In over ten years of travels throughout the Middle East, I have been privileged to spend time with people on all sides of conflicts. In interacting with individuals and sharing their life experiences, I have found that much is not as it appears. It takes continued and conscious effort to see past the stereotypes that we as Westerners have created. Otherwise the energy and preconceptions brought to a situation is all that is experienced, and we miss the complexities and nuances. For people in the Region, conflict is a part of their daily life, and yet life goes on. Through these images I seek to humanize the conflict and share this broader perspective with others.