November in the woods.

It is November- it is misty and wet. It is also a nice time to walk the dog in the woods- there are less people out and my dog likes running.

White running in the woods.

#workshop #storytelling #photojournalism #documentary #november #nikon #df #reportage #dog #photography #dogwalking #lausanne #switzerland #colours #wet #mist

Paris Photo_1

Paris Photo has become rather "arty"- that is OK- but still- a little more variety would be nice. Anyway- Paris is still really a great place to go and see photography, beyond the Grand Palais. My trip this year was a little different- it was visiting friends, meeting friends, doing a little photography as well as appreciating the displays at paris Photo. A nice mix!

A little bit of a street, on a quiet Sunday morning. 

Sunday Newspaper and a park

The evening has only just started- and the view fir a selfie is excellent!

Talking about selfies... There seems to be no place like Paris for selfies! (The stick is being sold for around 5 euros everywhere in Paris...)

Paris Photo 2014. OK, but certainly conceptual!
#workshop #storytelling #photojournalism #documentary #exhibition #nikon #d4 #reportage #education #photography #d810 #sb910 #paris #parisphoto #france 

Advija and her baby.

A while ago, around 3 years ago, I met with Advija. She lived in Vogosca, a suburb of Sarajevo. She also works for the radio station there. After interviewing her about how she remembers the war and about her plans for her fathers forthcoming burial, we agreed to meet again at the burial in Potocari on July 11th 2012. Today, Advija is married and she introduced me not only to her husband Admir, but also her two month old son, Vehbija, named after Advija's father. It was really great to see them again, such a different meeting then when I met them in Potocari in 2012.

Advija with her bay son, Vehbija, 2 months old. He is named after his grandfather. Advija's mother helps with the phone. 

#bosnia #srebrenica #genocide #storytelling #marsmira #humanrights #photojournalism #documentary #potocari #july11 #20years #nikon #d4 #reportage #advijatitic #lifeaftergenocide

Sarajevo leaving.

Ok, so I already left Sarajevo- but it was an early morning, plenty mist or fog and I was happy that the  plane arrived the evening before. Other flights were cancelled or delayed. Beautiful it was. The sun was soon coming. Soon, I will be back.

Sarajevo airport. Mist. And soon some sun. November 2014.
#bosnia #srebrenica #genocide #storytelling #marsmira #humanrights #photojournalism #documentary #potocari #july11 #20years #nikon #d4 #reportage #sarajevo #sarajevoairport #lifeaftergenocide

Paris Photo 2014

Paris Photo is on- 14-17 November, at the Grand Palais. It is the worlds biggest Photo Expo. If you are not collecting photographs, then it is an opportunity to get to see what is going on in photography. Well over a hundred galleries and publishers are present- In addition, the month of photography takes place all over the town...plenty other little chances of being some great work- well worth a visit! Let me know if you are there!

Paris Taxi driver stuck in traffic...?

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

Dr. Fatima Klempic- Doutbasic

Fatima was 26 years old in July 1995. She had two and a half years earlier graduated from University as a medical doctor. She was pleased she could work at the hospital in Srebrenica as it had earned a very good reputation. In in 1995 things had dramatically changed and she ended up being a very young doctor working in extremely difficult situations with almost no equipment. The worst wartime situation in Europe since the second world war was happening outside the hospital and they were only a hand full of doctors working. When the genocide really started, Fatima as well as the other medical staff decide to walk with around 10000 others to Tuzla, 120 km away in order to reach the other "safe area". Fatima was one of only a handful of women to walk and to survive. Today, she works a gynaecologist and deliver babies at the University Hospital in Tuzla. She feels blessed that she can now bring life to the world, rather then work with death... She is married and has two children.

Fatima Klempic- Doutbasic at work at the Hospital in Tuzla.

#bosnia #srebrenica #genocide #storytelling #marsmira #humanrights #photojournalism #documentary #potocari #july11 #20years #nikon #d4 #reportage #d810 #fatimadoutbasic #tuzla #lifeaftergenocide

Life After genocide: Saliha Osmanovic 2014.

Saliha Osmanovic in her vegetable garden, behind her house. She produces the majority of food that she needs during the year. 

It was great last week to get to visit Saliha Osmanovic again. She lives about an hour outside of Srebrenica. To meet someone with the sort of spirit that she has is not common. However, when you lear that she lost both sons and her husband during the Srebrenica Genocide in July 1995- then, it is extraordinary to still posses the spirit, energy and will power as Saliha has. She tells me that she uses work to keep her going. To produce what she needs is hard work- and she enjoys it- makes her not think too much about the sad things in life. 

#bosnia #srebrenica #genocide #storytelling #marsmira #humanrights #photojournalism #documentary #potocari #july11 #20years #nikon #d4 #reportage #salihaosmanovic #lifeaftergenocide

Tuzla by night.

Visiting Tuzla in November is different then visiting Tuzla in July... Full moon creates a special atmosphere.

Full moon in Tuzla.

#bosnia #srebrenica #genocide #storytelling #marsmira #humanrights #photojournalism #documentary #potocari #july11 #20years #nikon #d4 #reportage #tuzla #lifeaftergenocide

Swiss Press Photo- exhibition at the Château de Prangins, between Geneva and Lausanne

Last night was the opening of the exhibition showcasing the best of Swiss press photo from last year. It also shows the World Press Photo show. Mark Henley, who won the main prize, presented his winning photo, commissioned by Swissinfo.ch, showing the Iranian woman on the phone during the nuclear talks that took place at the UN in Geneva last year. Drop by if you have the chance, the exhibition is on until November 30th!

Mark Henley's Iranian woman at the bottom of the staircase leading up to the beautiful Château de Prangins

 #storytelling #photojournalism #documentary #exhibition #nikon #d4 #reportage #education #photography #d810 #swisspressphoto #worldpressphoto #switzerland #un #geneva

Life After Genocide: Saliha Osmanovic

I met with Saliha about a year and half ago. It will be great to see her again this very soon.

"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

A little note on the side- Santiago

A couple of years ago, I visited Santiago, Chile. It is a vibrant, great city, plenty of atmosphere. It had been a long trip, I had met some great people, photographed a pharmaceutical cite. Anyway, on the way back to my hotel, I saw this palm tree. I just liked it!

A palm tree, near the construction of a new tower building which I was told would be the tallest in Santiago. 

#pharma #storytelling #photojournalism #documentary #synthon #nikon #d3s #reportage #education #photography #santiago #sb910 #holland #chile #spain #mexico #usa #argentina #czechrepublic #20years