Patrick, 5 years old.

Patrick was only 5 years old when he was hacked to death by machete.
His favourite food was chips, meats and eggs. His best friend was his sister Alliane. He was normally a quiet well behaved boy. Rwanda, spring, 1994.
(The image is photographed at the Kigali Genocide Memorial)

Patrick Gashugi Shimirwa.

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

Rwanda & Bosnia

I am at the moment working on a new project, this time it is in Rwanda. Next week, I am off to Kigali where I will be working on how it is today in Rwanda- Life after Genocide. In that context, I am working on some stories about Bosnia and Rwanda on life after genocide.

Over the past two years or so, I have visited Srebrenica multiple times in order to get a better picture on what happened there as well as what is going on today. For that, I am continuously editing and re-editionhg the material I have as well as preparing two new visits this year- in April and in July. The April visit will be about meeting people and make very personal portraits in a contextualised setting and the July visit will be to be part of the annual memorial ceremony that takes place in Potocari.

Rwanda on the other hand will mark their 20th anniversary of the genocide, that saw 1000000 people being killed in the space on 100 days, this April.

This boy is probably carrying his dad or another relative, as he caries the casket

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.