MICHAELCHRISTOPHERBROWN

WORKS: LIBYA

2011

Since arriving in Libya, I have tried to understand the situation. People swap facts, predictions and rumours, the news feeds me information, but the complexity of the conflict makes it impossible to fully comprehend. Once a picture is taken or a word is written it is already old news. There seems to be no way to catch up, as the database of history is filed before it is processed. And as a result I have become more confused. But I can attest to one reality, shown in these photographs. They form a loose record of my experience during the war in Libya.

Highway near Tobruk.
   
At the funeral for several people killed during fighting between Gaddafi and rebel forces. Ajdabiya.
   
Rebel fighters en route to fighting near the town of Bin Jawad.
     
  
An opposition fighter hangs the flag of the the newly created Libyan Republic. Bin Jawad, Libya.
   
Retreating opposition fighters duck bullets from Gaddafi forces near the town of Bin Jawad.
   
Rebel fighters duck bullets and mortar from Gaddafi forces near the town of Bin Jawad.
     
  
Opposition fighters comfort eachother during a lull in the fighting. Bin Jawad, Libya.
   
Rebel fighters duck bullets and mortar from Gaddafi forces in the town of Bin Jawad.
   
An opposition fighter is transferred to an ambulance during fighting. Bin Jawad, Libya.
     
  
An opposition fighter checks on his wounded friend in the hospital at Ras Lanuf, Libya.
   
Dead opposition fighter on the floor of a hospital in Misrata.
   
Women wait inside a hospital for their relative to receive treatment as a result of fighting with Gaddafi forces. Ajdabiya, Libya.
     
  
Opposition fighters retreating from an ambush near Ras Lanuf.
   
Skid marks and graffiti cover a poster of Gaddafi. Benghazi.
   
Waiting to fight government soldiers in a building on Tripoli street in Misrata.
     
  
Rebel fighters clean a cannon. Brega.
   
Torched oil refinery. Brega.
   
A masked Opposition fighter at a checkpoint near Ajdabiya. The disorganization among the Opposition in eastern Libya created distrust among fighters and leant itself to ambushes, as Gaddafi forces began disguising themselves as Opposition fighters.
     
  
At a funeral for opposition fighters killed during fighting with Gaddafi forces. Ajdabiya, Libya.
   
The brother of a dead Opposition fighter is comforted near a mosque before a funeral in Ajdabiya, Libya.
   
Pictures of missing prisoners and soldiers who fought during the Libyan war with Chad. Benghazi, Libya.
     
  
Parking lot in Benghazi.
   
A family flees Benghazi, Libya, during the siege of Benghazi by Gaddafi forces.
   
Opposition cadets learn to use anti-aircraft artillery. Benghazi, Libya.
     
  
A soldier loyal to Gaddafi forces (below left) is held prisoner and questioned in Benghazi, Libya.
   
Mourners en route to a funeral in Benghazi.
   
Opposition fighters celebrate a battle victory on the streets of Benghazi, Libya.
     
  
Libyans waiting at the port in Misrata to depart for Benghazi.
   
A pile of Gaddafi's green books are burned at the Green Book Museum in Benghazi, Libya.
   
During the burning of green books near the green book museum in Benghazi.
     
  
A young man waves the flag of the newly created Libyan Republic during the burning of Gaddafi's Green Books at the Green Book Museum. Benghazi, Libya.
   
Outside the courthouse in Benghazi.
   
Girls run after each other outside the Benghazi zoo.
     
  
Girls run after each other outside the Benghazi zoo.
   
  
Boy with a cluster bomb. Misrata.
     
  
NATO planes attacking Libya.
   
A car of men observing front line fighting near Bin Jawad.
   
A giant Opposition flag (now the flag of the recently formed Libyan Republic) hangs from a burned out building, formerly a headquarters for Gaddafi's secret police. Benghazi, Libya.
     
  
Rebel army on the streets of Benghazi.
   
An Opposition fighter waits in an office at the Air Force base. Benghazi, Libya.
   
Ahmed on Tripoli street in MIsrata.
     
  
During a funeral in Misrata.
   
A dead child, possible an opposition fighter, at Jala hospital the day after the Siege of Benghazi.
   
Oppoisition soldiers attempt to suffocate government soldiers in a building on Tripoli street.
     
  
The west gate. Ajdabiya.
   
As Gaddafi shelled Benghazi from the west, tanks and artillery were setup on the coastal road heading east of the city.
   
An opposition fighter fires his weapon at the site of a destroyed Libyan government fighter jet, shot down by opposition forces. Ras Lanuf, Libya.
     
  
A decapitated pilot at the scene of a Libyan government fighter jet crash site, shot down by opposition forces. Ras Lanuf, Libya.
   
The hand and face of a decapitated pilot at the scene of a Libyan government fighter jet crash site, shot down by opposition forces. Ras Lanuf, Libya.
   
A Chadian camel herder, hired by Libyans, on the road between Benghazi and Ajdabiya, Libya.
     
  
A boy jumps into the sea in Tobruk.
   
  
Gaddafi poster on TV
     
  
Gaddafi supporter on TV
   
Saif al-Islam Gaddafi during a speech on Libyan state televisin.
   
Rebel fighters look for Gaddafi forces near the town of Bin Jawad.
     
  
A rebel fighter in the town of Bin Jawad.
   
Opposition fighers near Ras Lanuf.
   
Blood of opposition soldiers in a truckbed.
     
  
A rebel fighter is treated in an ambulance near the town of Bin Jawad.
   
Opposition figher praying near Bin Jawad.
   
Bin Jawad.
     
  
Broken picture frame on the road near Ras Lanuf.
   
At Jala hospital in Benghazi.
   
Fighting government soldiers in a building on Tripoli street in Misrata.
     
  
During fighting on Tripoli street in Misrata.
   
Ahmed on Tripoli street in MIsrata.
   
Fighters praying in the desert.
     
  
Wounded Gaddafi soldier. Ajdabiya.
   
Dead Gaddafi mercenaries at Jala Hospital in Benghazi.
   
A dead fighter at a morgue in Brega.
     
  
At a funeral in Benghazi.
   
Grave dug by opposition fighters for a Gaddafi soldier. Ajdabiya.
   
     
  
Rebel fighters en route to the frontline. Brega.
   
  
Underground Prison. Benghazi.
     
  
Oil refinery. Brega.
   
African workers stranded at a port in Benghazi.
   
Mourners during a funeral for a man killed during the Battle of Benghazi.
     
  
A checkpoint in Benghazi.
   
  
Libyans waiting at the port in Misrata to depart for Benghazi.
     
  
Libyans waiting at the port in Misrata to depart for Benghazi.
   
A patient, injured during fighting between Opposition and Gaddafi forces, waits for treatment at a hospital in Misrata, Libya.
   
A soldier attempts to crowd control Libyans waiting at the port in Misrata to depart for Benghazi.
     
  
Libyans in Benghazi trying to board a boat bound for Turkey.
   
Tea in a home near Benghazi.
   
Courthouse. Benghazi.
     
  
Children swim at a construction site in Benghazi.
   
Children swim and play at a construction site in Benghazi.
   
Children swim at a construction site in Benghazi.
     
  
Nurse. Misrata hospital.
   
NATO rally in Benghazi.
   
Workers from Bangladesh, stranded at a port in Benghazi.
     
  
   
Cafe. Benghazi.
   
Benghazi.
     
  
A tank burning in Brega.