Man & Motorcycle - Enjoying his freedom, this friendly merchant sells carpets in a thriving bazaar in northern Afghanistan.

Man Near Teahouse - Many Afghani men show their pride and eagerness to have their photos taken since the fall of the Taliban in late 2001. This shot was taken during the spring of 2005 at a desert teahouse in northern Afghanistan.

Northern Afghan Family - Even after the fall of the rigid Taliban government, photos of women in Afghanistan are rarely an option. Though shy, this family did allow a photograph taken from a distance outside of their northern Afghanistan home.

Old Merchant - This elderly man from a desert community in northern Afghanistan took a moment away from selling spices to pose for a photo during the spring of 2005.

Poppy Field & Village - Poppies grow wild and plentiful throughout northern Afghanistan. They're also often cultivated and sold for opium production. The poppies shown here are wild. Eradicating poppy fields is a subject of great controversy among coalition partners, in part, because doing so may put the farmers themselves at great risk from those who buy their crops.

Sisters In Front Yard - These two girls are playing in the yard in front of their home in northern Afghanistan. The doors to their home and the building itself are quite typical of northern Afghanistan.

Student With Pink Pen - Schools in Afghanistan are now open for both boys and girls. While it's relatively easy to gain access to photograph male students, filming girls is rarely possible. Many are, however, able to attend school for the first time since the fall of the Taliban. Organizations such as Save the Children have played a major role in building new schools and health facilities throughout Afghanistan.

The Arch - These two fine gentlemen posed near an archway in their village in northern Afghanistan.

Two Girls Near Window - Photographed near a window during the spring of 2005, these two young girls were attending classes in northern Afghanistan, an activity the Taliban had banned during their nearly 6 year reign.

Two Men At Teahouse - Once again, pride shows on the faces of many Afghani men. These two posed at a desert teahouse in northern Afghanistan during late April, 2005.

Young Student Pondering - Thanks to many NGOs such as Save the Children, many rural children in Afghanistan now have an opportunity to go to school. This boy, photographed during the spring of 2005, has classes 5 days a week in the mornings. Schools, teachers and supplies remain in short supply.

Curious Students - At a school in northern Afghanistan, these young boys posed for a photo. When the bell rang a second later, they scrambled to their classroom at record speed.

Health Care Graduates - Some pictures speak a thousand words. Others say much more. These young Afghan women are recent graduates of a community health care program provided by Save the Children. During the rule of the Taliban (1996-2002), they would not have been allowed to practice even the most basic of health care procedures…and they'd never have been seen in public without a burka or veil covering their face. Today, they're empowered and working hard to provide basic services in villages throughout north central Afghanistan.

The Smiling Relative - The picture says it all.

Man in Doorway - This man posed for a photo during April 2005 in front of the door to his home in northern Afghanistan.

Earnest Student - Illiteracy is a major problem throughout much of the developing world. In Afghanistan, the challenges facing children are significant…and learning to read and write is a new opportunity for many. Save the Children, CARE and other international relief agencies are now involved in building schools and facilitating education for boys and girls. The boy shown here in northern Afghanistan goes to school in the mornings. Girls go in the afternoons. There are not enough teachers, buildings or supplies for a full day of instruction.