August 28, 2007 - Kashmir, INDIA - Altaf Zargar is among those who have accepted the challenge of being a photojournalist in what was known as "the paradise city" of Kashmir. Once a top tourist destination it is now stuck in the middle of major unrest. Add to this the threat of prison and censorship always looming, and that since 1989 as many as twelve journalists have been killed in the region, this makes the existence of a photojournalist precarious at best. ZUMA Press is extremely excited to announce Zargar as our main man in Kashmir.

The following, is a first hand account, in Zargar's owns words, about one of his experiences working in India. He has been kind enough to recount his experience:

"One incident which I remembered till now was in the year 2001 some suicide militants attacked the assembly hall in the conflict state of Kashmir in which 31 people were killed. On that very day I was talking to a photographer in the area of Lal Chowk, which is very near the assembly hall, we both photographers heard a voice and it shivered the whole area. Within a minute I came into the centre of Lal Chowk to see where from the voice was heard, soon after I started to move towards the left south of Lal Chowk. I was unable to find anything, moving forward I saw some cars burning on a bridge I quickly ran to the spot and saw dozens of people crying and seeking help, cars burning and CRPF soldiers firing in the a... I thought I was dead because I was in the centre of the area and saw many people lying down on ground with no le... I saw one soldier looking towards me and telling me to pick him up, when I started to take my first step up and move towards him to help him, he fell totally to the ground and he was dead - on that very day I saw a man dying in front of my eyes and for many days I was unable to sleep or have meals. That was one of the the most dangerous events I have covered." Said Kashmiri photojournalist Altaf Zargar.

"Altaf has shown great courage in choosing to remain [in Kashmir] and put himself in harms way, time and again. It is because of his unyielding drive to capture the true story - that of the civilians caught in the line of fire - that he sets himself apart from others who work in the region," says ZUMA Press picture desk manager Ruaridh Stewart.

SEEING DOUBLE - DOUBLEtruck Magazine - Spring 2007 or Issue 8 - Fresh off the presses and will be in mailboxes everywhere, in two weeks. If you do not have a subscription to DOUBLEtruck Magazine, go to Dtzine.com and find out what all the talk is about... Get DT , Support great Photo Journalism.

PRIVATE SHOW - August 02 - September 13, 2007 - Hollywood, California, USA - "Private Property" photographer Monique Lai's first show at Arclight Hollywood, Lobby and Second Floor, 6360 Sunset Boulevard, Hollywood, California, USA 90028.

ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGH - September 7 - 30th - Denver, Colorado, USA - "Destination" ZUMA photographer Michael Rieger show at Lapis Gallery with five other Colorado photographers: Bryan Dahlberg, Donovan Rieger, Jan Eital, Grag Hunter and Marc Piscotty. Opening Friday September 7, 2007, 6-10 PM. LAPIS GALLERY 303.480.5126 or 3971 Tennyson Street, Denver , Colorado, USA.

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