Saturday June 12, 2010, Tora, Surobi, Afghanistan

TORA CAMP, SUROBI, EASTERN AFGHANISTAN - JUNE 1ST: French Foreign Legion troops from the 2ND parachute regiment are practicing their shooting skills near the Tora camp. The sniper unit of the regiment is practicing its markesmanship skills during a shooting practice.

Credit: Jonathan Alpeyrie / Polaris

Thursday November 13, 2003, Kinsiona, Equateur province, Congo

A 14 year old girl going through an exorcist ceremony after being accused of possessing demons. She is the first of four kids from the same family accused of sorcery to go through the exorcist ceremony.

Credit: Jonathan Alpeyrie / Polaris

Friday January 12, 2007, Kinshasa, Congo

Credit: Jonathan Alpeyrie / Polaris

Wednesday June 24, 2009, Mardan, Sarhad, Pakistan

Displaced Pashtun in Pakistan

A group of young Pashtun refugee girls are listening to their teacher during a reading session, June 24th 2009, in Pakistan. The schooling is provided by the Pakistani government who has been trying to educate these young Pashtun to become good citizens and not potential fighters.

Young refugee girls listen intently to their teacher

Credit: Jonathan Alpeyrie / Polaris

Sunday June 6, 2010, Shelwatay, Tagab valley, Afghanistan

French Foreign Legion clashes with Afghan insurgents

In the beginning of January, the French government activated a 6 month rotation of field units. The 2nd REP, or the French Foreign legion 2nd parachute regiment, was sent to eastern Afghanistan. For 6 months now, the elite regiment has been fighting insurgent forces in the various valleys around Surobi. Their primary task is to turn the local population into an ally. So far this task has failed.

The 4th platoon is patrolling inside the village with their CO, a Byelorussian. It is a difficult task as insurgents can be hiding anywhere to ambush advancing legion units. A group of Afghan women and their children are moving through a check point organized by legionnaires from the 4TH platoon. Sometimes insurgents dress up as women to get closer to their enemies.

Credit: Jonathan Alpeyrie / Polaris

Thursday August 14, 2008, Gori, Shida Karti, Georgia

Georgia conflict

A family is mourning the death of one of them who died during the bombings. It is a tradition to have a wake for a few days after the death of the person.

Women sit on chairs as they attend a man's wake

Credit: Jonathan Alpeyrie / Polaris

Thursday October 19, 2006, Sanhaskule, Eastern Ogadenia, Eastern Ethiopia

A group of local women are gathering to start their chanting with the rebels. The bond between the rebels and the population is very strong, and the more the government tries to enforce their rule, the more the locals feel attached to the struggle.

Credit: Jonathan Alpeyrie / Polaris

Monday August 13, 2007

Credit: Jonathan Alpeyrie / Polaris

Tuesday July 7, 2009, Islamabad, North Punjab, Pakistan

Inside Pakistan's Islamic schools

Abdul Manaam, an ethnic Pashtun from Pakistan's North West Frontier province, along with about 30 boys, ranging in age from 13 to 20, attend the Jamba Erabia Madrasa on the outskirts of Islamabad. Madrasa students go through a 2 to 3 year program, organized around a 4am to 11pm schedule of prayer and memorization of the Koran. The main courtyard and mosque were built in 1979, with private money from locals and influential Pakistanis. The Saudis are known to have poured in millions into Pakistan in order to keep it a strong Muslim nation.

A local man sleeping in front of the mosque, waiting for the start of prayer.

Credit: Jonathan Alpeyrie / Polaris

Friday February 20, 2009, East Of Jijiga, Ogadenia, Eastern Ethiopia

Conflict in Ethiopia

A young Ogaden is exiting the family tent in a small nomadic village 40 miles from any towns. His father, like all men in that small community were either killed or imprisoned by government forces.

A young child stands in a family tent

Credit: Jonathan Alpeyrie / Polaris

Thursday August 14, 2008, Gori, Shida Karti, Georgia

Georgia conflict

Russian troops mounted on a APC is entering the town of Gori. The Russians used a security pretext to occupy the town.

Georgian troops aboard a tank

Credit: Jonathan Alpeyrie / Polaris

Friday July 11, 2008, Le Havre, Haute Normandie, France

The ship captain, a Dutch officer, is using a zodiac making sure it works before leaving port. The 186 meter long ship is being filled with NAFTA for the US market.

Credit: Jonathan Alpeyrie / Polaris

Monday February 18, 2008, Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan

Negotiators are looking at the new arrivals inside the restricted area of the Tokyo great fish market. Each 2000 tons of fish is brought out of the ocean to be sold in this market. These fishes are priced and tagged to identify their quality.

Credit: Jonathan Alpeyrie / Polaris

Friday June 6, 2008, New York City, New York, USA

Scott Schuman is shooting a local model near Union Square. Scott Schuman locate and photographs locals who have interesting clothes, to fill his blog with hundreds of these shots for international fashion designers to see and copy.

Credit: Jonathan Alpeyrie / Polaris

Sunday May 25, 2008, Beijing, Beijing Municipalities, China

Zhen is concentrating on her Braille reading, on March 8th, 2008 in China. It took her many months to learn how to read Braille, an investment all paid for by Golden Key and private donations.

Credit: Jonathan Alpeyrie / Polaris

Saturday March 15, 2008, Beijing, Beijing Municipalities, China

A view of the Pan Asian stadium and the giant Panda, the sign of China's force. These buildings will be restored for this summer's Olympics.

Credit: Jonathan Alpeyrie / Polaris

June 2010, Kandahar, Afghanistan

French troops under attack in Afghanistan

French soldiers of the 2nd Paratroopers regiment, members of the legendary French Foreign Legion, have been based in Tora and patrolling the region doing search and destroy mission against Afghani insurgents and Talibans. On June 7 while during a 500 men strong operation with helicopter support in the Tagab Valley north of Tora the soldiers came under attack and suffered several casualties including one fatality. US Air Force F-15s were called in to show support but did not drop any bombs. Civilians were searched and one suspected informant arrested. Intelligence obtained through telephone tapping confirmed many casualties on the insurgents side

Credit: Jonathan Alpeyrie / Polaris

Wednesday February 18, 2009, North East Of Jijiga, Ogadenia, Eastern Ethiopia

Conflict in Ethiopia

An ONLF trooper is taking a pause after regrouping with fellow soldiers and officers on top of a hill. The war in Ogadenia has increased in intensity and violence in recent months, between government forces and rebels.

A soldier walks through brush alongside other soldiers

Credit: Jonathan Alpeyrie / Polaris

Saturday June 5, 2010, Tora, Surobi, Afghanistan

French Foreign Legion clashes with Afghan insurgents

In the beginning of January, the French government activated a 6 month rotation of field units. The 2nd REP, or the French Foreign legion 2nd parachute regiment, was sent to eastern Afghanistan. For 6 months now, the elite regiment has been fighting insurgent forces in the various valleys around Surobi. Their primary task is to turn the local population into an ally. So far this task has failed.

Legionnaires loading a 12.7mm machine gun on top of their unit's armored personnel carrier after hearing of the operation which is due to begin the following day.

Credit: Jonathan Alpeyrie / Polaris

Wednesday October 4, 2006, Near Jijiga, Eastern Ogadenia, Ethiopia

A member of the ONLF rebellion army is leading the prayer after a fourth day spent on top of a hill surrounded by enemy troops. Even though Islam is a predominant part of their custom, the Ogadens are considered moderate Muslims, and are fighting for independence, not religion.

Credit: Jonathan Alpeyrie / Polaris

Friday February 3, 2006, Kenya

SOUTH OF ETHIOPIAN BORDER, CENTRAL NORTHERN KENYA - An OLF soldier carrying a light machine gun is resting after a forced march of over 400 kilometers long. OLF fighting in Southern Ehtiopia often regroup and retreat into Kenya where the Ehtiopian are more hesitant to look for them.

Credit: Jonathan Alpeyrie / Polaris

Friday January 12, 2007, Kinshasa, Congo

Credit: Jonathan Alpeyrie / Polaris

Saturday November 19, 2005, Tila, Rolpa district, Nepal

A full platoon of PLA are practicing weapon drills. A PLA section very much resembles a regular army unit. It is also formed with 35 to 40 men to make a platoon. Male and female are mixed together in the same units, and some commanders are female as well.

Credit: Jonathan Alpeyrie / Polaris

Monday November 14, 2005, Siliguri, Uttar Pradesh, Nepal

Puja Lama and her 17 year old cousin are negociating price with a Western client. They will ask for more money to foreigners, sometimes as much at 3000 Indian Rupees.

Credit: Jonathan Alpeyrie / Polaris

Monday November 14, 2005, Siliguri, Uttar Pradesh, Nepal

Puja Lama is getting ready to satisfy her client. Puja supports her family, which includes two younger brothers and her cousin.

Credit: Jonathan Alpeyrie / Polaris

Credit: Jonathan Alpeyrie / Polaris

Friday June 6, 2008, New York City, New York, USA

The Sartorialist Scott Schuman

A newly found Australia model is posing for Scott Schuman in Union Square, on June 6th, 2008 in the US. Scott Schuman locates and photographs locals who have interesting clothes, to fill his blog with hundreds of these shots for international fashion designers to see and copy.

Credit: Jonathan Alpeyrie / Polaris

Monday June 7, 2010, Shelwatay, Tagab valley, Afghanistan

French Foreign Legion clashes with Afghan insurgents

In the beginning of January, the French government activated a 6 month rotation of field units. The 2nd REP, or the French Foreign legion 2nd parachute regiment, was sent to eastern Afghanistan. For 6 months now, the elite regiment has been fighting insurgent forces in the various valleys around Surobi. Their primary task is to turn the local population into an ally. So far this task has failed.

Soldiers from the 3RD company, 4TH platoon are counter attacking from the East side of the village in order to get closer to insurgent positions only a hundred yard away. Firing in getting intense and closer. This soldier is running near a wall for protection against enemy fire.

Credit: Jonathan Alpeyrie / Polaris

Monday February 6, 2006, Moyale, Kenya

Oromo Liberation Front

EAST OF MOYALE, NORTHERN KENYA: Karu Aba-Gure, a female fighter of the Oromo Liberation Front while on operation against the Ethiopian government forces. The 20 year old fighter born in the small town of Hiddi joined the OLF to fight the corrupt government and give a voice to its ethnic group, which represents more than 60% of the overall Ethiopian population.

Credit: Jonathan Alpeyrie / Polaris

Jonathan Alpeyrie