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 

Paris Photo coming up!

Middle of November means Paris Photo. The middle long weekend, 14-17 November, the Grand Palais is hosting 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!

Paris Photo 2013

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

Geneva Light

Fantastic fall weather shows the best of Geneva. Lots of contrast and a great workshop group enjoying plenty of photo opertunities!

Shadows of the Old Town, Geneva in October.

#workshop #storytelling #photojournalism #documentary #light #nikon #d4 #reportage #education #photography #d810 #sb910 #geneva #lausanne #switzerland #webster #paris #london #bhutan #norway

Black Beach and Sunbathing

The area around El Golfo, on the south western part of the island of Lanzarote, is where you find the little green lake which has become a big tourist destination. The colour green comes from the high concentration of a special seaweed and algae which survives due to the high concentration of salt. The whole area is the inside of an old volcanic crater.

Tourists looking at the green lake in El Golfo.

The Green lake in El Golfo contracting the sea and the black sand from lava. The last big volcanic eruption in this area, which is right next to the Timanfaya National Park,  dates back to 1736 

El Golfo is the location of a green lake, but also the location of a beautiful black beach. 

#storytelling #photojournalism #documentary #blackbeach #nikon #d810 #reportage #sunbathing #elgolfo #holiday #lanzarote 

Photo opertunity & a Monkey

So, visiting a place where many people visits means that you often are told where to take a picture. of course, today, you want yourself in the picture- otherwise, it won't qualify as a "Selfie". So, at Miramar, a view at the top end of Lanzarote, they made a "Monkey", just in order to make it easier to understand that this IS the spot to take the best picture!

The "Photo Monkey" is a bronze sculptor by Jörg Immendorff from 2005

 #storytelling #photojournalism #documentary #selfie #nikon #d810 #reportage #monkey #malerstammmichael  #jorgimmendorf 

The World Food Day: "Family farming: "Feeding the world, caring for the earth"

So, it's the World Food Day today. We, as in the world, certainly have plenty of challenges in the relative near future. There will be 9 billion of us by 2050. We don't even feed the 7 billion we are now. I hope solutions will be developed... "Family farming: "Feeding the world, caring for the earth"- seems like a good idea...

It seems strange that Nepal gets chicken imported from the UK.

#worldfoodday #storytelling #humanrights #photojournalism #documentary #food #nikon #d4 #reportage #chicken #feedtheworld

Bosnia: Media and understanding..

Every year, Potocari is the location of the event that marks the years passing since the genocide that took place in Srebrenica. Walkers take part in the Peace March, or Mars Mira, then on July 11th, "the burial of the dead", a ceremonial, but real, funeral where the victims who has been identified may be laid to rest. It is though, also a massive media event. All attention is on the mourners that are saying their last farewells to the victims who can finally be buried. It must be difficult sometimes, to mourn while having all kinds of lenses pointed at you. It takes time to make a compressive story on something that should be told. Respect is also needed. Sometimes, respect is lacking in Potocari.

All focus on the funeral that is taking place.

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

Révérien Rurangwa: Life After Genocide.

Révérien is a special man. A very honest man. He survived the genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda in 1994. 43 of his family members did not. As mentioned earlier, he now lives in Switzerland. His story can be read, his book was published in 2006: Genocide: My Stolen Rwanda. More to come on Révérien very soon. Much more.

Révérien lost his eye and an arm during the genocide in 1994, when he was 15 years old.

Earlier post on Révérien can be seen here.

#rwanda #bisesero #genocide #neveragain #africa #photography #nikon #d810 #documentary #photojournalism #reportage #d4 #kigali #webster #reverienrurangwa

Bosnia: A new edit...

Next year marks 20 years since the genocide took place in Srebrenica. This time, the commemoration which will, as always, take place with the burial of the dead at the Potocari cemetery will be something even more special. In this context, we will also mark the event. For that reason, many of the stories I have been working on over the last few years will be marked during different events starting in January. Prior to that, I will be visiting many of my friends both in Bosnia as well as elsewhere. More to come...much more to come over the next several months.

A man is praying at the burial of the dead at the Potocari memorial cemetery on July 11th 2014

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

Confrontations Photo Gex and Reporters Sans Frontieres

Come and join us at the exhibition with Reporters Sans Frontiers in Gex, near Geneva between October 3rd to the 5th. There will, in collaboration with Fondation Gilles Caron, Confrontations Photo and Photo Reporters be a display of plenty good photography. Eric Bouvet is special guest with a selection of his work from his career. Three of my images from Rwanda is part of the selection from PhotoReporters contribution to the exhibition.

Philippe Maeder from PhotoReporters and Christiane Dubois from RSF Suisse 

A good number of people came for the opening night

The Rwanda pictures selected are from Bisesero.

#rwanda #bisesero #genocide #neveragain #africa #photography #nikon #d810 #documentary #photojournalism #reportage #d4 #3514g #kigali #webster

Bhutan: Chimi Lhakhang

"Chimi Lhakhang, also known as Chime Lhakhang or Monastery or temple, is a Buddhist monastery in Punakha District, Bhutan.^[1] Located near Lobesa, it stands on a round hillock and was built in 1499 by the 14th Drukpa hierarch, Ngawang Choegyel, after the site was blessed by the "Divine Madman" the maverick saint Drukpa Kunley (1455–1529) who built a chorten on the site."- Wikipedia.

Visiting this place, you realise that the entire community is built around the monastery. Visitors and childless couples will come for prayers as well as the hope of becoming pregnant. In some cases, couples can even spend the night at the moanastry hoping it can help them conceive... 

There is little left to to the imagination about what the topic is in the local souvenir shop...

#bhutan #photography #photojournalism #thimphu #workshop #divinemadman #punakha #monastery #chimilhakang #d810 #nikon #documentary #3514g #d4

The Streets of Perpignan

During "Visa pour l'image Perpignan 2014" you get to see some great slide shows in the evening of plenty nice photojournalism. It inspires, it tells stories and it encourages "street photpgarpy" as you have to walk home late at night- a perfect time to wonder the pretty streets of Perpignan. 

Evening light, Perpignan, September 2014

#reportage #photography #photojournalism #visapourlimageu #barcelona #spain #france #d810 #nikon #documentary #perpignan #visa #cock #dog  #iso64

The Other Hundred. A book and exhibitions... and a tearoom!

I am really proud to have a project selected as one of the winning stories by the "Other Hundred". The "The Other Hundred" is a unique not-for-profit photo-book initiated by the Global Institute For Tomorrow (GIFT) .

This year, "The other Hundred" was interested in reportage stories featuring entrepreneurs.. I could not think of anyone better then my good friend John who runs a Landmark tearoom in Kabuga, near Kigali in Rwanda.

In addition to be part of this years book, the projects will also be exhibited around the world- it will be possible to see the show in places like Hong Kong, Singapore, Berlin and New York. At the moment, it can be seen in Dubai.

Libie greeting John at night

#rwanda #kigali #genocide #neveragain #africa #photography #nikon #3514g #documentary #photojournalism #reportage #theotherhundred #landmark #tea #d4

Traditional Swiss Music in Solalax

The restaurant Miroir de l'Argentine offers spectacular views and treks near Villars (Valais) in Switzerland.

At the restaurant Miroir de l'Argentine, I met these guys playing some amazing music, including playing on the saw..!

Saw playing musicians

#reportage #photography #photojournalism #traditional # #valais #saw #d810 #nikon #df #documentary #1424 #switzerland #music #onassignment #alps

A busker in Barcelona

Sometimes commuting can be rewarding. The other week, visiting Barcelona on my way to Perpignan, this busker entertained my coach on the metro. Sometimes, I suspect there is a hidden camera somewhere- the guy was really good! What a gift!

The lady in the back is photographing the violinist on a Barcelona Metro, September 2014
#reportage #photography #photojournalism #visapourlimageu #barcelona #spain #france #d810 #nikon #documentary #3514g #metro #busker #violin #gift

REPORTERS SANS FRONTIERS- aux Confrontations Photo, Gex 3-5 October

Come and join us at the exhibition with Reporters Sans Frontiers in Gex, near Geneva between October 3rd to the 5th. There will, in collaboration with Fondation Gilles Caron, Confrontations Photo and Photo Reporters be a display of plenty good photography. Amongst them will be three of my images from Rwanda.

Réverien Rurangwa

#rwanda #bisesero #genocide #neveragain #africa #photography #nikon #d810 #documentary #photojournalism #reportage

Bhutan: Choki Traditional Art School and the 13 arts.

In Thimphu, Bhutan, Choki Traditional Art School educates young men and women on the traditional Buddhist arts. Everything from wood crafts to painting and embroidery is all taught here. The students will later work on preserving the history as well as the traditions of the art that evolvs around the monasteries as well as the different festivals that takes place in Bhutan. An example is the "Tigers Nest". A few years ago, it got severely damaged and the students from  Choki Traditional Art School is heavily involved in recreating the works of art at he monastery.

The drawings of the students contain incredible details.

The woodcrafts are done by students and the teachers... details in the work is fantastic!

#bhutan #photography #photojournalism #weekendmarket #thimphu #workshop #chokitraditionalartschool #paro #documentary #artschool  #13arts

A Cock in the street- Perpignan 2014

Perpignan is a beautiful town, old, narrow roads, the residents are spending the time outside, sitting, talking, playing. Walking back to my hotel, I also met a Cock and a Dog- not sure why someone placed the Cock in the middle of the road though...

A Cock & a Dog in the Road- Perpignan 2014

#reportage #photography #photojournalism #visapourlimageu #barcelona #spain #france #d810 #nikon #documentary #perpignan #visa #cock #dog  #iso64

Visa pour l'image - Perpignan 2014

"Visa pour l'image Perpignan 2014" is over for this year. It is a photojournalism festival that takes place every year in Perpignan in the south of France, near Spain. There were great exhibitions, slide shows in the evenings and possibilities too meet with other photographers and agents- very inspiring!
This year, there were even images posted as large posters on walls as well as houses around the small little old town that makes Perpignan such a charming place. There is still time to see the exhibitions though- the "professional week" is over- but next week is the "educational week". It means the week is dedicated to show the work to schools and students. If you have the chance, it is worth the visit!

Photographs were posted on the wall around the entire town of Perpignan for this years Visa pour l'image

The evening projections are the highlights of the day during the first week of VISA. Prizes and awards are presented here.

#reportage #photography #photojournalism #visapourlimageu #barcelona #spain #france #d810 #nikon #documentary #perpignan #visa #iso3200 #iso1600