Photojournalism - Buzkashi riders in a fierce battle. Tajikistan, Central Asia Photojournalism - Buzkashi Tajikistan, Central Asia This is an example of what you as a client will get when hiring me as a Photojournalist Documentary photographer Editorial photographer Press photographer Press videographer Typical clients for this kind of job Content agencies News agencies Newspapers & magazines Television & broadcast companies Buzkashi (بزکشی, literally "goat pulling" in Persian) is a Central Asian sport in which horse-mounted players attempt to place a goat, calf or a lamb carcass in a goal. Played in one form or another for more than 600 years, Central Asia's national sport, buzkashi, is alarmingly fast and extremely physical. It’s Like the NFL. But with horses and a headless lamb. The game of Buzkashi seems to have originated in Afghanistan where it is still the country's national sport. Legend has it that the game was first invented centuries ago when Afghan tribes would gallop up on horseback to steal a rival tribe's goats from their flock. Competition is fierce. But the rules state that you are not allowed to whip a fellow rider intentionally or deliberately knocking him off his horse. "Intentionally" and "deliberately" are, however, words that are free for interpretation. Riders usually wear heavy clothing and head protection to protect themselves against other players' whips and boots. For example, riders in the former Soviet Union often wear salvaged Soviet tank helmets for protection. The boots usually have high heels that lock into the saddle of the horse to help the rider lean on the side of the horse while trying to pick up the goat.     The game ball in a buzkashi game is normally beheaded [...]