Sarajevo Portrait

It is always a bad sign when someone suggests you travel in a canvas topped truck along the infamous Sniper Alley in Sarajevo. It is even worse when the accompanying soldiers piled into an armoured vehicle behind, shouting "You'll be sorry!". It was reassuring for me but not for them when the armoured vehicle broke down and they had to join me!

Let me tell you, it is even worse when the truck you are travelling in breaks down on Sniper Alley. Having nothing else to do, I reached for my camera and took this portrait of a somewhat strained looking young soldier. You will note that this UN soldier has a white helmet not blue. Reason? When the British Army first deployed to Sarajevo, it was ill-prepared for United Nations service. A large number of white Arctic Warfare helmet covers were dyed blue for use on the deployment. Sadly, as soon as it rained, the blue dye ran, leaving the helmet covers white and the resulting blue-faced soldiers looking like Smurfs. Hey ho!