humbleness and respect

On the third day of the NOOR-NIkon Masterclass for Documentary Photography in Istanbul, our participants learned about being sensitive and compassionate storytellers.

“As photographers we have a big responsibility to inherit the stories of the people that we photograph," explained Benedicte Kurzen during her presentation. "We have to ask ourselves how we represent the countries that we are covering and realize what is the perception at the end of the road for the audience back home.”

“I feel that I am kind of close to you guys in a way. I am 34 and I have been shooting for about 11 years now," she said. "I see that you are having the same questions that I am having sometimes.”

She first showed a personal body of work about eight years of South Africa, the country she recently left to move to Nigeria. Benedicte, who moved away from home when she was 17 and moved to Palestine when she was 23, said that she sometimes still struggles to understand where she belongs and how she participates and observes in the places she lives and works.

"I also realized that the way people perceive you plays an important role," she said. "For example, in South Africa, white people are sometimes still associated with apartheid. For me humbleness and respect are therefore key.”

When discussing how to work with editors, Benedicte stressed that if photographers have knowledge that editors might not have, they need to communicate it. “You know your country better that any editor who sits in an office in New York, London or Paris,” she said.

You should never say "no" to an editor, Stanley Greene added, but personal vision is critical. Ideas often come from the text department, but aren’t always visual, he said, which is why you need to explain beforehand how you see the story and how you want to shoot and visualize it.

The group continues to learn a lot and have a great time at the masterclass!

Images by Frank Zuidweg. 

kadir van lohuizen's via panam exhibition in san jose, costa rica

NOOR's Kadir van Lohuizen has just launched an absolutely stunning exhibition in La Antigua Aduana gallery, San Jose, Costa Rica for his project, Via PanAm, as part of the Festival Internacional de las Artes.

To complete the project, Kadir traveled from Puerto Toro, Chile, the southernmost human settlement in the Western Hemisphere, to Deadhorse, Alaska, a journey of about 28,000 kilometres in 40 weeks.

You can also enjoy the interactive project from home by downloading the Via PanAm iPad application. But if you are in the San Jose area, it's definitely worth checking out his work up close and in person! The exhibition runs until April 13th, 2014.

Images by Kadir van Lohuizen.

a fresh set of eyes

After a great first day, NOOR photographers had practical and creative advice to share on the second day of the NOOR-Nikon Masterclass in Documentary Photography in Istanbul, Turkey.

“The danger, for all of us, is that you stay in the comfort zone. Whereas if you try and experiment, you might be surprised with the outcome”, explained Jon Lowenstein, recapping the individual portfolio reviews.

 

“I can see that some of you struggle with what you feel are important elements for the story and your creativity. The illustrative images are often the weakest ones,” said Benedicte Kurzen.

“Having an ‘idea list’ is great, but when you follow the list too rigidly, you miss out on the images that are magical,” continued Jon.

“I sometimes work with a list of things to capture in order to tell a story, but an ‘emotional’ list. Feelings that I am trying to show in images: fear, isolation, relief, etc.,” said Andrea Bruce.

In the afternoon, three groups were formed and each group discussed and edited a small assignment the participants prepared around the theme of "fragile".

“It has been a great experience editing my work with Andrea and the other participating photographers," said Achilleas Zavallis from Cyprus. "Having the input from these photographers with diverse backgrounds, coming from different countries, gave me a new perspective on my own work. Being able to get their collective knowledge helps me to look at my work with a fresh set of eyes.”

The masterclass continues until the end of the week. Check back to see how the next few days go!

Images by Frank Zuidweg.

istanbul masterclass

Yesterday, the 2014 NOOR-Nikon Masterclass in Documentary Photography kicked off in Istanbul. For five days, 14 photographers originating from 10 different countries in the region get together with NOOR photographers Andrea Bruce, Benedicte Kurzen, Jon Lowenstein, and Stanley Greene; and NOOR’s managing director Evelien Kunst.

Situated in the headquarters of a 19th-century Imperial Ottoman Bank, SALT explores critical and timely issues in visual and material culture, and cultivates innovative programs for research and experimental thinking. “We could not think of a better venue to organize the NOOR-Nikon Masterclass in Documentary Photography”, said Serdar Darendeliler, co-founder of Genis Aci Project Office, who hosts the event this year.

The participants want to improve their editing skills, learn more about the market, grant writing, planning, preparation, how to organize and present themselves to editors, and other practical things. They are also very interested in ethic debates and general discussions on how to stay motivated and find new collaborations. “I want to learn how to transform an idea into a visual story,” said Yasaman Dehmiyani from Iran. Meanwhile, Ozge Sebzeci from Turkey is interested in finding out more about how to approach long-term projects and decide when they are done.

 

During one-on-one portfolio reviews, the photographers got to know each other and their work better. The first day concluded with a presentation by Andrea Bruce, in which she showed work from various personal projects and assignments she did for the New York Times over the past year, including her powerful work from Damascus. 

“For me, the most important thing to do in news stories is to humanize them," said Andrea. "To show that people are living a day-to-day normal life, even in conflict situations. I see it as my role to educate the people that read the newspaper at the other end of the world.” On the question of whether she ever felt threatened or if people got angry with her, she answered, "I believe in the power of respect. You have to respect people and then you will gain their trust."

There are many different topics to discuss and more to explore in the coming days, and we are already off to a great start!

Images by Frank Zuidweg.

third anniversary of the syrian crisis

"March is also March in Syria, [...] the whites of the flowering almond branches, the orange of tulips and then this temperate, kind wind, full of light and jasmine. Then, in the house on your left, yesterday, just before sunset, Asma committed suicide. A bullet in the head – March isn’t March, in Syria. She was 13." — from a feature by NOOR's Stanley Greene.

Tomorrow is widely recognized as the third anniversary of the worst humanitarian crisis in modern times: the Syrian civil war. About three years ago, minor protests in Syria in response to the Arab Spring and government corruption escalated to large-scale unrest. The ongoing armed conflict between rebel groups and forces loyal to the Ba'ath government has created almost 2.5 million Syrian refugees, according to the UNHCR.

In 2013, NOOR's Stanley Greene and Andrea Bruce worked extensively to cover the Syrian crisis, following those involved in the fighting and the civilians and emergency workers caught in between. As winter turns to spring and the first flowers tentatively bloom, we invite you to take a look at Crisis in Syria, our collection of stories about the conflict, and remember that March may not be March in Syria.

hidden scars: a stanley greene retrospective exhibit

This spring, Polka Galerie in Paris, France will host an exhibition for NOOR's Stanley Greene. The retrospective exhibition, entitled "Hidden Scars", will span several essays throughout Stanley's continuing photographic career, from some of the first images he made in San Francisco's emerging punk scene to his recent work from Chechnya in late 2013.

The opening is next Thursday, March 20th and the exhibition runs until May 22th. Drop by and see this fantastic show if you are in the area!

yuri kozyrev's ukraine coverage in time magazine

NOOR's Yuri Kozyrev has stayed very busy with his Ukraine coverage for TIME Magazine—first in Kiev, then in Crimea. His work in Kiev was TIME's cover story in their March 10 issue, and his Crimea work was featured in their March 17 issue.

Tearsheets from the Kiev cover story:

 

Tearsheets from the Crimea story:

 

afghan americans exhibit

Last Friday, Andrea Bruce's Afghan Americans opened at the International Gallery of Contemporary Art in Anchorage, Alaska. The exhibition runs until Saturday, March 29.

Andrea chose to photograph Afghan-Americans who came from the United States to Afghanistan after 2001 to rebuild their country. They are businessmen and artists, politicians and aid workers. Many are idealistic believers in the democracy the United States promised. Now, faced with governmental corruption and an increase in violence, many are considering returning to the States.

pep bonet on filmmaking

Last week NOOR’s Pep Bonet and Nikon Netherlands kicked off a new series of one-day multimedia trainings with exciting lectures in Amsterdam for members of the Dutch press, ANP and NPS. 

Being extremely fascinated by the fact that nowadays HDDSLR photo cameras also have the capability of shooting HD video, Pep crafted himself into shooting documentaries with DSLR cameras. This resulted in several short documentary films, including the award winning ‘Into the Shadows’, a pursuit into the lives of hundreds of thousands of Africans living in the inner city of Johannesburg.

Pep shared his experience and in-depth knowledge of all aspects that come with filmmaking, starting out with audiovisual presentations - where Pep and sound designer Jose Bautista put images and music together - to full length documentary making.

“In filmmaking you absolutely have to know, before you start, what the message is that you want to convey. More so than in photography, where playing around with the editing and building the story afterwards is much easier”, says Pep.

Pep stressed that in order to make a good production, many times you have to be independent. “To be independent in doing your own projects, means that you are free to express yourself. I believe that young creators now have the responsibility of challenging themselves with the actual technology that is available. I think it is important to confront yourself and be critical of your own work. Always put your goals further than you think you can achieve. You will end up learning more from mistakes then from things that went well. When time passes we all learn and change, but be realistic at the same time,” says Pep.

He also shared a lot of tips and tricks on technical accessories; some that are indispensable and some that you can leave out or could easily construct or adapt yourself.

Anja, one of the participants said that for her “the technical possibilities nowadays really feel like a liberation, more or less the same as with the move from analogue to digital. We have so much more possibilities to express ourselves.”

Pep showed some of his latest projects, like ‘Into the Shadows’ and ‘Forced’ and explained that for him it is still important to mix stills and footage. “I always use the photos as suggestions [Pep shared] to let the audience stop and think.”

Pep also made it clear that filmmaking is much more about teamwork. “Team up with the people that you want and need around you, and push them to make them feel what you are after.”

“I can't wait to focus myself on a certain subject. You were an inspiration!” said Piroschka, one of the participants.

The coming year, Pep will tour Europe for more one-day multimedia trainings in cooperation with local Nikon offices. If you want to know if Pep is conducting one near you, please contact the Pro Rep at the local Nikon office and/or contact NOOR to book Pep.
 

Images by Harvey Williams-Fairley.

westward bound - the travels of father & son

Andrea Bruce | NOOR

Omar & Mustafa are farther and son, close friends of NOOR photographer Andrea Bruce, and together, they travelled nearly 3000 miles to arrive in peace at Omar & Mustafa's new family home.
 

In 2013 Omar made the heartbreaking decision to move his family from war torn Iraq to Riverdale, MD, in search of a brighter, more optimistic future. Having been confronted with the high cost of living, a bed bug ridden apartment and bad schools in Riverdale, Omar has been forced to relocate his family once more to Portland, Oregon; in search of the promises that bought them to the USA in the first place.
 

'Baghdad, Iraq | This is @andreabruce_noor reporting with Omar and Mustafa, father and son from Iraq who are road-tripping across the United States to their new home in Portland, OR.'

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Andrea decided to accompany the pair on their journey, one so few Americans make. Documenting the experience through her cell phone, the adventure was a unique experience for all three, a situation Andrea & Omar probably never thought would be theirs.
 
 

 Andrea gave details about her experiences along this journey, which was a unique time for all three.

"Before we left DC with his 15 year old son Mustafa (his wife and two younger children flew to Portland, OR, ahead of time to find an apartment), I bought a road map of the United States to show the scale of the trip we were taking. And I'm glad I did. But it wasn't until we reached California that the size of the US was truly apparent to Mustafa, Omar and myself. I've never made a trip across the US like this. Few Americans have, I told him."
 

'Maryland | Omar leaves his Maryland apartment for a future in Portland, OR.' 

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"I've known Omar and his family since 2003, when he started working for The Washington Post. I was a staff photographer for the newspaper until 2010...we always worked together when I was based in Iraq during that time. He didn't mind the dangers involved in working with photographers. He gives meaning to the phrase quiet-confidence. I am simply quiet. We spent whole days, sometimes weeks, together, barely speaking, but always on the same page. He has saved my life, quite literally, and was one of my closest friends."
 
 

'New Mexico | We have an oil leak. Nice guys on Old Route 66 helped us out.' 

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"I haven't seen him in the three years since 2010 when the US pulled out of Iraq...until his family arrived in Riverdale, MD, just outside of Washington, DC. Thanks to the NY-based Iraq Refugee Assistance Project, he finally made it. Of all of the Iraqis who worked with The Washington Post, he was the most optimistic about his country. He decided, almost too late, that it would be best for his children to leave. (I have to mention, The Aftermath Project also awarded them money to help in the move.)"
 
 

'Texas | Talking on the phone with concerned family and friends.'

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"Those first months were brutal for him and his family. I'm sure it is for any immigrants anywhere. If it wasn't for this move, and friends who promised something better in Oregon, I'm sure they would've gone back to the brutality of Iraq, where friends and familiarity still exist. Around DC there was a horrible school system, especially for children who speak no English. A high cost of living. Not a single positive response to a ton of job applications. And, the final straw, a bed bug infestation in their entire apartment complex. They had to throw out everything they recently bought."
 
 

'Maryland | Omar and Mustafa throw out most of their belongings in order to leave bedbugs behind.' 

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"While driving with Omar on this road-trip, we would often look at each other and laugh. Especially while I was driving. I'm not sure he even knew I could drive before this trip. And when in Texas it felt so much like Iraq that we would have to mention it. "Who would think we would be doing this through America," Omar said. I agreed."
 
 

'Texas | "Texas is like Iraq, brown and flat," said Omar. With a few exceptions.' 

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"They were both amazed at the emptiness and size of our country. Even I was at times. We would drive for hours without seeing a real town. We went from the city, to the Appalachian mountains, through the south, to desert, then pine trees and mountains. We saw tumbleweeds, snow, rain, lots of ice. There was the grand canyon, dry desert and huge pine trees. Omar loved the pine trees...and that there were so many different types in so many different landscapes. "
 
 

'Arizona | "I love America. We drive for five days and no one stops me. No one asks for my ID. No one asks where I'm going. No one asks what I'm doing," Omar said on our way to the Grand Canyon.' 

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"Mustafa once said "I still haven't seen America." Omar agreed...they meant that in the movies you basically only see New York or LA representing the US. But in reality it is mostly small towns and countryside...which is all we saw on the trip."

'Tennessee | We woke up to this guy parked next to our tiny mini-van. Decided to take the southern route across the US to avoid ice and snow.' 

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"I'm happy Omar agreed to let me document the trip. And Instagram was a more simple, and personal, approach. Using a cell phone to document this was important. I want people to get to know this man and his family...but I am a part of this story. And the central focus was to help Omar make sense of my crazy country, as he helped me make sense of his beautiful one for many years."  
 
 

'Oregon | From their new home in Portland, OR, Omar and his daughter Masarra.'