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Subscribe to RSSThe top picture is shot from a Humvee, the bottom from a newer M-ATV. We've published fourteen similar pictures by Getty Images photojournalist Chris Hondros in this slideshow, along with his explanation of the project and description of what part the vehicles play in the military mission there. Take a look, and let us know what you think below.
Chris Hondros / Getty Images
Afghan schoolgirls seen through the window of a Humvee wave to a passing American convoy on June 26 in downtown Herat.
Chris Hondros / Getty Images
The guard tower and earthen walls of a military base are seen through the window of a M-ATV vehicle, the heavily-armored successor to the Humvee, June 15, 2010 in Kandahar.
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Window on the World.
I like this photo project. The windows make the images appear "film" and are framed in such a way that makes the photos more intimate. Too bad The HumVee is fazing out.
Bummer for The Hummer
Nice pictures and beautiful country. However, we need to get out of there. They hate us and it is a war that we cannot win. Why are we there? We have domestic problems and that money that we are spending there, could be better utilized HERE. GET OUT!
so all i have to say to poor poor chris hondros, who has to be subjected to something so insane as the safer, smaller, thicker paned, trapezoid shaped windows in the m-atv: why don't you just hop on out of the m-atv and get the shot you really want, you poor baby, life is so unfair for you, you can't get a great shot, in the m-atv but guess what you poor pitiful baby? neither can the freaking idiots trying to kill our soldiers. i mean really get a freaking grip and decide what is important, if you really knew what the afganis were thinking as you pass then you should be glad to be safe in an m-atv with real men and women who are fighting to keep ungrateful idiots like you safe. i am done now, your absurdity and arrogance is bullspit, why can't you show the american people what the insurgents and afgan people are really capable of? airforce mom
As you ride to the mall in your air conditioned passenger car and spew h.ate red...
Semper Fi!
You need to embed with some Marines, we've got plenty of HUMVEEs still running around the deserts of Afghanistan.
Just a "shout out" to all the men and women who are in Afghanistan (and elsewhere)...THANK YOU!! And, WHATEVER IT TAKES to keep you safe...I am all for it!!! God Bless and come home soon!!!
I am proud to say that I work for a company that makes these BRGÂ windows that protect our troops and boy are they thicker than spit. God Bless all of you men and women and come home safe. HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!!
As you ride to the mall in your air conditioned passenger car and spew h.ate red...
@ Air Force Mom,
As both a veteran of the U.S. Air Force and a journalist (my post-military career), I must say that the vicious tone of your comments is off-base. Mr. Hondros may have been lamenting his inability to get a good shot, but I saw in that lament no issue with being safer, merely a commentary on his ability to do his work. Embedded journalists face the risks of every soldier they are with, minus the training, calm under fire and equipment. I am sure Mr. Hondros is grateful for both the opportunity to take what shots he can and the privilege of knowing the soldiers watching his butt. While combat shots provide a look at the horrors our forces face every day, it also is important to note that there are people in Afghanistan genuinely being helped by the U.S. efforts, regardless of how misguided our intention or plan seems at times. Mr. Hondros is merely trying to catch the daily lives of those non-combatants in a war-ravaged country. Understanding another culture is key to reconciling with it. Example: ask the soldiers who, between skirmishes, nobly act as PR reps for our country with those people.
also, @ Thayne: Hoo-rah Marine! You guys would ride a Big-Wheel if Uncle Sam strapped a machine gun to it. Thanks for being our nation's best!
Air Force Mom - Thanks for your feedback on this work. Please consider this response: This series of pictures is just one single slice of our photographic coverage of the war in Afghanistan. Chris has contributed many pictures to our ongoing slideshow "Afghanistan at a Crossroads" and for a terrific look at the range of his overall work since late last year you can see a recent and extremely detailed post from DenverPost.com's pLOG. Like the troops he embeds with, Chris is just using the vehicles as vehicles, to get from one place to another and to provide a "side dish" of coverage (see a comment thread on a similar subject here.)
Speaking of which, here's an unrelated side note: for those of you who are interested in another photographer's "porthole" view of a war-torn country, in this case Iraq, go to Ben Lowy's site and click on the "Iraq Perspectives" link to the left.
My son is 82nd Airborn and has been in Afghanistan for almost a year. I always love to see photos like this on the off chance I might see the area he is in. Well, what do ya know, there was a picture of what you could call his back yard right now! I just want to say I appreciate the photos, cause to be able to see where he actually is, makes me feel a lot closer to him. I'm so proud of him and all our soldiers over there! God Bless All of Them!!!!
What a wonderful project, please keep reporting! Thank you to all the brave soldiers involved in this mission - know you are doing the most honorable, important work that could ever be assigned. We love you all and pray for your safety, may the mission be completed soon and we'll celebrate when you get back to the USA!
All americans wish their soldiers to comeback home and so do the Afghans, so whats stopping American soldiers to go back to their country. None wants them to be in Afghanistan, who is behind this game :-<