Stacy L. Pearsall

Cali Barini shades herself from the harsh Charleston, SC summer sun with a floral parasol.

Horses stir up dust clouds as they run through their stone and sand pasture in Mexico.

A shopkeeper located in the old Ksah of Aït Benhaddou sits amongst his merchandise and watches patrons as they shop.

Situated amongst the ancient buildings of Fez in Morocco is an 11th century tannery still in operation today. Chouara Leather Tannery prepares animals hides in a traditional way by first soaking the cow, sheep, goat and camel skins in limestone vats of pigeon excrement, cow urine, quicklime, salt and water. After the hides are softened, they’re beaten by hand, hung to dry then soaked in vats filled with all-natural dyes such as indigo, henna, saffron, poppies and pomegranates.

Mohamed and Said Naji watch the sunrise over the dunes in Morocco. These Berber brothers live as Bedouins in tents alongside their camels on Saharan Desert near Erg Chebbi.

The yellow walls and red roof of the Basilica Colegiata de Nuestra Señora de Guanajuato glows brightly after sunset.

An old window of the Jvari Monastery reveals the view of the ancient trade route known as the “Silk Road,” which passed over the converging Mtkvari and Aragvi Rivers. In early 4th century, St. Nino was said to have brought Christianity to what was then the Kingdom of Iberia. On the site with the monastery now stands, she planted a cross. Shortly thereafter the church was built. Over the course of its history, Jvari welcomed thousands of pilgrims and even crusaders.

Special weapons and tactics (SWAT) team member, Christopher Smith, clears a darkened hall during hostage situation training in San Antonio, TX.

Special operations teams such as military working dog, Jany and his handler, James Evatt deploy around the world to help military service personnel identify and dispose of weapons and explosives before they can cause mass causalities. Today, however, they’re just training in San Antonio, TX.

Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran Ali Fasano clutches her dog, laughing as she reflects on her service as an air defense control officer and mechanic in the Marine Corps. She makes special note of being on the boxing team and says that’s one of her fondest memories.

Veteran Herbert Durelle DeLoach grins ear to ear while reminiscing on his time as an Army tanker. DeLoach served in the Persian Gulf War and separated from service shortly thereafter. He now resides in Hinesville, GA.

Philip George, a Mohawk Native American, hails from Canada originally. Not only did he serve as an Army infantryman from 2009 to 2013, he deployed to Afghanistan twice. He's now enrolled at Syracuse University where he studies Political Science. His goal upon graduating is sharing the plight of Native Americans with the world in hopes to raising awareness of the importance of preserving and sustaining the heritage of the American Native people. When asked what his fondest military memory was, he said, "The home coming ceremony where I returned home to my daughter."

Robert “Bobby” Henline’s service dog, Daisy, nonchalantly licks the top of Bobby’s head as he sits for a portrait. Bobby, also known as the “Burnt Comedian,” originally joined the Army in 1989. After his first enlistment he separated from service, only to be drawn back in October 2001. During the surge in Iraq, Staff Sergeant Henline deployed to Diyala Province as a transportation specialist. On April 7, 2007 an improvised explosive device struck Henline’s vehicle killing everyone but him. To best cope with the enormity of the situation, Henline turned to humor. He retired from the Army in January 2011 and is now a stand-up comedian.

A vaquero, Juan Antonio, sits upon his horse as the sun begins its decent over Hacienda Las Trancas in Mexico. 

Cali Barini shades herself from the harsh Charleston, SC summer sun with a floral parasol.