Earth Day, 22nd April 2017.

The Earth Day is this year on April 22nd. The purpose is to put focus on protecting the environment and to bring all 193 countries together. The image here is from Mali and is about protecting the animals in the Mali city zoo in the best possible way. It was photographed while on assignment for the Aga Khan foundation; I remember them telling me: "We agreed to be involved in this project as long as everybody agreed that the zoo was going to be the best zoo in Africa!"

The zoo keeper has a very close relationship with the animals at the Bamako city zoo.
The focus is on giving the best possible conditions for the animals that are already here.

#photojournalsim #storytelling #onassignment #earthday #zoo #bamako #mali #agakhan #animals #africa

The Aga Khan Award for Architecture 2016

Every 3 years, the Aga Khan Award for Architecture is awarded.
A master Jury met in June decided on who were this years winners of the Aga Khan Award for Architecture- I had the pleasure to photograph one of the winning projects- Superkilen in Copenhagen, Denmark. Reuters.

The park is much appreciated and used by the local population in the area of Nørrebro in Copenhagen.

Superkilen is divided into three sections. The long green section includes a basket ball/ skatepark area.

This family from Iraq plays chess on this Sunday afternoon in April.

The park is surrounded by apartment buildings and the population is very diverse.

The design of the park is done by designed by BIG, landscape architecture studio topotek1 and artist collective superflex, ‘superkilen’ is defined by  three color-coded areas.

Children are creative in their game while using the basket ball court.

All the furnitures, toys and other items in the park comes from all over the world- the swings are from Iraq.

Bright neon signs from Russia and Quatar are placed in one of the main urban squares. 

The neon lights are lit up at night. 

The spirit is high and a little boy agreed to be photographed if he could photograph me!

#copenhagen #agakhan #photography #nikon #d5 #photojournalism #architecture #akdn #df #architectureaward #keystone #development 

The Bamako Zoo

Having worked with the Aga Khan Architecture Award (AKAA) recently, it makes me think of the timen I spent shooting the Bamako Zoo a couple years ago for the Aga Khan Foundation. The term used was; "if we are to support a Zoo, it better be the best zoo in Africa!". I think they did just that.

It is nice to see the relationship between the zoo keeper and the animals when you are in a nice zoo. 

#mali #agakhan #africa #photography #nikon #d4 #documentary #photojournalism #reportage #akdn #nikonpro #city #bamako #street #onassignment #nikonpro #keystone #webster #zoo

Thinking of Bamako.

Awful news from Bamako. I hope the situation gets resolved peacefully and fast. Here is an image from when I photographed on assignment for the Aga Khan foundation a couple of years ago.

People going home from work in downtown Bamako, Mali, October 2012. 

#mali #agakhan #africa #photography #nikon #d4 #documentary #photojournalism #reportage #akdn #nikonpro #city #bamako #street #onassignment

Earth Day

These guys were walking home from work whilst I was driving through Bamako in the early evening. 

Today is the International Earth Day. For me, it makes me think of how us humans and how we use our planet. Driving through downtown Bamako, a city of nearly 2 million, it is pretty clear that we do not all use the planet in the same way.

#mali #agakhan #africa #photography #nikon #d4 #documentary #photojournalism #reportage #akdn #nikonpro #city #bamako #street #onassignment #earthday 

Crocodile in Mali

Recently, when I photographed the City Park and Zoo in Bamako, Mali, I came across this guy- a really amazing crocodile enjoying himself in the lake created for him. The zoo was totally renovated by the Aga Khan Foundation together with its adjacent city park. Recent problems in Mali have made it difficult to run this palace.

Crocodile, Bamako Zoo, Mali

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

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

Presentation of projects at the Aga Khan Award for Architecture, June 2013

Presenters or technical reviewers describes after visiting the projects the strengths and weaknesses of each project.

Here, the project  Nahr el-Bared Refugee Camp in Lebanon.

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

The Aga Khan Award for Architecture 2013

Every 3 years, the Aga Khan Award for Architecture is awarded- this year the ceremony will be held in Lisbon in September and the award is 1 million dollars!
In June, a Master Jury meets in order to decide on who should be the winners of the Aga Khan Award for Architecture- I was there to document the meetings...

Mahmood Mamdani, the leader of the Master Jury getting ready for the first day of viewing the short listed nominees.

Dr. Howayda Al-Harithy, at the meetings, assessing this years short listed candidates. 

David Adjaye is an award winning architect based in London.

The reconstruction of the Nahr el-Bared Refugee Camp in Lebanon is one of the short listed projects.

The jury members using the breaks to continue the discussions. Mahmood Mamdani in the centre and Shahzia Sikander to the left. 

Technical reviewers visited all the short listed projects. 

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

Aga Khan Award for Architecture

Last week I was working again with the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN). This time I was photographing the Steering Committee and the Master jury meetings where the parties were discussing the entries for the Aga Khan Award for Architecture. This price is $1 million and is given to a project that serves a muslim community. The winner is selected from several hundred entries!

His Highness the Aga Khan

Shahzia Sikander, artist

Murat Tabanlioglu, Tabanlioglu Architects

Wang Shu, Amateur Architecture Studio

Lord Norman Foster, Foster + Partners

David Adjaye, Adjaye Associates

#agakhan #photography #nikon #documentary #photojournalism #reportage #nikonpro #architecture #sirnormanfoster #agakhan #architectureaward #akdn 

Football, Bamako, Mali.

On my recent visit to Mali, I watched a football game. I did not get to see the whole game- I hope to have time for that next time!

Football game, Bamako, Mali September 2012

#football #bamako #mali #worldcup #photography #photojournalism #africa #agakhan

The city Zoo in Bamako, Mali, supported by the Aga Khan Development Network

Bamako is a busy city with a population of almost 2 million. The political situation is difficult. 

Biker in Bamako

But just outside of the downtown area, you have the Mali national park which is like an oasis in the city. People come to relax, to picnic, to do sports and, soon, they will be able to visit the newly fixed up zoo as well.

I spent a few days in Bamako and photographed what is an amazing zoo.. This city zoo was run down and falling apart. The animals lived in poor conditions. The AKDN has funded a full redevelopment of the zoo as well as of the surrounding city park. The zoo has got top standards and looks after the animals in the best possible way. It also offers a great educational function for the population in this region.

This young boy shows off the insects he has found.

Mali national zoo

There is a 3 year old elephant at the zoo. Unfortunately she had a tough start to her life but is now getting the best attention and care he can in this zoo, given the circumstances. 

The elephant and staff clearly had a great bond

#mali #zoo #agakhan #africa #photography #nikon #d810#documentary #photojournalism #reportage #d4 #akdn #webster #nikonpro #elephant #bamako #fotograf #webster

Aga Khan, January 2010

Anish Kapoor

I worked with the The Aga Khan Development Network a few weeks ago. The Aga Khan Award for Architecture was being discussed and I was there to photograph parts of the selection process. A lot of very interesting people were there, amongst them, His Highness the Aga Khan, Anish Kapoor, Lord Norman Foster, Glenn Lowry and Jean Novel.
#mali #zoo #agakhan #africa #photography #nikon #d810 #documentary #photojournalism #reportage #d4 #akdn #nikonpro #elephant #bamako #street #architecture #architectureaward #development #anishkapoor