Photographers:
BOREAL Spotlight - Alex Potter - Yemen: A Fine Balance
“Do not sigh, for your enemy will hear and rejoice” – Yemeni ProverbIn 2011, many countries of the Arab world erupted in never-ending scenes of uprisings, protest, and dissent. The age of digital media allowed the world to witness the details of conflict throughout the Middle East. Except in Yemen. The tight restrictions placed on the media and deportation of many journalists restricted the access of the outside world to the injustice, bravery, and change occurring throughout Yemen in 2011. As hundreds were killed during riots, when the government waged war on its own people, when tribal militias and rebels fought against the government troops, and when Ali Abdullah Saleh was forced out of the presidency – very few outside Yemen viewed these key moments of the revolution.
I recently spent two months documenting Yemen during and immediately after the presidential election. Continuing anti-government protests and the persistence of the peaceful residents of Change Square, the water shortage due to a booming population and qat cultivation, a looming malnutrition crisis in rural areas, and sustained militancy in the north and south: these are all challenges Yemen is facing in addition to re-building the government. The photos aimed to bring forth the spirit of the Yemeni people – courage in a hopeless situation, a deep yet unassuming national pride, and warm generosity. The prevailing force in Yemen is at the beating heart of its citizens, and through the news, the outside world hears only of Al Qaeda and conflict, nothing of the nation-wide inner strength.
BC - When and why did you decide to take on this project?AP - In February 2012, I had originally planned to attend the Cultural Festival of the Islamic world in Najaf, Iraq. Minneapolis (my home city) and Najaf are sister cities, with diplomatic and cultural ties, so we were sending a delegation of people to document the event. However, since Iraq’s infrastructure is still very fragile, things were not completed, so the event was canceled. I sat in Amman, Jordan for two weeks, trying to come up with a story there. Then on February 18th, I read about elections in Yemen, applied for a visa, bought my ticket, and left at 2:00AM on the 19th. A bit out of character for me, but access to and news regarding Yemen during the Arab Spring was very limited, so I was curious.
BC - Once you arrived in Yemen, what sorts of challenges did you encounter and how did you manage them?
AP - Normally getting a visa for Yemen is very difficult, virtually impossible during the revolution. But the government and media wanted the world to see Yemen stepping toward democracy, so I was able to get one at the airport thanks to the Yemen Times. I was on a special ”visitor” visa, so when the month was over and I tried to extend it, I ran into two weeks of trouble. There are three kinds of visas, all with their own restrictions and difficulties - but a few very helpful Yemeni friends helped me sort it out. The only other difficulty was getting to important stories outside of Sana’a. To travel outside the capitol on the roads you need a tasreeh, a permission slip, and areas with refugees, IDPs, and the crisis of malnutrition all required this elusive document. I eventually was able to get to Aden and Hodeidah, but never north.
BC - Did you have contacts in Yemen before you went?
AP - Before I applied for my visa, zero. The night I bought my plane ticket, I emailed the Yemen Times, and a few expat journalists who were very helpful. When I arrived, everyone was extremely helpful - I knew no one, yet Yemenis and other journalists helped show me the ropes.
BC - Was it difficult gain access to your subjects?
AP - Some yes, some no. Daily life, the protests, documenting the elections - that was all exceedingly easy. People wanted to show the world Yemen now, the progress, the struggles, and just the country in general. Almost everyone I met was very friendly and open to telling their story. However, road travel outside cities is very restricted, as I mentioned before. So when I wanted to go north - to talk to migrants stuck on the Saudi border and Yemeni’s displaced from the conflict in Sa’ada…that just didn’t happen.
BC - How has your approach to this story changed since you first began?
AP - When I arrived, I knew nothing about Yemen. The little I read the night before and the little coverage during the Arab Spring - thats it. I think this helped and hindered - I had no expectations or perspective beforehand, but I also was a bit naive to the situation. I learned quickly thanks to fellow journalists, Yemeni friends, and shooting something nearly every day. I am planning (hoping!) to return periodically over this two-year transition period Hadi will be president to see the progress and continued struggles. Yet I want people to see the true Yemen, the spirit of the people, the deeper cultural issues as well as the news-worthy ones; I hope that through my work people can connect with Yemen on a personal level. It is a beautiful country with amazing and passionate people - I want to be a bridge to show the mutual humanity.
- Alex Potter Boreal Spotlight Alex Potter Yemen Photography
TAGGART: Canadian Geographic, June 2012
Pick up the June 2012 Canadian Geographic for a piece on the off-grid project Jonathan is working on with Phillip Vannini, “Life off the grid: An ethnographer and videographer meet the people whose homes produce all the energy they need“
The article is accompanied online by a short video piece Jonathan produced on Lasqueti Island, British Columbia – a crash course in the motivations and values of many off-gridders – and will be available in print next month.
Taggart Canadian GeographicVINCENT ELKAIM: “A Co-existence” featured in the National Post
Aaron’s current exhibition at the Pikto Gallery was featured in the May 22nd National Post. If you haven’t already viewed the exhibition, it’s being displayed until May 31st. Details can be found here.
Click here to view high-res.
Vincent Elkaim National Post MoroccoBOREAL Round-up - 05.22.2012
Photo collectives, Boreal included, have been getting a lot of attention lately.
Boreal gets a shout-out in this entry from the New York Times LENS blog.
Rafal and Brett discuss the collective’s future plans and fighting evil in this article at Wired’s Rawfile blog, “Forging New Paths? 7 Budding Photo Collectives Speak.”
Jonathan has dusted off a personal project from last year: a look through his childhood neighborhood, which is now undergoing serious change in Vancouver. This series was shot using an iPhone, “a tool of necessary evil in my line of work, but the quintessential identifier of the generation that is transforming the neighborhood.”
Jonathan recently visited the opposite end of the country, spending time with people living off-the-grid in PEI. See below for an early look.
Pick up the latest issue of Canadian Geographic for more new work by Jonathan from his off-grid project - you can head to their website now to see a video.
Ian has been nominated for a National Magazine Award for his photo essay “In the Shadow of the Oilsands,” published by This Magazine.
This essay focuses on Ian’s ongoing work with the residents of Fort Chipewyan. Congratulations to the two other nominees - winners will be announced in Toronto on June 7, 2012.
Ian’s currently enjoying Serbian Pizza Pizza and bribing his way onto sold-out trains, all the while filing new work for the New York Times (“Serbia, at a Crossroads, Prepares for Elections”) and his latest project, “Why We Walk.”
Have you been arrested or detained in the recent Montréal demonstrations? Brett is hoping to create a new chapter of his “Prisoners” series, and wants to hear from you. He’s currently in Montréal covering the demonstrations. Please get in touch with him at contact@brettgundlock.com.
Brett was one of the selected Canadian winners in the 2012 Magenta Flash Forward competition for his work on Neo-Nazi skinheads. Congratulations to all of the winners.
Thank you to all who came out to the opening night of Aaron’s CONTACT Photography Festival featured exhibition. “A Co-Existence: Lost in the Wake of Zionism” continues this month at Pikto Gallery until May 31st - don’t miss it.
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Boreal Recommends:
Tim Smith on his “Struggles With Documenting the Hutterites of Manitoba.” An insightful post on the relationship between photographer and subject.
Gerszak Gundlock Willms Taggart Vincent Elkaim
