The men in these photographs were not professional soldiers. They were everyday people—farmers, workers, drivers—who decided to take up arms against an oppressive government. As I spent time with them, the reality of their situation unfolded in ways I hadn’t anticipated. I captured quiet, raw moments of emotional impact.
Perhaps these images reveal the human side of conflict—vulnerability, fatigue, and uncertainty. Each face tells a story of personal sacrifice and a complex decision to fight or not to.
War is fought not only on battlefields but also within individuals themselves. Behind each fighter’s face is the story of an ordinary life disrupted by extraordinary circumstances.
The expressions captured in these portraits might challenge us to see beyond politics and ideology, to recognize the human price of war.
For years, I hesitated to publish these images, knowing that exposure could endanger these men. But now, with the regime that they fought against no longer in power, I feel the urgency to bring their faces into the light.
What became of these men? Did they survive? Did they return to their old lives, or were those lives forever lost?
