War photographers will often tell you that its the children that get to them, because children are so resilient and despite living in a violent world, children everywhere demonstrate the same innocent characteristics. That is one of the reasons why I admire this photograph taken in Iraq by Reuters photographer Carlos Barria. But is it just me that sees something special about it? To answer my own question, the photographer must have seen it too, so that makes two of us!

Earlier this year, Carlos was embedded with the US military in Iraq and was three blocks away when a deadly car bomb exploded in a Baghdad market, having passed the location a short time previously. He was shaken but quickly returned to photograph the aftermath, with fires still burning and people shouting and carrying away the wounded. It was in the middle of the mayhem that he saw this quiet image.

Why do I like this picture so much? Because of the expression on the boys face. It is the “1,000 yard stare”, an expression coined to describe battle fatigued soldiers, and epitomised by Don McCullins picture, Portrait of marine during the Battle of Hue, 1968. But to see it on the face of a young boy is shocking. It contrasts with the football he is holding, itself representing childhood innocence. The ball also suggests that whatever the circumstances, anywhere in the world, boys will always find time for a game of soccer. Yet the expression on this boys face marks him out from contemporaries elsewhere because he is clearly traumatized by events. His body language also contrasts to the adults behind him. He is awestruck by the sight of the US troops, the adults are just going about their daily business oblivious to what to them has become routine.

Images of violence end up in print because they so eloquently illustrate the days news. But in any war zone like Iraq there are many violent images and with such frequency that after a while all but the truly remarkable blur together in the memory. This image of a boy may have been neglected by picture editors on the day in favour of the action pictures, but I will remember it because it is just so unusual.

Mind you, everybody else I have shown it to says, “Isnt it just a picture of a boy standing by the side of the road?”.

John Voos is a Reuters photographer and EIC about to take up a new assignment with the UKI pictures reporting operation in London.