The old Hamilton Road
The last remaining fragment of the original ‘highway’ from Erbil, through Rawanduz to Iran as the morning sunrays light up the gorge. The route was built between 1928 and 1932 by a New Zealand-born engineer, Archibald Hamilton, who later described the building challenges in his book called a ‘Road through Kurdistan’. When you travel along this route you can only marvel at the incredible feat of engineering needed for the road to bridge across many rivers and weave tirelessly through the steep sided gorges and ravines that prevail – truly magnificent! The modern road can be seen on the left side of river.
Black gold trader
Opportunists abound to supply the black gold.
First light
Sunrise over the horseshoe bend in Dore Canyon – arguably the most spectacular view in Iraq! test
Winter sunrise
Light brings colour to a stark winter landscape of Dore Canyon.
Sharing the moment
A reflective time and mood together overlooking Dore Canyon.
Hubble bubble
Dore Canyon.
Branching silhouette
Dore Canyon.
City on the edge
Rawanduz Gorge, Soran.
River farm
Rawanduz Gorge.
Bradost
Bradost Mountain.
Wild horses of Bradost
Bradost Mountain.
Reflective tarn
Zagros.
Candyfloss boy
Touting for business as traffic stops near a security checkpoint.
The long and winding road
Along the Nahr Az Zab Al Kabir River.
The ancient imperial city of Amedi
Founded before 3000 BC.
Mosul shepherd
On the shore of Mosul Dam lake, Tigris.
Mosul shepherd
Portrait
Throw lucky
In an underground chamber before entering a sacred tomb in the holy temple of Lalish, an ancient and mysterious tradition is played out. Eyes closed, a wishful Yazidi woman surrounded by family and friends, is allowed three attempts to throw and successfully land a scarf onto a nearby rock ledge to bring good luck!
Tomb guard and soothsayer
Guidance is offered before entering the tomb of the holy prophet Sheikh Adi ibn Musafir of Lalish Temple.
Sense of reprieve
One of six Syrian brown bears about to be released in the Gara Mountains as part of a ‘bear conservation initiative’ by the American Kurdish Cooperation Organization, Duhok.
Celebratory send-off
Moments before the bear release, time for music and dance (overlooked by Saddam Hussein’s mountain retreat).
