By pure coincidence, today I discovered that a former colleague is now working as a freelance photojournalist in Iraq. (Long story short: We’re both represented by the same rights-management firm, and I saw his images on my handler’s website.)

I was curious about his work, so I did a quick Google search: “freelance war photographer Iraq.” A couple of the top hits went to someone named Zoriah. Intrigued, I clicked on the link to his blog.

Over the next hour or so, I methodically clicked through the links in the left-hand column: Africa. Children. Disasters. Gaza/Palestine. Haiti. Iraq. Middle East. Refugees. War.

It was all there.

I was absolutely stunned by his images. Some of them were raw and shocking. Others were heartbreaking and tender. Most of them were brilliant.

In the hours since, I’ve been haunted by the tear-streaked faces of the nameless children two continents away, and by the chilling reminders of the true cost of war.

As difficult as it was to look at some of the images, I am glad to have seen them. And I’m very grateful to Zoriah for putting his life on the line to document the stories that would otherwise go untold.

No matter what Zoriah does with the rest of his life, he has already created an indelible legacy.

Incredible.