Sunday December 24, 2006, Shushi, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan

The forgotten Republics of the Soviet Empire: Nagorno Karabakh

The Republic of Nagorno Karabakh (NKR) began its secession from Azerbaijan during the final years of the Soviet Union. The breakaway war with Azerbaijan ended in 1994 with an estimated 30,000 dead and nearly 750,000 displaced. While a fragile cease-fire still stands, there is yet to be a peace agreement, leaving the official status of Nagorno Karabakh in a state of limbo. Although it is not recognized by a single nation, the NKR maintains all the governmental trappings of a sovereign state, with an elected president, cabinet, parliament and military.

Many residents in Shushi, like this man, are Armenian refugees from Sumquyit, Azerbaijan, site of a large Armenian massacre in 1989. Suffering from enormous unemployment, physical and mental wounds, many turn to drugs and alcohol for solace.

Credit: Narayan Mahon / Polaris

Sunday July 10, 2005, Urumqi, Xinjiang, China

Daily life in Xinjiang

Xinjiang is a Muslim dominated autonomous province in the China's far western frontier, bordering Russia, Kazakhstan and Kyrgystan. Xinjiang, often called East Turkistan, was a short lived sovereign nation in the 1940s. The majority of Xinjiang are Uyghurs, a Turkic people speaking a language closely related to Turkish. Xinjiang is experiencing a renewal of nationalist sentiment as more Han Chinese move to the province, jeopardizing Uyghur majority status.

Kazakh performers prepare to go on stage.

Credit: Narayan Mahon / Polaris

Sunday April 3, 2005, Brookfield, New York, USA

New York Rodeos

Rodeos are popular in rural upstate New York, where many fair feature rodeo competitions, like at the Madison County Fair.

A cowboy gets ready to ride a bull.

Credit: Narayan Mahon / Polaris

Wednesday May 16, 2007, Tiraspol, Transdniestra, Moldova

The forgotten Republics of the Soviet Empire: Transdniestra

Transdniestra (PMR), wedged between Ukraine and Moldova, broke away from Moldova following the collapse of the Soviet Union. Transdniestra (Pridniestrovian Moldovan Republic), now exists in a de-facto status, not recognized by any other nation in the world, unable to trade legally due to its status, its Mafioso government survives on illegal arms dealing and is a reputed leader in human trafficking. PMR is the last bastion of Soviet style government, complete with a Supreme Soviet, Lenin statues and Hammer and Sickle emblems on all things government, including its national flag. While not being considered a legitimate nation, PMR distributes its own passports (although all citizens also hold either Moldovan or Russian passports) and national currency, both of which are worthless beyond its "borders."

Transdniestra officers take a smoke break.

Credit: Narayan Mahon / Polaris

Wednesday July 5, 2006, Lira Palwo, Pader, Uganda

Northern Uganda IDP Camps

Millions of ethnic Acholi Ugandans are living in Internally Displaced Persons camps in Northern Uganda, driven away from their homes, villages and farms by the war between the Ugandan government and the Lords Resistance Army rebel group.

A young girl outside her hut.

Credit: Narayan Mahon / Polaris

Thursday December 28, 2006, Stepanakert, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan

The forgotten Republics of the Soviet Empire: Nagorno Karabakh

The Republic of Nagorno Karabakh (NKR) began its secession from Azerbaijan during the final years of the Soviet Union. The breakaway war with Azerbaijan ended in 1994 with an estimated 30,000 dead and nearly 750,000 displaced. While a fragile cease-fire still stands, there is yet to be a peace agreement, leaving the official status of Nagorno Karabakh in a state of limbo. Although it is not recognized by a single nation, the NKR maintains all the governmental trappings of a sovereign state, with an elected president, cabinet, parliament and military.

A butcher sells meat from his stand in the town of Stepanakert.

Credit: Narayan Mahon / Polaris

Saturday June 10, 2006, Monkey Bay, Mangochi, Malawi

Malawi Daily Life

Life on Lake Malawi.

Fisherman navigate the River Shire.

Credit: Narayan Mahon / Polaris

Monday July 18, 2005, Istaravshan, Tajikistan

Daily life in Tajikistan

Tajikistan is one of the poorest countries in the world. It is currently suffering from serious food and energy shortages.

Olderly women at the bazaar.

Credit: Narayan Mahon / Polaris

Saturday November 3, 2007, Cicero, New York, USA

Natural Body Building

Natural body building is a way of body building without using any steroids or growth hormones. Competitors must submit themselves to a polygraph test to make sure they have not been using any enhancers.

Body builders flex on stage in front of competition judges.

Credit: Narayan Mahon / Polaris

Saturday July 2, 2005, Beijing, China

Beijing Hutongs

Beijing's hutongs are traditional neighborhoods made of narrow alleyways. These old neighborhoods have now been destroyed in order to modernize central Beijing in time for the 2008 Summer Olympic Games.

A man rides through the remains of homes and mannequins.

Credit: Narayan Mahon / Polaris

Monday July 11, 2005, Urumqi, Xinjiang, China

Daily life in Xinjiang

Xinjiang is a Muslim dominated autonomous province in the China's far western frontier, bordering Russia, Kazakhstan and Kyrgystan. Xinjiang, often called East Turkistan, was a short lived sovereign nation in the 1940s. The majority of Xinjiang are Uyghurs, a Turkic people speaking a language closely related to Turkish. Xinjiang is experiencing a renewal of nationalist sentiment as more Han Chinese move to the province, jeopardizing Uyghur majority status.

Daily life in Urumqi.

Credit: Narayan Mahon / Polaris

Wednesday July 20, 2005, Dushanbe, Tajikistan

Daily life in Tajikistan

Tajikistan is one of the poorest countries in the world. It is currently suffering from serious food and energy shortages.

A wedding procession in the capital.

Credit: Narayan Mahon / Polaris

Tuesday July 19, 2005, Istaravshan, Tajikistan

Daily life in Tajikistan

Tajikistan is one of the poorest countries in the world. It is currently suffering from serious food and energy shortages.

A young Tajik girl with henna stained fingers.

Credit: Narayan Mahon / Polaris

Wednesday May 24, 2006, Ilha De Mozambique, Mozambique

Mozambique Daily Life

Mozambique daily life.

A street scene in the former Portuguese colonial capital.

Credit: Narayan Mahon / Polaris

Monday June 19, 2006, Stone Town, Zanzibar, Tanzania

Zanzibar Daily Life

Zanzibar is a semi-autonomous republic within Tanzania. Zanzibar is a former colony of Oman and Islam is a very large part of society.

A woman roasts coffee, a main export of Zanzibar.

Credit: Narayan Mahon / Polaris

Tuesday June 27, 2006, Masai Mara, Kenya

Masai of Kenya

Masai village in central Kenya.

Masai perform a traditional greeting dance.

Credit: Narayan Mahon / Polaris

Monday May 14, 2007, Tiraspol, Moldova

The forgotten Republics of the Soviet Empire: Transdniestra

Transdniestra (PMR), wedged between Ukraine and Moldova, broke away from Moldova following the collapse of the Soviet Union. Transdniestra (Pridniestrovian Moldovan Republic), now exists in a de-facto status, not recognized by any other nation in the world, unable to trade legally due to its status, its Mafioso government survives on illegal arms dealing and is a reputed leader in human trafficking. PMR is the last bastion of Soviet style government, complete with a Supreme Soviet, Lenin statues and Hammer and Sickle emblems on all things government, including its national flag. While not being considered a legitimate nation, PMR distributes its own passports (although all citizens also hold either Moldovan or Russian passports) and national currency, both of which are worthless beyond its "borders."

Valery Taran (L) plays with a cat while visiting Maria Melinichenko (R), a neighbor in Karmanova.

Credit: Narayan Mahon / Polaris

Friday May 25, 2007, Abkhazia, Georgia

The forgotten Republics of the Soviet Empire: Abkhazia

Abkhazia is a separatist region that broke away from Georgia during the collapse of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s. It has since declared independence, built a national military and created the usual trappings of a sovereign government. However, no country in the world recognizes it as a sovereign nation, regarding it rather, as still being a part of Georgia. Tens-of-thousands were killed and several hundred thousand Georgian and Megrelian citizens were forced to leave Abkhazia during the breakaway war. Regardless of the forced departures of so many people, the Abkhaz still don't hold a clear majority of the population. Given its de-facto status, Abkhazia endures embargoes and a lack of foreign capital, both contributing to a massive unemployment rate which plagues the country.

Friends enjoy the sunset on a Black Sea beast. Much of the coastline is littered with the rusting hulls of old ships and boats.

Credit: Narayan Mahon / Polaris

Wednesday May 17, 2006, Stone Town, Zanzibar, Tanzania

Zanzibar Daily Life

Zanzibar is a semi-autonomous republic within Tanzania. Zanzibar is a former colony of Oman and Islam is a very large part of society.

School children take a boat ride to another island.

Credit: Narayan Mahon / Polaris

Wednesday May 24, 2006, Ilha De Mozambique, Mozambique

Mozambique Daily Life

Mozambique daily life.

A street scene in the former Portuguese colonial capital.

Credit: Narayan Mahon / Polaris

Tuesday May 29, 2007, Abkhazia, Georgia

The forgotten Republics of the Soviet Empire: Abkhazia

Abkhazia is a separatist region that broke away from Georgia during the collapse of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s. It has since declared independence, built a national military and created the usual trappings of a sovereign government. However, no country in the world recognizes it as a sovereign nation, regarding it rather, as still being a part of Georgia. Tens-of-thousands were killed and several hundred thousand Georgian and Megrelian citizens were forced to leave Abkhazia during the breakaway war. Regardless of the forced departures of so many people, the Abkhaz still don't hold a clear majority of the population. Given its de-facto status, Abkhazia endures embargoes and a lack of foreign capital, both contributing to a massive unemployment rate which plagues the country.

Otar Shekia, a recipient of humanitarian aide, in his home.

Credit: Narayan Mahon / Polaris

Monday June 11, 2007, Dranda, Abkhazia, Georgia

The forgotten Republics of the Soviet Empire: Abkhazia

Abkhazia is a separatist region that broke away from Georgia during the collapse of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s. It has since declared independence, built a national military and created the usual trappings of a sovereign government. However, no country in the world recognizes it as a sovereign nation, regarding it rather, as still being a part of Georgia. Tens-of-thousands were killed and several hundred thousand Georgian and Megrelian citizens were forced to leave Abkhazia during the breakaway war. Regardless of the forced departures of so many people, the Abkhaz still don't hold a clear majority of the population. Given its de-facto status, Abkhazia endures embargoes and a lack of foreign capital, both contributing to a massive unemployment rate which plagues the country.

Two neighbors spend the day in the shade. Only a few families still live in these apartment buildings, which are largely abandoned.

Credit: Narayan Mahon / Polaris

Monday May 22, 2006, Pemba, Mozambique

Mozambique Daily Life

Mozambique daily life.

Women walk back to the shore after fishing.

Credit: Narayan Mahon / Polaris

Thursday May 25, 2006, Ilha De Mozambique, Mozambique

Mozambique Daily Life

Mozambique daily life.

A young boy outside a mosque.

Credit: Narayan Mahon / Polaris

Monday May 14, 2007, Tiraspol, Transdniestra, Moldova

The forgotten Republics of the Soviet Empire: Transdniestra

Transdniestra (PMR), wedged between Ukraine and Moldova, broke away from Moldova following the collapse of the Soviet Union. Transdniestra (Pridniestrovian Moldovan Republic), now exists in a de-facto status, not recognized by any other nation in the world, unable to trade legally due to its status, its Mafioso government survives on illegal arms dealing and is a reputed leader in human trafficking. PMR is the last bastion of Soviet style government, complete with a Supreme Soviet, Lenin statues and Hammer and Sickle emblems on all things government, including its national flag. While not being considered a legitimate nation, PMR distributes its own passports (although all citizens also hold either Moldovan or Russian passports) and national currency, both of which are worthless beyond its "borders."

Viera Kolesnik tends to her hog at her village home in Karmanova, Bessarabia.

Credit: Narayan Mahon / Polaris

Friday July 13, 2007, Brookfield, New York, USA

New York Rodeos

Rodeos are popular in rural upstate New York, where many fair feature rodeo competitions, like at the Madison County Fair.

A cowboy at the concession stand.

Credit: Narayan Mahon / Polaris

Saturday May 12, 2007, Tiraspol, Transdniestra, Moldova

The forgotten Republics of the Soviet Empire: Transdniestra

Transdniestra (PMR), wedged between Ukraine and Moldova, broke away from Moldova following the collapse of the Soviet Union. Transdniestra (Pridniestrovian Moldovan Republic), now exists in a de-facto status, not recognized by any other nation in the world, unable to trade legally due to its status, its Mafioso government survives on illegal arms dealing and is a reputed leader in human trafficking. PMR is the last bastion of Soviet style government, complete with a Supreme Soviet, Lenin statues and Hammer and Sickle emblems on all things government, including its national flag. While not being considered a legitimate nation, PMR distributes its own passports (although all citizens also hold either Moldovan or Russian passports) and national currency, both of which are worthless beyond its "borders."

Children play on a tank in front of the Supreme Soviet building in Tiraspol, the capital of Transdniestra.

Credit: Narayan Mahon / Polaris

Friday June 8, 2007, Abkhazia, Georgia

The forgotten Republics of the Soviet Empire: Abkhazia

Abkhazia is a separatist region that broke away from Georgia during the collapse of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s. It has since declared independence, built a national military and created the usual trappings of a sovereign government. However, no country in the world recognizes it as a sovereign nation, regarding it rather, as still being a part of Georgia. Tens-of-thousands were killed and several hundred thousand Georgian and Megrelian citizens were forced to leave Abkhazia during the breakaway war. Regardless of the forced departures of so many people, the Abkhaz still don't hold a clear majority of the population. Given its de-facto status, Abkhazia endures embargoes and a lack of foreign capital, both contributing to a massive unemployment rate which plagues the country.

Ramin, an old militiaman, lives alone on a small island off the the coast of Abkhazia.

Credit: Narayan Mahon / Polaris

Wednesday June 21, 2006, Stone Town, Zanzibar, Tanzania

Zanzibar Daily Life

Zanzibar is a semi-autonomous republic within Tanzania. Zanzibar is a former colony of Oman and Islam is a very large part of society.

Fishing boats, or dhows, beached while a storm moves in.

Credit: Narayan Mahon / Polaris

Narayan Mahon