In the Company of God by award-winning New York Times photographer, Joao Silva

In the Company of God is a photographic compilation that portrays Iraqi Shi'a Muslims in a period of occupation and transition. This photographic body of work, recorded over twelve months, richly captures the Shi'as' intense commitment to their faith and their indomitable spirit of sacrifice.

About the pictures
The pictures in this book are not displayed in a chronological order but rather in a manner that best illustrates a narrative about faith, sacrifice, war and martyrdom. They were taken while on assignment for The New York Times, from July 30 to November 3, 2003, from January 16 till April 1, 2004, from June16 until August 30, 2004, and again from January 18, 2005 until March 31, 2005.

About the author
Born in Portugal in 1966, Joao Silva is a photographer contracted to The New York Times and lives in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Before joining The New York Times in 1996, Silva worked for the Associated Press and the Johannesburg daily, The Star. He has worked in several central and southern African countries as well as Afghanistan, Croatia, Israel, Iraq, Pakistan, Somalia and Sudan.

Silva has won several awards including the South African Press Photographer of the Year Award in 1992 and was selected for the World Press Photo Masterclass in 1995.

In 2000 Joao Silva co-authored The Bang-Bang Club with Greg Marinovich.

Silva is one of PictureNet Africa's photographers; this is their first co-publishing book project.

He returns to Iraq at the end of this week to cover the handing over of the new constitution.


In the Company of God is available direct from STE publishers for R220.

To order: contact Angela McClelland on +2711 484 7824 or angela@ste.co.za