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Jodi Bieber and the Other Afghan Girl


About two months ago, Steve McCurry and his portraits were featured on this blog, with his world famous photograph of the Afghan Girl taken over 25 years ago mentioned in passing. This week's photograph draws some inspiration from that image, although it turns that inspiration into something both haunting and stirring. This is the portrait of another Afghan girl, Bibi Aisha as photographed by Jodi Bieber.

This picture first gained worldwide recognition when it was featured in Time magazine's August 2010 issue. The picture is doubly significant because it was the 2010 World Press Photo of the Year, surpassing over 108,000 other entries in the competition.

According to the WPP jury, this photo was not the clear favorite to win the top prize, but it had that special quality that draws you in at first and evokes questions and stories in your mind even after you've move on to another image, something which all good photographs should do.

Bibi's ears and nose were cut off by her husband after she ran away from him after a long period of abuse. She was taken back with the help of the Taliban, was disfigured, and abandoned. Thankfully, there is a happy ending to her story as she has since undergone reconstructive surgery and is now living in the USA. You can find out more about Bibi Aisha over at Ms. Bieber's website.

Despite her obvious disfigurement, the portrait shows a calm and confident young woman. Her missing nose is what you first notice in the picture, but it is her piercing eyes that keep you in. It must have taken real communication and understanding during the portrait shoot to capture such a striking image.

It was difficult to photograph Bibi at first; Ms. Bieber found her withdrawn and something seemed off, not uncommon for someone who has undergone a horrific ordeal. So she put down her camera and took the time to talk to Bibi to draw out something beautiful and dignified in her. It was exactly what they both needed and the above portrait is what you get when there is a real relationship between the artist and the subject.

To find out more about how this Afghan Girl portrait won the World Press Photo competition, head on over to their website. Read the whole story on Bibi Aisha by visiting Jodie Bieber's website. Ms. Bieber also has two publications available for purchase: Soweto and Between Dogs and Wolves: Growing up with South Africa.
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Comments

  1. The Angry LurkerMay 31, 2011 at 8:43 PM

    The picture is both disturbing and beautiful?

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  2. DejchMay 31, 2011 at 8:44 PM

    picture is kinda scary but sad at the same time

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  3. RobertMay 31, 2011 at 8:46 PM

    This is an example of the terrifieing things the Taliban did. Luckily she is now living in the States. She is a beautiful women tough.

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  4. AlphabetaMay 31, 2011 at 8:53 PM

    Incredible photo, difficult to look at initially, but yes, those eyes.
    Gruesome story glad to hear it has a happy ending.

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  5. fit4lifeMay 31, 2011 at 9:16 PM

    that's just plain creepy

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  6. ErikaMay 31, 2011 at 10:29 PM

    Poor girl.... =[

    Yet she's still so beautiful!

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  7. KyleMay 31, 2011 at 10:31 PM

    this picture makes me sad :(

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  8. FangMay 31, 2011 at 10:43 PM

    It really blows my mind that there are still countries out there where it's normal to (heavily) punish your wife if she does something wrong. Just lookat her, that shouldn't be acceptable!

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  9. VersionDoubleMay 31, 2011 at 11:14 PM

    fantastic image, and a really touching story. great post.

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  10. duffboiMay 31, 2011 at 11:41 PM

    This photo evokes a connection and compassion for me. Learning how she was disfigured only intensifies this. I am glad she received corrective surgery. I hope she never suffers abuse again.

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  11. Kicking RocksMay 31, 2011 at 11:57 PM

    poor girl!

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  12. T. BanacekJune 1, 2011 at 12:06 AM

    I'm waiting for a Harry Potter reference...

    A beautiful, disturbing picture.

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  13. Pool FoolJune 1, 2011 at 12:27 AM

    omg this is hard picture to watch

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  14. ShutterbugJune 1, 2011 at 1:17 AM

    That is one striking photo! Bibi is very courageous and brave! I'm glad that you she doing better. I wish her all the best! :)

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  15. DaveJune 1, 2011 at 1:27 AM

    Poor lady. It must have been really difficult for her.

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  16. AllenTeschJune 1, 2011 at 2:23 AM

    That story is so sad, but the picture really is beautiful.

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  17. D4June 1, 2011 at 2:52 AM

    This is amazing. I couldn't look away, and then I read the story. Just wow. Quality, thanks for sharing. Wow.

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  18. MalkavianJune 1, 2011 at 3:10 AM

    Interesting, makes you think how the hell in this day an age there are still cases of legal cruelty in the world.

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  19. jaykaydeeJune 1, 2011 at 5:13 AM

    Poor Bibi! But I'm glad she's ok now.

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  20. DocStoutJune 1, 2011 at 5:49 AM

    I somehow expected this picture to eventually appear here, powerful and difficult to look at.

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  21. UnknownJune 1, 2011 at 6:37 AM

    Wow what a remarkable image and story. I'm glad to hear she's getting a new nose.

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  22. Guy Movie BloggerJune 1, 2011 at 7:13 AM

    Amazing to see cruelty and brutality captured so well in a photograph. Chilling stuff.

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  23. ChazWellingtonJune 1, 2011 at 7:56 AM

    jeeeeez, who would have the courage to disfigure another. what a terrible person

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  24. 123June 1, 2011 at 8:27 AM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  25. UnknownJune 1, 2011 at 8:42 AM

    Her strength just stands out in this picture. We have a lot to learn from her. Amazing post!

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  26. SeanJune 1, 2011 at 9:03 AM

    I didn't notice the missing nose at first. I don't know how

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  27. AnonymousJune 1, 2011 at 9:26 AM

    I saw this girl in the news a while back. How can someone be so cruel =(

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  28. Major MackJune 1, 2011 at 9:28 AM

    eeek !

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  29. JbloggerJune 1, 2011 at 9:42 AM

    poor girl :\

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  30. edJune 1, 2011 at 10:17 AM

    thats horrible, glad to see shes ok now

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  31. JanandJill.comJune 1, 2011 at 11:03 AM

    This picture is really sad to look at and she does have piercing eyes. It's an extremely realistic photo and to think people obsess over photoshopping when she doesn't even have a nose. It is nice she was able to open up to the photographer.

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  32. T. Roger ThomasJune 1, 2011 at 12:31 PM

    I read the article in the fall of last year and was really moved by the story of the girl in this instantly iconic image.

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  33. Astronomy PirateJune 1, 2011 at 2:01 PM

    This is a picture that makes me sad, that we can still live in a world were such sort of treatment towards women is accepted and even encouraged. It is great that Bibi made it to safer conditions and reconstruction, but I still worry about all the other women brutally assaulted every day in these disparaging conditions.

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  34. TriperJune 1, 2011 at 4:02 PM

    I heard about her story.. very sad story.

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  35. AnonymousJune 1, 2011 at 4:19 PM

    Its such a sad part of history!

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  36. Ante BabajaJune 1, 2011 at 4:39 PM

    poor girl, im sad :(

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  37. JaccstevJune 1, 2011 at 7:38 PM

    That photo of Afghan girl is really shocking!

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  38. HiFiJune 1, 2011 at 8:09 PM

    This shocked me when I first heard about it. Unbelievable what happens in uncivilized nations.

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  39. whopressedplayJune 1, 2011 at 8:50 PM

    that is shocking! urghh, interesting though.

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  40. liquidelleJune 2, 2011 at 12:59 AM

    that's hard to look at. it's too bad these things have happened.

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  41. RedHeadRobJune 2, 2011 at 2:31 AM

    a good photo, a messed up story. Shame that people are still harmed like that.

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  42. InfoTubeJune 2, 2011 at 6:16 AM

    Beautiful.

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  43. AnonymousJune 2, 2011 at 2:45 PM

    Yeah, you're attracted to the photo. It's very strange.

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  44. llllollllllJune 2, 2011 at 5:05 PM

    Humanity is so sick.

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  45. Blk JesusJune 2, 2011 at 11:24 PM

    wow poor girl! glad everything got better

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  46. MarianJune 3, 2011 at 12:05 AM

    this makes me lose my faith in humans

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  47. SunshineJune 3, 2011 at 12:29 AM

    such a sad story, but she is still beautiful!

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  48. SkimboshJune 3, 2011 at 2:09 AM

    Potent and disturbing.

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  49. pixelJune 7, 2011 at 8:58 AM

    hard to look at and to look away as well

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  50. AnonymousAugust 4, 2012 at 6:58 AM

    The picture shows it: Islam is peace....

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    Replies
    1. فیصل رِضاAugust 24, 2016 at 2:31 AM

      please believe me in, Islam doesn't teaches its followers to crush others but the social values.
      In these areas religion is at third in priority, first the person's own will,the second will of society and then religion whatever it is.
      No religion teaches brutality to its followers. Women in Eastern side considered as personal property. Before marriage it owned by father, brother, if they are not present then uncles or cousins are masters. In case they are not available the neighbors will have the property rights. This is the concept about a woman here in Asian side. Not Islam is the reason in Hinduism the story is same even in Christians people have the same mentality.

      Delete
  51. Johnny MustangDecember 17, 2012 at 7:03 AM

    @Robert
    "Luckily she is now living in the States."
    What's so lucky about that?

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