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Charitable Culture
Photograph by Steve McCurry
A woman beggar leaves a Kabul tea shop clutching a few Afghani—the local currency. More than 1.5 million people—mostly men—were killed in the 23 years of warfare that recently ended. The fighting left a vast number of widows—30,000 in Kabul alone, according to a U.S. State Department estimate—to fend for themselves and their children in a traditionally male-dominated land. The situation for women became particularly cruel after the Taliban seized power in 1996 and began dismantling decades of advances in women's rights. Barred from working outside the home, women without men to support them were allowed to beg for their subsistence. Giving charity is one of the five main tenets of Islam, and though the Taliban were driven from power two years ago, many women still survive on little else.
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Camera: Nikon F100
Film Type: Fujichrome Velvia 50
Lens: 50mm
Speed and F-Stop: 1/125 @ f/2.8
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Weather Conditions: Overcast
Time of Day: Noon
Lighting Techniques: Available light
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