CENTRAL ASIA - Photos by Steve Chicoine

                                              IN MEMORY OF                   

                                  PAUL CONKLIN (1929 - 2003)

               the first official photographer of the Peace Corps 

As a freelancer, Paul shot the famous photograph of a Vietnam War protester placing a daisy in the barrel of a National Guard soldier's rifle at the Pentagon (see the photo below).

I met Paul in Xinjiang Province (Chinese Central Asia) in 1990. A month alongside Paul, observing and asking questions, forever changed my photography. I collaborated with Paul and his good friend (also Peace Corps) Brent Ashabranner on their book "Land of Yesterday, Land of Tomorrow," which incorporated Paul's photos from that experience. Paul and I became good friends. I would visit with Paul every time I was in D.C. and he would stay at my home in Houston each spring when he went South to birdwatch. His death was a great loss. 

Paul's introduction of me to Brent Ashabranner led to Brent becoming both my friend and my writing mentor. Brent launched and guided my writing career. I am forever indebted to both Paul and Brent.