Updated profile with Union Suisse des Photographes Professionnells (USPP)

I have my profile at the USPP updated- feel free rot have a look and to see the portfolio uploaded there.

USPP is a Swiss based organisation serving professional photographers- a great place to get to know others practitioners.

I thought a little bit of Jazz would make sense for this update...!!!

be Happy in London

It is funny, sort of, sometimes, to look back on the year. I ran a workshop in London in June- we visited, Brixton, Camden, Primrose Hill and some other great parts of this really wonderful city. It reminds me why I have to do that again next year! Anyway, be happy she says... In the meantime, some exciting projects coming up. Not yet London though!

Be Happy...in London!

Everlasting Parisian Love...?

At least, this is what these guys think while having their Wedding picture taken on the Pont des Arts bridge in Paris! Not sure locked padlocks while make sure of that- but I suppose it is a sweet gesture!

Couple getting their Wedding shoots done at the Pont des Arts bridge in Paris, November 2013

Anyway, here is another take on the whole thing, from the New York Times..
#paris #workshop #love #photojournalism #streetphotography #photography #lovebridge #wedding

Back Stage with World Champion Swimmer James Magnussen for Revolution Magazine.

A little while ago, while it was still hot outside... I was hired to film a "back stage movie" during a photo shoot for Revolution Magazine and Swiss watchmaker Maurice Lacroix. It was a fun experience and the model was James Magnussen, the Australian World Champion Swimmer.

J Magnussen Revolution Mag from Kristian Skeie on Vimeo.

Bambi "Flash Mob" in Geneva

Last night, the "Bambi foundation" organised a flash mob in Geneva- 50 students from the International School participated- lots of fun in a otherwise freezing cold November Evening in the centre of downtown Geneva!

Flash Mob participants

And then the Balloons went...!

Interview with First Light Institute of Photography

GMB Akash

A very good friend of mine,  Gmb Akash is an incredible photographer and story teller. He has featured in numerous magazines and journals, like National Geographic and GEO magazine, to name a few. Earlier this year, he founded First Light Institute of Photography. It was a way for him to give something back to photography and the community where he lives and works, Dhaka in Bangladesh. When he wanted to feature some of his friends on his website and I was of course pleased that he wanted me to contribute... have a look!

Paris Photo 2013- II

So Paris Photo is as big as ever... Lots of exhibitors and publishers, under one roof- Le Grand Palais. It is a beautiful venue that totally justifies hosting the worlds largest Photo Expo.

Paris Photo is big, very big- must make breaks for coffee...

Much work to study.

Something for everyone. Paris Photo is the worlds biggest in scale, photo sales expo. It is on during the long weekend in the middle of every November.

Book signing at many stands, including this one with Patrick Zachmann from Magnum Photo's stand.

Kids playing in the street.

Well, ...

#workshop #storytelling #photojournalism #documentary #exhibition #nikon #d4 #reportage #education #photography #d810 #sb910 #paris #parisphoto #france 

Paris Photo 2013

Here is just a short note on Paris Photo that starts this week...This is the worlds largest Photo Expo and always worth a visit! More then 130 exhibitors and 25 publishers in the same place...

Dog walking in Paris

A real elephant hug!

A little while ago, I visited Mali. The job was to document the works done on the zoo within the Bamako city park (Aga Khan Development Network). It was really a very interesting project as the city park in Bamako is not like all other parks...and the zoo was one of a kind as well. It probably is the nicest zoo in Africa. This lonely elephant most likely had her parents snatched and she was left at the park. The people leaving her said that the mother had just left her...something which is totally unlikely. She now receives the best possible care at the zoo. Anyway- The most memorable moment was when I was given a real "elephant hug"!

Elephant hug, Mali style.

#mali #zoo #agakhan #africa #photography #nikon #d810 #documentary #photojournalism #reportage #d4 #akdn #nikonpro #elephant #bamako #street #architecture #architectureaward #development

Holocaust Memorial Day Trust

Over the last two years I have been working closely with Hasan Hasanovic while developing my project on Srebrenica. Hasan is himself a survivor of the genocide of July 1995. His story can be read on the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust website. The photo is an image I took of him the first time I met him.

Hasan Hasanovic at the Potocari Memorial Cemetery.

The School in Potocari

Begija Fejzagic works at the school in Potocari, a few kilometres outside of Srebrenica. The school is one of the satellite schools connecting to the district. As all schools are somewhat deprived of certain basic facilities, the satellite schools seems to suffer the most. The photograph shows the schoolyard that is surrounded by neighbour houses, all still scared by bullet marks from the war that took place over 17 years ago...

Begija Fejzagic's son in the school yard where his mother teaches.

Bomb at Srebrenica School, 12th of April 1993

On April 12th 1993, two years before the genocide, UN representatives was arriving in Srebrenica. Children thought they would be safe... Hasan Hasanovic was amongst the 200 or so kids playing in the school yard during the afternoon. His parents could see them from their appartment window overlooking the court when suddenly a bomb was fired. 74 children died instantly, approximately 150 was injured. Hasan was knocked unconscious. When he woke up, he was looking at bodies without arms, legs, heads... Hasan escaped without physical wounds.

Hasan Hasanovic standing at the same spot where he was on April 12th 1993. His parents was witnessing the event from their apartment in the white building behind.

The Tunnel of Hope, Sarajevo

"Between May 1992 and November 1995, during the Siege of Sarajevo and in the midst of the Bosnian War the Sarajevo Tunnel was constructed by the Bosnian Army in order to link the city of Sarajevo, which was entirely cut-off by Serbian forces, with the Bosnian-held territory on the other side of the Sarajevo Airport, an area controlled by the United Nations. The tunnel linked the Sarajevo neighbourhoods of Dobrinja and Butmir, allowing food, war supplies, and humanitarian aid to come into the city, and people to get out. The tunnel was one of the major ways of bypassing the international arms embargo and providing the city defenders with weaponry".- Wikipidia. The tunnel is 800 meters long was built during 4 months, by hand. 

It is possible to visit the tunnel, 25 meters of it is accessible to visit. 

Musée de l'Elysée.

Last week, I presented the project "The Long Road" at the Musée de l'Elysée in Lausanne. This is a great Museum and I am really happy to have had the opportunity to show one of my projects there. Hopefully it is not the last time! Next week, I will be back in Srebrenica in order to continue the project.
Here is a link to the story on foto.no, a Norwegian photo website.

Mothers of Srebrenica, Hajra Catic

Creative Workshops with Bambi @ Flux Laboratory

Bambi foundation helps vulnerable children in Colombia. 

"We offer them an environment of safety, affection and basic care in order to ensure their present and future well-being" - Bambi

Flux Laboratory is an amazing space in Geneva dedicated to art... Have a look at their website for inspiration!

On Tuesday, a group of students between 15-18 years old came to Flux to explore ideas on creating a project that could benefit Bambi. They were helped by a professional Architect, Designer, Marketing people as well as staff from Bambi. The setting was fantastic as it was hosted in the studios at Flux!

Group workshops 

Designs to illustrate a "flashmob" event

Students getting advice

Flux creating an inspirational work place

Drawing ideas, inspired by art on the walls...

Ideas written down, presentations almost ready.

Another quick note: Screening @ Musée de l'Elysée, this Thursday

Here is a quick note; I will be showing part of my project on Srebrenica and Bosnia Herzegovina on Thursday October 3rd, at 18:30 at the Musée de l'Elysée in Lausanne. Drop by if you have a chance!

Mars Mira/ Peace March participant, July 2011. 

Details here.

Webster University refugee simulation

For three days and two nights in October, nine students from Webster University Geneva discovered how it feels to be a refugee. The Webster Humanitarian Association (WHA), in collaboration with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), which supplied the tents and equipment, created the refugee simulation on campus. 

Breakfast

Keeping the tent tidy

Keeping dry

After a long night

Some rest

The camp site

‪#‎genocide‬ ‪#‎neveragain‬ ‪#‎photography‬ ‪#‎nikon‬ ‪#‎d810‬ ‪#‎documentary‬‪ #‎photojournalism‬ ‪#‎reportage‬ ‪#‎d4‬ ‪#‎webster‬ ‪#‎nikonpro‬ ‪#‎fifdh‬ ‪#‎norge‬‪ #‎fotograf‬ ‪#‎keystone‬ ‪#refugee #refugeesimulation #wha #unhcr

Musée de l'Elysée, Screening

Here is a quick note; I will be showing part of my project on Srebrenica and Bosnia Herzegovina on Thursday October 3rd, at 18:30 at the Musée de l'Elysée in Lausanne.

Twice a year, after  portfolio review sessions, the Musée Elysée, selects some of the works and arranges an evening of slide shows. I am, of course, very pleased that this project was selected for this event! Here are more details about the project.

Teenagers taking part in the Mars Mira, 2012

Details can be found on the Musée de l'Elysée website. 

Barcelona Tapas..

Coming back from Perpignan has an added bonus, you sort of have to go through Barcelona...
And Tapas is also a great bonus.

Hungry, Barcelona September 2013

Visa pour l'image 2013- International festival of Photojournalism

Visa pour l'image 2013

This year, right now, is the 25th anniversary of Visa pour l'image in Perpignan. It was my first time visiting. To put shortly, it is a massive boost of inspiration with lots of amazing photography to be watched in a very small town. The bonus, it is right by the Spanish border in the south of France. The drawback this year- lots of rain!

Lots of rain, lots of coffee...

Baby carried inside and protected from the rain

Kids in the evening

"Behind the scene" with world champion swimmer, James Magnussen!

Australian World Champion 100 metre freestyle swimmer, James Magnussen.

On this occasion, I was primeraly filming the behind the scene for an advertising editorial. It was great fun and I am looking forward to share the video later!

Locations where executions took place during July 1995 in and around Srebrenica

So, continuing on the previous few posts, I'll show you additional images from locations where the mass executions happened during the 1995 genocide in the Srebrenica region. I visited several of the locations where the executions took place during the first half of July 1995. Hasan Hasanovic, who I have mentioned before on this blog and survived the genocide (He lost his twin brother and father while walking for safety from Srebrenica to Tuzla after Srebrenica fell) showed me around.

Kozluk. This landfill location right on the Drina riverbank, no less then 340 bodies were found. 83 of the bodies had been killed with a single shot to the head, while blind folded and hands tied to the back. 

Inside the culture centre in Pilica where about 500 men were killed by Serb soldiers firing through the windows of the cinema auditorium on July 16th 1995.

The Nova Kasaba football field is the locations where more then 1000 men were held prisoners and then later killed. 

Kravitca executions

If you visit Srebrenica and want to understand what happened there during the very fatal week of July 1995, then have a look at the left, a few kilometres before you arrive in Bratunac and turn left towards Potocari and Srebrenica. You will see the warehouses of Kravitca. The details of what happened there can be read in this wikipidia link.  The short version is that roughly 1000 men and boys was locked in for two days. After the two days, soldiers working for Ratko Mladić threw hand grenades as well as using other weapons at their prisoners and killed all but 3 people. The 3 people pretended to be dead and waited until dark before managing to escape. Today, local farmers uses the warehouses to store equipment and hay for their animals, as seen in the top photograph. It appears surreal given the amount of bullet and shell marks that are still present on the buildings.

The facade of the warehouse with goats eating grass just in front

Interior of the warehouse

Saliha Osmanovic

Saliha Osmanovic at her house. I met her and at her house last week.
She is an amazingly strong woman.

"Saliha Osmanovic spent the war in Srebrenica with her husband and two sons. Osmanovic's youngest son was 17 years old when he was killed on 6 July 1995 in an artillery attack on the town. As Mladic's troops got closer to Srebrenica the exodus from the town began. The women, children and elderly sought shelter in the UN compound in Potocari. Men of military age took to the woods hoping to reach the liberated territory. On 11 July 1995, the witness went to Potocari with her father-in-law. The witness's elder son, 18-year old Nermin, and her husband Ramo headed out through the woods towards Tuzla. Nermin and Ramo were captured by the Serbs en route and executed. Their remains were identified in 2009. In the footage taken on 13 July 1995, Ramo Osmanovic is seen calling his son Nermin and other Bosniaks to surrender; he had been ordered to do that by the Serb soldiers." (You see it about 3 minutes into the linked movie "A Cry from the Grave").
(http://www.sense-agency.com/icty/mothers-from-srebrenica-tell-their-story.29.html?news_id=14958)
#bosnia #srebrenica #genocide #storytelling #marsmira #humanrights #photojournalism #documentary #potocari #july11 #20years #nikon #d4 #reportage #salihaosmanovic #lifeaftergenocide

Sarajevo July 2013.

I am back in Bosnia and Herzegovina for a different sort of a trip this time. More to come, here are some observations from Sarajevo.

Ramadan in Sarajevo- people waiting in line to buy bread as it is getting darker during this years Ramadan in Sarajevo

Stray dogs relaxing at the main square (Baščaršija square) in the old town.

The refurbished library looks fantastic. The interior still needs to be done.

July 11th is coming up- Anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide.

July 11th marks the anniversary of the worst genocide that took place in Europe after the second world war. This year again, walkers will follow the foot steps of the people who tried to escape to safety by walking from Srebrenica to Tuzla (120 km), the next "UN safe area" during July 1995. Around 8000 men and boys got killed during a few summer weeks. 

 A woman prays over the coffins that was buried during last years burial at
Potocari memorial cemetery on July 11th. 

Walkers that took part in last years Mars Mira or Peace March, the 120 km
 trail between between Nezuk and Potocari.

Me photographing the event. Potocari Memorial funeral, July 11th 2012.