The Forever War

• Photographer
  Douglas Diaz
• Prizes
  Bronze in Editorial/Conflict, Bronze in Editorial/Political

Since 2014, Peshmerga forces function as the main defense against ISIS expansion in Iraq. These photos were snapped along three different front-lines in preparation for the offensive to retake the city of Mosul, and tighten the noose on Daesh morale. Even after three years of intense combat, they stand poised on the front-lines ready to engage the enemy. A fearless element, undaunted by an uncertain future; they understand their position as noble sentries in the Middle East’s ongoing forever war.

I'm a student at UCLA studying Physical and Cultural geography, Digital Humanities, and Geo-spatial Information Systems. My career goal is to work as an investigative journalist covering war, crime, and/or environmental issues. The goal of my photography is to capture the natural state of events, objects, and people for preservation and for future generations.