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Out of the Shadows
Photograph by Matt Moyer, WorldPictureNews
A minaret from the al-Mohsen mosque casts its shadow on throngs gathered for Friday prayers in Sadr City, a neighborhood in Baghdad that is home to two million Shiites. Brutally repressed under Saddam Hussein's 24-year reign, Shiites are now free to openly practice their faith—and express their political opinions. At this meeting, Shiite clerics delivered prayers as well as blistering speeches protesting Israeli policies and the U.S. occupation of Iraq. With about a 60 percent majority of Iraq's population, Shiites expect to lead the new government when it forms later this year, which would likely make Iraq the world's first Shiite-led Arab nation. (Iran, also a Shiite-led nation, is mostly Persian in origin.) Given the increasing involvement of Shiite clerics in Iraq's political affairs, many observers believe Islam will strongly color the nation's new political system.
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Camera: Nikon F5
Film Type: Fujichrome Provia 100
Lens: 17-35mm Nikon Lens
Speed and F-Stop: 1/250 @ f/8.5 |
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Weather Conditions: Sunny
Time of Day: 1:30 p.m.
Lighting Techniques: Natural light |
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