14-July Holiday, a photo from Baghdad, North

Photographer's Note

The clear morning quiet was shattered by the an enormous blast that came at about 9:20. It was so powerful that it shook the hotel - it felt and sounded like the hotel had finally been hit with a big one.

Shaking from the adrenaline, I ran to the balcony and got this first of a series of shots of the mushroom cloud and then the black smoke from the cars that were on fire.

The explosion occurred at what is known as the Rasheed entrance to the green zone. The main entrance for vehicular and pedestrian traffic, it provides access to the headquarters of the Iraqi Governing Council, the Baghdad Convention Center and the Al-Rasheed Hotel (the large building directly behind the cloud). This is the entrance I primarily use to visit those very places.

It is situated at one of the busiest intersections in the city and, if not for the fact that it is a holiday keeping many people at home today, the casualty count would have been terribly worse.

charmante, RGatward, iamxa, Ioan, Serendipity oznaczył to zdjęcie jeko użyteczne

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charmante (1090) 2004-07-14 6:07

Omigod. what has happened to these people,,, the contrst is meaningful :the monuments & the trees & the distruction..why somepeople love to make wars & kill thousands of innocent people ??

RGatward (20108) 2004-07-14 8:12

I was wondering if you had your camera handy for than. Great peice of photojournalism as usual.

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iamxa (3103) 2004-07-14 11:45

Horrible image. I hope we don't see it again. I can't understand what the arm lobbies made with this country, and others, it's incredible.
Thanks to show us the real situation. Be careful.

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dominique (11414) 2004-07-14 13:34

Dramatique une photo reportage tres intéressante , prise en direct on imagine la scene sur place , bien vu .

Cat (0) 2004-07-14 20:18

What an amazing capture!

I am glad to see that you are once again safe and sound. I can only imagine how much adrenaline you must have pumped during this situation. Quite a mushroom cloud you have been able to photograph and share with TE's members. May we all continue to learn from your experiences.

I see so many things in this photo that under different circumstances must be quite beautiful to observe. The calm reflection on the water's edge, the serene palm trees and the impressive architecture. It is heartbreaking to think of all the ugliness that this cloud brings.

Always in my prayers and Forever wishing you God's blessings.

Stay safe my friend. Thank you for sharing with me yet another lesson regarding this beautful yet troubled region.

Gbutler (772) 2004-07-15 15:45

Bill-well I opened up the Boston Herald today and on page 6, the title "Baghdad bomb kills 10"...no picture of what happened but as I read the article and remembered your "notes", it dawned on me that it was the same thing. Unfortunately, there wasn't a picture showing what had happened but I immediately thought of your photo. Odd seeing/hearing about this first through you...then reading about it the next day. Thank you again for all of the information that you are sharing with the TE family! Be safe my friend!

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langaloo (489) 2004-07-21 1:51

Hi Bill, again, an interesting photograph of Bagdad. I thought all the Occidentals, and the Hotel Palestine were parked in the protected "Green Zone". Obviously not, if you took this pix from your window. Is this the Euphrate or the Tigris right in front of you? Are you in the middle or the south of the city?

Leonie (8809) 2005-01-12 7:55

This is an amazing picture...I have never seen such one of Bagdad! The palaces are impressive! What purpose were you there for?

Ioan (49) 2006-11-25 10:41