Marea, Aleppo, Syrian Arab Republic, Wednesday, June 27, 2012: It is summertime and the temperatures wouldn't go any lower than 35 degrees, but this is something that feels almost 40 degrees already throughout an almost deserted land of the Syrian Arab Republic. Certainly, the tempo meter would fearlessly climb up to 43 degrees as the heatwaves would hit hard by noon and then everyone, almost everyone would not be seen in the streets of Marea. While during the night and early mornings people would keep busy organise their armed resistance against the army loyal to Bashar al-Assad, during the daylight the bullets would seize to be fired unless it was necessary. "It is too hot" everybody or some would say. Some would choose to find a good shed to cool off and sleep, and some would choose to take a moment and socialise, while some would wanna smoke shisha and even swim in a local swimming pool. This is the day of the week in Marea, I am not sleeping, but witnessing and documenting the daily routine of a group of young Syrian local residents who also are members of the Free Syrian Army that aims to liberate the country and claim to stand for democratic values.

I have to say, that the people of Marea have been the most transparent people I may have ever met throughout a wartime journey. They have been respectful, protective and transparent to me. The access they gave me into their private life as well as into their collective and individual journey for their cause has been of incredible value to me and human history.