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Routine
A couple is giving a final touch to their sunburn reading a book under the sun while children are playing around the pool. I'm reading my 5th book of this break and my legs are sore, thanks to 3 days walking/bicycling around temples (strangely always hidden on top of a hill with 5 billion steps...). It feels great. I walk and read to compensate all what I haven't while in Yemen but for once, I don't do the same with food and drinks (especially with drinks).After almost 8 years working as a "humanitarian", these breaks have become a routine, although I keep improving them, detaching myself further and faster of the previous months. I now frequently wake up, not sure of where exactly I am, between Yemen, Djibouti, Sri Lanka, Thailand or somewhere in Europe. But I start missing a routine. A cafe where to read the news or a favorite restaurant with a waiter knowing my name.Few months ago and for the first time in 8 years, I spent 3 consecutive weeks at the same place, sleeping in the same bed. With a longer break in the coming months, maybe now is finally the time to work on a place I could really call mine.
30 July 2016: Sigirya, Sri Lanka.
P.S: Tomorrow, Nourane will have been missing for 8 months. 8 fucking months...
Namaste
End of mission. No sniper, no airstrike, no shelling, no kidnapping, no responsibility. A long break to empty my mind, stretch my body and discover something new.And then arrives Nice, and then Turkey. And while I feel deeply sorry for the victims and their families, I can not help but getting annoyed by the reactions, once again. Indeed, it seems that the truck also drove over the French media's deontology and people's brain. Pathetic and unfortunately an increasing trend around the world. But well... let's focus on my breathing and get angry another time. Namaste.
17 July 2016: Elephant toilette, Dondra, Sri Lanka.
Celebration
This blog has always been first about pictures and then text (and sharing my thoughts). But the past months have been rather poor in pictures, with an environment and a work in Yemen not exactly encouraging me to go out and to capture moments.Today, for the first time in a year, I discovered a place I didn't know before and where I could take pictures without jeopardizing my work (and security).I would lie saying it didn't feel great to try to capture something special, making something mine.
28 May 2016: Celebration at Bet Maryam church, Lalibela, Ethiopia.
Intrinsic Rules
No new music purchased, no new picture taken (at the exception of some quick Instagram shots). The previous 4 months have been a bit exceptional, with a particularly heavy workload and some unpleasant situations to deal with. For a few days in Djibouti, I suddenly realize how much I miss playing with my camera, trying to show the world around me in a different way..
05 March 2016: Football match in Djibouti city, Djibouti
A year ago, a break between 2 missions made me realize that some adjustments were needed in my life, to find a better inner balance. Maybe now is the time to continue working on it, a bit harder.
Resistance
When people talk about the 2nd World War and about resistance, many are sure that they would have been a great resistant, hiding weapons and Jews in their cave and fighting the Nazism, putting their life at risk.But today, when refugees, fleeing the war in Syria, are trying to enter Europe, it seems that many of the same people consider that their country is not in a position to welcome anyone and that it doesn’t concern them. “We are facing enough problems in our own country not to have to deal with the rest of the world” they say.Hypocrisy? Maybe. It certainly is easier to dream of being a hero than to actually accept the related risks to being one. Ignorance? More certainly, when people do not understand the difference between migrants and refugees or consider that all Muslims behead Christians for brunch over weekend.When Hitler was elected, people thought he would be able to solve their problems. Easy comparison maybe, but before voting for your favorite candidate, maybe ask yourself if the problem is really one, or if someone isn’t just playing with your fears. Maybe the world is not that black and white after all.It certainly never has been easier to access information and to try to understand the world surrounding us. But that requires curiosity and to accept to challenge our pre-conceptions, without being naïve neither. The new definition of a Resistant, maybe.
14 July 2015: Paris, France
Inspiration
One week in Perpignan, for the traditional photo festival Visa pour l'Image, admiring the inspiring work of great photojournalists and improving my understanding of the world, in its best and worst aspects.Back at the office, the portraits of two of my colleagues stand next to a condolence book. Another source of motivation. We better have to be outstanding now...
05 September 2015: Visa pour l'Image, Perpignan, France.
Grandpa
One of the beauty of working with a humanitarian organisation is that it gives you tons of stories to tell to your future grandchildren.The problem is that it also makes you question the idea of raising children in a world like this.Or, maybe more optimistically, it makes you wonder what kind of grand father that would make you, sharing those stories with them... ;-)
16 August 2015: ICRC/YRCS staff collecting dead bodies in a conflict affected area. Taiz, Yemen
But don't think it makes me reconsider my career choice (or blame my grandpa)... quite the opposite.
Chronicle of a Sunset
Life is hard
And so am i
You’d better give me something
So i don’t die
Novocaine for the soul
Before i sputter out
…
14 Juillet 2015: BnF and surroundings, Paris, France
Intifada
The room smells like books (Wonderland, At War) while Chet Faker is competing surprisingly well against an inspired Bonobo (listen to the last minutes). I feel my heart beat slowing down.My two phones have been switched off, new symbol of a laissez aller, encouraging my brain to let go and to enjoy the fresh breeze. I wish I could be dancing in a cold fjord.After 3 months and 7 days, my plane-free detox stopped, with a return to Europe announcing the beginning of a new mission. I am, finally, going to Yemen.And the music get louder…
Cycle(s)
More than 10 years after its publication, I read again the book/comic "The Photographer", taking place in Afghanistan and particularly in Badakhshan. Strange feeling than to realize that what was a source of amazement and admiration a few years ago is now a source of memories and nostalgia. Working in Afghanistan wasn't always easy but definitely was a fantastic and rewarding experience. End of a cycle... for now.
21 February 2015: Bagan, Myanmar/Burma
Now, with my bags and trunks ready, a new standby started today. New mission in Yemen and already a feeling of frustration not to be there with and for my team. Soon... inch'allah.
24 February 2015: Mandalay, Myanmar/Burma
(e)Reading
I'm too occupied, enjoying reading books and articles on my new Kindle Voyager to feel like writing anything.
19 February 2015: Mandalay Hill, Mandalay, Myanmar/Burma
For those interested by a Kindle:
Kindle Voyage: Backlight system to read in the dark, great (confortable) display and innovative system to change pages. Highly recommended (although the Paperwhite version is already fantastic)
Calibre: iTunes for books, managing in a few clicks all the books you did not buy on Amazon.
Send to kindle: Easy plugin to automatically send any article to your kindle, directly from your browser.
P.S: Yes, I was struggling to find a subject to write about, to accompany my picture ;-)
