A lot of photographers did pictures of women in burqas. It was like a symbol, to show Afghan women, how they live in Kabul. I went to a brand-new building and shot there, at the Kabul City Center, where there are a lot of modern shops. That poster was from Turkey, I think. I wasn't wearing burqa when I took the picture. Because when you wear burqa, there is no space for camera. I went to burqa shop, I asked for the front part, the eye part, and I cut it. I shot different angles, put it close to the lens. This one is a little bit far, so you can see the shape of the eye part.

At the beginning of the Taliban, when they came, I was in seventh grade. One day I was walking with my mom, to visit relatives, I was beaten by Taliban because I wasn't wearing a burqa. That was very hard for me; I was very young. I decided I wasn't going to wear burqa. I started wearing very young kids' clothes to look younger and avoid wearing burqa. But then I get a little bit taller. I was studying in underground schools and teaching my neighborhood kids. I was so scared, it was getting worse and worse for me every day to hide books. When you wear burqa, they can't see your face. I thought maybe it would be good to start wearing burqa. That way, I continued my studying.

When the Taliban left Kabul, it was hard for me to stop wearing the burqa. It was scary. But I get used to it. I said, "Okay, I'm not wearing it anymore." I passed that line. I never wore it again.

With my photograph, I wanted to show who wears it and why are these people wearing it? Is it a religious thing, is it culture or custom? For me, it was to go a little bit deep and show how these things are happening, what this burqa means for women, who wears it. And what she wants, what's under that burqa.

-- Interview conducted and condensed by Teresa Wiltz

Farzana Wahidy's "Afghan Women" is part of the 2008 All Roads Photography Program, on display Thursday through Nov. 22 at National Geographic, 1600 M St. NW.