Down in the air

Not dead yet. But the last weeks haven't been very exciting in term of photographs. Time is flying and I am now for a few days in Switzerland, trying to reload my batteries and to clarify my future. Surrounded by new books (including the excellent "Infidel" by the late Tim Hetherington), I really feel like trying something different, another kind of pictures, less clean, less neat. More personal.Maybe I should grab my back and leave for South America...2 June 2011: Frankfurt airport, Germany.P.S: I still don't understand why Apple didn't put a better camera in their last iPod touch.

UNAMID National Staff - First pictures in a studio

The African Union - United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) is currently the largest peacekeeping mission in the world with more than 25’000 staff, civilian, military and police. Among them, almost 3’000 Sudanese, mostly Darfurian. Directly affected by the conflict, they contribute to the Mission’s mandate and try to bring peace and to provide assistance and protection to their compatriots. Unfortunately, they usually occupy lower positions and are frequently not treated with the same respect than international staff.This project is about showing their background, motivation, contribution and their dreams. This project is an tribute to those men and women who try to bring a brighter future to their family and their country.National staff for UNAMIDIt took me some time and energy to realize this project. It was the first time I was shooting in a studio and it obviously was quite challenging. But the remaining feeling is really positive and I got a lot of fun doing it. Please feel free to contact me if you have any remarks or suggestions.I now have to think about a big fat project for my master thesis. Yeaah... time's running.

Hippo rollers

26 April 2011: UNAMID distributes hippo rollers to different households in Kuma Garadayat village, North Darfur. Hippo rollers are large drums that can contain 75 liters of water. Easy to carry, they are an excellent alternative to jerrycans and can be used by women and children. UNAMiD is going to distribute 3000 of these carriers in 8 different villages, in order to improve access to water. Difficult access to water is one of the cause of the Darfurian conflict.[Click on the picture to enlarge it].

Merry Easter

I wish you and all your family a merry Easter and hope to see you very soon, wherever you are in the world.24 April 2011: Following the referendum on South Sudan independence, many South Sudanese left Darfur and returned to their hometown. Consequently, El Fasher's Christian community, mostly composed of South Sudanese, lost many of its members. Those who remain gathered today to celebrate Easter in El Fasher's church. [Click on the picture to enlarge it].

Go on

Yesterday, Chris Hondros and Tim Hetherington died in Libya, doing their job, taking pictures. I never got the chance to meet them but admire their work. Might their souls rest in peace.Meanwhile, I try to give birth to my new project ...21 April 2011: To be continued ... [Click on the picture to enlarge it].

Snapshots from Rwanda

A few days in Rwanda, Kigali and next toLake Kivu. Just time to relax, think, drink and speak with a friend and enjoy the fabulous landscape, trying to forget that exactly 17 years ago, a genocide was destroying the entire country.

Me mad

Today, someone stole a part of my equipment and it might have some very very serious financial consequence on my already limited income and inexistent savings. Right now, I would like to find the button to switch-off my brain or to buy a ticket to South America to spend days, if not months, trekking and learning Spanish. Fuc# my life.But I supposed that what doesn't kill you makes you stronger (or poorer)...

Me happy

Reuters published my pictures on the new IDPs in Zamzam, North Darfur. Today is not a bad day!15 March 2011: Tens of thousand of Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) fled their village, following clashes between the Government of Sudan and rebel movements, and sought protection at Zamzam IDP camp, North Darfur. [Click on the picture to enlarge it].

Light

I have been working on a new project. I have never done that before, it's quite challenging (especially when you are a bit control freak) but it is also definitely very exciting. More soon...21 March 2011: To be continued ...

Life is fun

18 March 2011: Romanian close protection forces ensure the security of UNAMID staff during the first visit to Jawa, East Jebel Marra (South Darfur), of UNAMID Joint Special Representative, Professor Gambari. Access to the region was restricted for months, due to clashes between the Government of Sudan and rebel groups. [Click on the picture to enlarge it].

Internally Displaced Persons in Darfur

15 March 2011: Tens of thousand of Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) fled their village, following clashes between the Government of Sudan and rebel movements, and sought protection at Zamzam IDP camp, North Darfur. [Click on the picture to enlarge it].

Women's Day

08 March 2011: March organized by UNAMID, through El Fasher city, North Darfur, to celebrate the International Women's Day. Darfurian women, boyscouts and UNAMID staff were present. [Click on the picture to enlarge it].

Horse Racing in Darfur

04 March 2011: Nyala, South Sudan, hosts every Friday a horse racing competition. Before the beginning of the race,  jockeys have to present their horse to the medical visit. [Click on the picture to enlarge it].

Bonus

I just added (finally!!) a new story on my website

Vaccination campaign

1 March 2011: A three-day polio vaccination campaign kicked off throughout Darfur on 28 February 2011 as part of the Sudanese Government's efforts to eradicate the disease. The campaign was organized by the Sudanese Ministry of Health in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). Thousands of teams were spread across Darfur states, including in the Jebel Marra area, to administer the polio vaccine to all children under five years old. On the picture, a vaccination team in action in Al Salam IDP camp, North Darfur, Sudan. [Click on the picture to enlarge it].

Up in the Air

I bought an iPod touch hoping to get the same kind of "fun camera" you get with an iPhone (in addition to the obvious mp3 player/email/internet). Unfortunately, it seems they don't use the same camera and iPod touch only produce low resolution pictures. It's a shame, I was hopping to print some in a bigger size. Anyway, it's still fun to play, without an heavy Canon 1D or 5D MkII.21 February 2010: Tawila, north Darfur, inside a UN flight.

The Awakening of a Cat

Happiness sometimes is like flu. It falls on you without you even notice it and you can't do anything against it.It was supposed to be boring a afternoon and a boring flight. An iPod touch, a freshly installed hipstamatic and its random shots and it turned out to be quite fun.15 February 2011: Geneva streets, Switzerland.16 February 2011: Between GVA and FRA.

Happy streets

2 February 2011: A chinese boy plays with fireworks during Chinese New Year’s Eve, in Chengdu, Sichuan province, China. Streets are crowded by people celebrating, transforming the city in a happy war zone, with explosions and detonations all night long. [Click on the picture to enlarge it].03 February 2011: On 3rd of February 2011 starts the Year of the Rabbit, according the the Chinese (lunar) calendar. For shops, it is a huge opportunity to sell different declination of items, all related to rabbit. [Click on the picture to enlarge it].

Chinese New Year

I'm not sure that my eyes were really different that night. I don't remember having seen so many fireworks and heard so many explosions per minute. Moreover, when your stomach is full of Sichuan food... it's quite difficult to be picky and not to enjoy the moment.2 February 2011: A chinese boy enjoys fireworks with his father during Chinese New Year's Eve, in Chengdu, Sichuan province, China. Streets are crowded by people celebrating, transforming the city in a happy war zone, with explosions and detonations all night long. [Click on the picture to enlarge it].

Hong Kong

30 January 2011: Hong Kong Island at night. [Click on the picture to enlarge it].