the difficulties Iraqi society has faced over the last two decades. As some of the photographs demonstrate, the country is still very much in the process of rebuilding both physically and on a deeper, emotional level as communities seek to heal from the scars of the past.
This iteration of the Iraqi Civilian project could not have been completed without the support of Fred Ritchen, Jane Yeomans, Emily Garthwaite, the participating photographers and our fabulous fixers, Sangar Khaleel and Awad Al-Taei.
At noon, the end of work, the employees, I see people shopping for books and office equipment. I asked the person who noticed me when I took this picture, are you used to buying books
It’s my father’s profession. That’s what he told me. This guy was just like me, working to carry things from merchants to customers. I’m glad I continue his pleasure. This picture is in Shawara Al-Dika in the Haydar Khana area in Baghdad.
Between the alleys of old Baghdad, I saw an old man loaded with his memories in a narrow, dilapidated street after a tiring day that carried many details inside me
On Friday afternoon on Al-Mutanabbi Street in front of the Jarawiya café in central Baghdad, I saw a man with his beautiful dog companion walking between shops as if they were shopping.
Downtown Baghdad
The end of my tour and I tell you the stories of people I met on my way in this place, this was the last photo I took. It conveys a miniature picture of life in the center of the country between street vendors and owners of professions and handicrafts, and between books and people who frequent the place.
This beautiful young man came across me and the nectar of roses emanating in his hands in a beautiful variety of colors I asked him for a white rose to start my day in a wonderful mood and I carry it with me in my wanderings.
A street vendor on a cart made of wood selling books wanders among the people in Baghdad I was picked up as I walked behind him to see what he was carrying in this wooden cart .
The street vendor of fresh juice told me this is my name and this is my profession. I sell juices on Al-Mutanabi Street. In the summer I break the heat with cold juices, and in the winter I sell juice still.
On the early day before the Iraqi football team match, a father and his son buy the Iraqi flag to support the Iraqi team. The little boy was very happy because he would be in the stadium to watch the match directly. He told me that he wished to be famous and a football player.
Mohammed Al-Khashali, the owner of the oldest café in Baghdad known as the café (Shabandar) A terrorist explosion occurred in 2007 on Al-Mutanabbi Street, killing five of his children In a picture on the walls of the café, a plaque was hung on the wall that reads Al-Shabandar Cafe / Martyrs Café.
I came across a man with his cat sharing his loneliness in the winter days loaded with nostalgia and I took this picture when they were enjoying the sunshine at break time the man from work .
I am a lover and lover of Arabic coffee I saw a man in an Arab costume (Baghdadi) selling hot coffee to a woman after I took this picture of him we sat down and talked and he told me the reason why he wears this outfit he said I am achieving my dream to make coffee while wearing this old uniform and passers-by come and take souvenir pictures with me.
I was wandering in the middle of Almotanabi Street in Baghdad and I came across a beautiful family happy with the atmosphere on their weekend The picture shows a painter who drew one of the family members in front of the Baghdadi cultural center.
Sellers of used items, Baghdad, Al-Maidan
Sellers of used items and antiques, Baghdad Al-Maidan
Rosary Market, Old Baghdad
Al-Haydarkhana Mosque Street
Father takes a picture of his daughter on the Martyrs Bridge
Mustafa Wamidh Salem, 21 years old, works in a Cat Fish restaurant. The restaurant has been open since 1990. There has been no change in the building or the restaurant’s decor since then. I was born and the restaurant was always open. Many Baghdadis love to eat fried cat fish. We have many clients.
Zaid Kamel Abu Ali, blacksmith, 59 years old, married, lives in Baghdad. I have been working as a barbeque maker for 12 years. I enjoy my work a lot, sometimes I work even on weekends.
Ruqaya Ali Mahdi, 5 years old, and her friend Ruqaya Aqil Farid, 8 years old, in one of the old and narrow streets of Baghdad, they went out to the street with their mothers and played with the new umbrellas. They were happy with the new umbrellas, but it did not rain that day. Walid Majeed, Ruqayyah’s Ali Mahdi grandfather (for her mother)
One of the old houses of Baghdad
A shop-owner selling traditional handicraft tools in Baghdad
The tuk-tuk is a new means of transportation in Iraq
Wholesale Market Central Bank Street
Pomegranate seller in central Baghdad
Poet Marouf Al-Rusafi Square
Porters and cargo transport vehicles
A woman sells books and magazines on the sidewalk
Ali Asaad Sabah, 30 years old, married. I have been working in this shop since 2014. We sell rosaries, prayer rugs, Quran books, and some Quranic verses printed on leather and cloth. I work 18 hours a day from 6 am to 12 pm, during Hajj days when there are tens of thousands From pilgrims and from different parts of the world, the shop remains open 24 hours, pilgrims buy different things from me to prevent envy and blessings, and also take some gifts.
Two men selling children’s clothes in front of gold shops
The shrine of the two Al Kadhimain imams
The Qibla Gate of the Shrine of the Two Imams
Abu Ammar, 68 years old, lives in Baghdad, retired. I come daily to Kadhimiya and enjoy the company of my friends in the used tools market, and sometimes I help them sell bicycle tools. I like to sit with everyone and I have been like this for 18 years.
Seller of pickled pickles
The driver of the wooden cart is waiting for the elderly pilgrims to take them to the shrine
The incense man goes around the shops to increase the livelihood of the shop owner
Two men are trying to sell cockatiel birds in the bird market
Murtada Maan, 18 years old. Our profession is making chairs and sofas from palm fronds and mats made of reeds, which is called (bariya). The price of a chair is $10, the sofa is $15, and the price of mats is $15. We inherited this profession from our parents and grandparents. Many cafes and farmers buy what we make.
Satuta one of transportation (motorbike)
Seller of sheep and cow heads (Bachaa)
Sheikh Abu Abd al-Saklawi, 71 years old, lives in Fallujah, he has one son and three daughters, and he has 11 grandchildren. I work as a grocer and trade foodstuffs since I was 9 years old. I bought my first store when I was 14 years old. I only left my job and my city three times, the first time in the first Fallujah war for 6 days, the second time in the second Fallujah war 2005 for 3 months, and the third time, and it was the most difficult, was the ISIS war. We left our city for 3 years (end of 2013-end of 2016) after that I bought this shop and I am very satisfied that we live in peace now.
The old market in Fallujah
The famous iron bridge in Fallujah
One of the buildings damaged by the American war and the ISIS war
Vegetable seller in front of a mosque
Nawfal Abdullah, from Fallujah, owner of a store that sells spare parts for golf cars, 55 years old. I opened this shop in 2012 and continued to work until ISIS took control of the city in late 2013. I left my job and home and went to Kirkuk in northern Iraq for 5 years. After the city was liberated from ISIS, I returned to my home and store in 2018. My store was looted and I did not find any spare parts, I started from scratch and my shop is full of spare parts now.
Shaker Al-Dhahi Mosque
One of the streets of the city of Fallujah
Some young people eat kahi
Restoration one of the buildings damaged by the war
Construction workers gathered under the bridge
Haji Hussain’s famous kebab restaurant
War-damaged buildings in Fallujah
Muhammad Akram Saleh, 44 years old, married, has 4 children, a taxi driver
While I am waiting for my car to be repaired by the mechanic at the Auto Repair Complex in Fallujah, I spend my time praying anywhere, the difficulties of life continue, but I always overcome them.
It was one of the most beautiful buildings in the city but desrtroyed during the war of ISIS.
Carpenters street and old houses in Al Maydan area last battle of ISIS in the city.
In the old city of Mosul, a newly rebuilt house and destroyed historical houses beside each other, this area was one of the ancient castles of Mosul.
Cabinetmakers in the old town of Mosul, the owner was one of the first to return to his old place after the war, and despite the devastation and destruction he didn’t leave his profession at the time.
Al Sharq Casino is the most famous café in Nineveh street and one of the oldest. This is not a gambling place but people in Mosul call it a Casino, it is located in commercial street of Nineveh in which the movement was never stagnant, but today, almost dead.
One of the old allies of Mosul after it was rebuilt, these allies are tiny and small.
A college student visiting a museum in the old city of Mosul.
An old king chair from inside traditional museum in Mosul.
Mustafa is heading to his friend’s wedding party, said ‘camera is not for dumb people’ didn’t believe this photo was going to the US.
