Music

Alone in the dark, listening to the new Cinematic Orchestra, I suddenly realized I remember the music I listened to in every places I traveled in the past 5 years.Sometimes, music inspires you to write. Sometimes, it just makes you silent, enjoying what life offers...20 Fev. 2012: Avila, Spain [Click on the picture to enlarge it]. (Muchas gracias Teresa!)

Megaupload

After the FBI shut down megaupload.com, I read many reactions calling it "censorship" or "attack against people's freedom". I can understand people's frustration, loosing a "legal" way to download series/movies without paying (In many countries, downloading pirate copies is not illegal. Only sharing/providing pirate copies is, making therefore torrents illegal). But I still have difficulties to see how preventing people from watching illegal copies of a movie/serie could be assimilated to a form of censorship. If it is, then it would mean that wearing a fake rolex or having a fake Louis Vuiton bag is a way to convey a message. Message that everybody should have the right to share... Mmmmmhhh....I used megaupload at work, to transfer pictures/layouts to colleagues abroad. But let's be honest, before it was seized, this website was more famous for holding illegal content and it was extremely easy to find websites and forums providing links to recent movies or series, all stored on megaupload. Megaupload was even making money with it, by offering subscription allowing users to watch the content of those links without delay and with a better bandwidth. Reading a few articles on Kim Schmitz "Dotcom" usually confirms the impression that he knew exactly what he was doing.But the big question then is "why did people subscribed to megaupload instead of paying for the series directly"?. We could talk about the difference of price (a subscription to megaupload was cheaper than buying series/movies legally) but the reality is that it is frequently impossible for non-american to officially obtain the last episode of a series, at the same time that an american do. For example, an American user can buy and download on iTunes USA the last season (5) of "The Big Bang Theory" for 44.99USD (or 2.99USD per episode). But a French user only have access to the first three seasons. Moreover, assuming that this French user wants to buy it on iTunes USA, he won't be able to do it without having an american credit card and an address in the US. He also can't order the DVD at the end of the season , because of the zone restriction. Of course, they are some hidden ways, using vouchers but it remains too complicated for most of the users (especially if you have no friends in the US).I strongly believe that if the movie industry was putting more effort into providing series and movies worldwide, for a decent price, people would be less tempted to download them illegally or to subscribe to pseudo-legal offers like those provided by megaupload. I paid 34.99USD for the season 2 of "Suits" on iTunes USA. iTunes France doesn't have it and iTunes Switzerland doesn't even provide series...Maybe the censorship here is not to (strongly) remind people that pirate copies are illegal but to prevent those same people from officially buying movies and series, simply because they don't live in the right country.13 January 2012: Snow storm in Munich, Germany. I'm currently having a big break. But I have a few photo projects in mind and hope to start taking pictures a bit more seriously in Spain in the coming weeks. 

Last project in Darfur

Although I initially wanted to slightly improve the layout of my book before printing and publishing it, I finally decided to show my last big photo project in Darfur. This book was submitted as a final project for my MA in Photojournalism and Documentary Photography.Between September and November 2011, I spent a lot of time in Abu Shouk internally displaced persons’ (IDP) camp, in an attempt to show another reality in Darfur.Despite the ongoing armed confrontations, many IDPs do not want to stay passive, just waiting to return home, relying on the largesse of the international community. Step by step, they have slowly and resolutely taken their lives into their own hands, learning new skills, using the resources at their disposal, building and hoping for a better future.Fleeing from conflict and living in camps that were supposed to be temporary, they are trying to bring some semblance of stability into their lives, by existing between war and peace.A book should be soon available on Blurb.[EDIT:] My book is available on Blurb, in two different versions:

• Hard cover
• Soft cover

Reloading batteries

Three weeks since my return to Europe but I'm still not really used to it. I had forgot fast internet was daily routine on this side of the world and I'm still enjoying a bit too much walking in the cold and the rain (not to mention skiing).But the big news is that I finally have a room, a permanent place where I can sleep and store my books/equipment/belongings. As it seems I've been a bit nuts in the last months with Amazon and my credit card, I have a nice pile of books to read. I would just like to mention three:- Magnum Contact sheets by Magnum. A great way to (re)discover the work of fantastic Magnum photographers and particularly their way of approaching their subjects. Fascinating.- The suffering of Light by Alex Webb. A beautiful book containing a selection of his best pictures. Simple but so powerful.- Dies Irae by Paolo Pellegrin. Pellegrin became one of my favorite photographer, through his very personal style and vision, mostly in conflict zones. Inspiring.And if you don't like reading (and even if you do), then you might want to have a look at the following movies. I don't want to spoil your pleasure and to write anything about the story so... just watch:- Shame by Steve McQueen.- Drive by Nicolas Winding Refn.And if you know a way to stop thinking about Shame, let me know. I have been watching it in my mind for a week now (and not just because of Carey Mulligan)...I usually love to feel lost in places I'm visiting. I never thought I would in my hometown... I wish you all the best for 2012.

New Horizons

39 months after I joined the United Nation - African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID), I am leaving Sudan. A Master's, two trunks, tens of stamps in my passport, thousands of pictures and a few millions of memories. What was supposed to be a few months break in my life became my life, in one of its most exciting form.Three years pushing my limits, opening myself to new cultures, falling in love with a field that was initially not mine and realizing that my life could be useful and fun, not just after working hours.1186 days tattooed in my mind, traveling around Darfur, trying to show a different reality, away from the usual clichés or preconceptions. Many ups and a few downs, in a period that redefined my perception of life and its priorities.Looking at Sudan for a last time while writing this post, I can not help thinking about the Darfuris and their future. I would like to say I am optimistic…I wish them to finally get the peace and stability they deserve."Stay hungry, stay foolish" said Steve Jobs. I think I now have the menu...

I didn't mean to tell you... But...

Last sprint before the end of my Master's. I should submit my critical report in one week and the finalize version of my book in two. Everything would be fine if I didn't have to take a few last pictures and if I was not completely exhausted. Unfortunately, it is not going to improve, as I also will have to start my check-out. If only I could go to South East Asia right after, to empty my head and fill it with internal silence.27 October 2011: Darfuri women learning about food processing in Abu Shouk Women Center. [Click on the picture to enlarge it].

Dancing Behind My Eyelids

A close friend asked me today what would be the first thing I would do at my arrival in Switzerland. I didn't really know what to answer. Nothing satisfying came to my mind.Hug my family, take a bath, see my friends and celebrate with them, buy and read books, enjoy early breakfast in a cafe while reading the news, go skiing and then what? Then what?Tonight, exhausted, in my inner world and trying to work on my final report, I suddenly realized that I now consider life in Switzerland as something exotic.20 October 2011: Darfuris waiting for the arrival of a delegation of Special Envoys to Sudan. Mukjar, West Darfur. [Click on the picture to enlarge it].

Life

From a 5 star hotel to a remote village in West Darfur, I spent the last three days following and covering the visit of UNAMID Joint Special Representative and Ambassadors, shooting from dawn to dusk (sometimes later).I'm not exactly sure of how my life will be in a few months, but I'm sure that the excitation of taking photographs in Darfur, speaking with Darfuris, running with all my gear on my back to an APC or flying over majestic places in an helicopter is not going to disappear quickly. Life ...Now, I hope to get the final authorizations and to be able to finish my final project quickly.20 October 2011: UNAMID Joint Special Representative, Professor Ibrahim Gambari, reading and correcting documents, while flying from El Geneina to Mukjar, West Darfur. [Click on the picture to enlarge it].

Everything will be fine

Due to some recent incidents, my big project is not progressing as much as I would like to. And although I was supposed to be in Switzerland, celebrating the wedding of a close friend, I'm stuck in Sudan. By chance, after one month in El Fasher, working on different photo assignments, I've been sent to Khartoum for two days. At least, it gives me some time and space for pampering in a nice hotel. Next stop... Switzerland. In 6 weeks... Inch'allah.09 October 2011: A classroom in Abu Shouk IDP camp. Schoolboys and girls seat on the floor, on a thin carpet and can be up to 100 per class. [Click on the picture to enlarge it].

iThoughts

Steve Jobs is dead. He was one of the most successful business man in the world, had amazing presentation skills (have a look at his keynotes, if you don't believe me) and influenced the life of many with his computers, iPod, iPhone and iPad.I understand that even people who didn't know him personally can feel affected (like people did when Princess Diana died). But I am not sure to share the massive hysteria, tears, candles and other "iGod is dead". I watched few months ago his speech at Stanford University and like it. It was inspiring but with his death, it took another dimension.We are frequently told to study hard to have a good job. To work hard to have a good career. To find a spouse to have children with. And then what? We can die with the satisfaction of having children and money? Maybe Steve Jobs's message is to focus on the satisfaction and pleasure of building, rather than on the pleasure of admiring what we built. Focusing on the journey rather than on the final destination.Or maybe we want to believe he was a bright wise man, when he was just an amazing seller. Maybe ...September 2011: A cow about to be slaughtered in Abu Shouk IDP camp, North Darfur.[Click on the picture to enlarge it].

Step by Step

After a long long week waiting, I finally got the authorization needed to continue my projet. There is a lot of work ahead, but it's a good step. May the coming days be as productive ...03 October 2011: Mohamed Ishad, 27 years old. He left his village in Jebel Marra and his studies of the Holy Coran to come to Abu Shouk IDP camp. He now has his own shop, where he sells shoes. [Click on the picture to enlarge it].

...

A Tight Spot [To the Victor - The Spoils!] by Flashman (with Fred Deakin, member of Lemon Jelly)27 September 2011: Vendor in Abu Shouk IDP camp, North Darfur. [Click on the picture to enlarge it].

Daily life

18 September 2011: Mahedin, 18 years old, butcher. Knowing how to slaughter and dismember goats and cows, he decided to try with camels and is now one of the two only butchers killing and preparing camel's meat in the IDP camp he lives. [Click on the picture to enlarge it].

Rehab

After almost three months shooting mostly meetings, resulting in a serious lack of inspiration and creativity, I'm back to the field with a very exciting project. It's quite challenging, sometime frustrating when I can not get what I want, but it's a real pleasure to shoot again and to try to present something different. Final result in a few short months.20 September 2011: Ahmedhay Ahmed, 25 years old, farmer in North Darfur. [Click on the picture to enlarge it].

New website

First of all, I finally spent some time to improve and rearrange my website. I now officially have my domain name olivierchassot.com and it should be a bit easier to follow my work. Moreover, although I like zenfolio, I started to be seriously annoyed to have their banner squatting my website. So hopefully everything should be fine now. If not, please let me know.Then, Perpignan'side effects are still affecting me and I feel more motivated than ever to take photographs, push my limits and to hopefully capture something different to present for my Master's. Once again, I miss a bookstore to spend some time looking for inspiration.13 September 2011: Abu Shouk Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp.[Click on the picture to enlarge it].And finally, after a bit more than two weeks with my new Macbook Air 11 inches, I can confirm that it is a great laptop, especially for people frequently traveling and who need a light, small but still powerful and ergonomically usable computer (once you've started working with a Macbook Pro or a Magic mouse, it is impossible to return to a Netbook's touchpad). Of course, a Macbook Pro 15 inches is way more confortable to write documents or process pictures. But you can not have everything and, compare to a MBA, a MBP becomes VERY bulky and heavy. So my MBA will spend some time in my bag while my MBP will enjoy a bit more my desk(s).15 September 2011: Slaughterhouse, Abu Shouk Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp. [Click on the picture to enlarge it].

New project

“This is your life. Do what you love, and do it often. If you don’t like something, change it. If you don’t like your job, quit. If you don’t have enough time, stop watching tv. If you are looking for the love of your life, stop, they will be waiting for you when you start doing things you love. Stop over analyzing, life is simple. All emotions are beautiful. When you eat, appreciate every last bite. Open your mind, arms and heart to new things and people, we are united in our differences. Ask the next person you see what their passion is, and share your inspiring dream with them. Travel often, getting lost will help you find yourself. Some opportunities only come ones, seize them. Life is about the people you meet and the things you create with them so go out and start creating. Life is short. Life your dream and share your passion.”by Holstee11 September 2011: Mustafa Osman, 31, from Malam, North Darfur. [Click on the picture to enlarge it].11 September 2011: Adam Ahmed Abdallah, 59, from barakallah, North Darfur. [Click on the picture to enlarge it].10 years ago, I was in Singapore, trying to find out if the images on TV were real or a bad movie.3 years ago, I was flying to Sudan, trying to find out if Darfur could be a new chapter in my life.Today, I'm starting my last big photo project in Darfur, trying to find out what is coming next.

Visa

I attended, for the second time, Visa pour l'Image in Perpignan (South France). After a few weeks (if not months) very poor in term of images and an up and down mood, my inspiration and creativity were a bit low. Visa 2011 has been a massive electroshock. Great exhibitions, excellent projections in the evening and interesting discussions with other photographers till late at night, I'm flying back to Darfur with a few fresh ideas in mind. Shame I will only have about 3 months to realize them (as I won't extend my contract after December 2011). However, I feel it is time for me to move on, to bear new challenges and to open myself up to new experiences/horizons.Difficult not to mention every photographers I got the chance to see the work of but I particularly like the the work of Alvaro Ybarra Zavala and his excellent book Apocalipsis, Lu Nan in mental hospital in China and Fernando Moleres's exhibition on African Children in Prison.Inspiring and sometime very frustrating, when e.g. discovering the talent of Ed Ou, a young (24) and already (too :-)) talented Canadian photographer.22 August 2011: A Nepalese doctor checks the eyes of a Darfurian boy, during a free medical consultation provided by UNAMID to the population of Shangil Tobaya, North Darfur. [Click on the picture to enlarge it].

Life in Black

Blablabla. I want a room, somewhere in the world, to put all my books and my pictures. A room with a mattress on the floor and bookshelves. Even if I am never there.19 July 2011: Amina Usman, 18 years old, in Zamzam IDP camp, North Darfur. Amina sells charcoal everyday in El Fasher. [Click on the picture to enlarge it].

Contemplating

10 July 2011: A habitant of Sehjana village, North Darfur, during a meeting with UNAMID, UNHCR and other NGOs, to discuss the possible return of about 800 internally displaced persons (IDPs) from Kabkabya to Kutum. The rainy season has started and the reason and condition of their possible return still raise many questions. [Click on the picture to enlarge it].

Saturday Morning Thoughts

I have been a bit more geek lately and spent more time playing with my computer at night. I don't know if it worths sharing it but I'll let you judge:The movie industry has put in place restrictions to make sure you can not easily read in Europe a DVD bought in the US (and vice-versa). They mostly want to make sure they don't kill movie theaters by allowing customer to buy abroad movies that haven't been presented yet. Therefore, they introduced the notion of zone. The world is separated in height zones and you can only change zone five times before having your dvd player locked to the last zone used. It makes sense if you live in Europe but if you're traveling a lot or live in a country without movie theater but with people from all other the world, it's a bit problematic. For Macbook Pro users, the solution is quite easy. You just need to check if your DVD drive is zone free (RPC-1). If not, then just update your DVD firmware. Finally, use Region X to reset the zone counter. If you don't want to do it, you can either stop watching DVD, buy one laptop per zone or be a bad guy and only watch pirate movies (divx). But don't hold me responsible for anything.05 July 2011: A Darfurian internally displaced person (IDP) gives water to her cattle at Zamzam water point, North Darfur, Sudan. [Click on the picture to enlarge it].Finally, I have been testing the new google+ social network. Most of my friends and acquaintance are still not registered so it's difficult to have a final opinion but I particularly like the way the privacy settings are defined. The notion of circle is not different with the notion of limited profile on Facebook but is way more intuitive and you don't need a PhD from Facebook University to understand all the options (or simply to find them). Wait and see ...