Blogging for NPAC
I’m blogging this week for the News Photographers Association of Canada while on assignment in Ethiopia.
Check it out day one HERE
Magnum Expression Award Finalists
I’m extremely excited to be amongst the finalists for this award for images taken of people living on the burning coal fields of Jharia, India. Check out all the finalists HERE
Canada, France, India…
This week marks my last week of shooting the project on my hometown, Wallaceburg(pop.11,000) for Canadian Geographic. It’s truly been an amazing summer documenting the community I spent the first 18 years of my life in. From turtle hunting to childbirth, this summer has provided me with non-stop reminders of why I became a photographer in the first place. People are amazing, and experiencing different stages and moments alongside them is truly a gift.
This weekend I head to Toronto for a few days, then it’s off to Visa Pour L’Image in Perpignan, France, before heading back to India where I will begin an assignment for an NGO immediately in the south. Lots of excitement to come, so stay tuned!
Bombay Flying Club Featured on NYT’s [Lens] Blog
Our first Chapter of Wasteland featuring the people who live on Jharia’s fiery mines is featured today on the New York Times [Lens] Blog.
Check out the our piece and the rest of this inspirational blog designed by Zach Wise and crew at the Times.
From the blog: ““Wasteland”
Are you prepared to spend six minutes in hell? This is the question posed at the beginning of “Wasteland,” a mulitmedia documentary project by Bombay Flying Club. And with good reason: as the first installment of a series on industrial pollution, “Wasteland” explores the burning coal fields of northeastern India. Whole families live and work in the toxic dust, their homes built on burning ground. Many make a living by illegally collecting baskets of coal to sell for the equivalent of $1 to $1.50, enduring extremely hazardous conditions.
Bombay Flying Club is composed of two Danish photojournalists and one Canadian videojournalist. Their motto is “online journalism as it could be.” It’s easy to see why.
The entire multimedia package is presented in black and white, and the film delicately weaves video and still photography. The images are elegant and beautifully composed, which at times distracts from the horrific realities at hand — instead of sweltering suffocation, some images convey a cool detachment.
But the film is undeniably stunning. “Wasteland” should not be missed. (K.B.)”
Interviewing the Dalai Lama
HERE is a piece that I shot working with writer Edward Wong for the New York Times this week.
I don’t let many people rub my tattoos, but the Dalai Lama got away with it.
He greeted me with a big smile, rubbed a tattoo that runs down my arm, and slapped me, all while laughing heartily.
I have to say, the Dalai Lama has rock star status in my books. I don’t usually get too excited to meet celebrities, and political leaders, and I know I’m not the only journalist with that reaction. A couple years ago I photographed him in Toronto, and at the end of his speech there were more journalists reaching out to shake his hand than general public.
This week, I’m working in Dharamsala, India for the New York Times. Another great experience to add to my first six months as a freelancer. I can’t believe two weeks from now I’ll be back in Canada for two months to work on an assignment before returning to India again. I miss this place already, the love/hate relationship that it is…
Dharamsala, India: The Dalai Lama – Images by Brent Foster
Hell Hole featured on BURN Magazine
A selection of photographs that I took as part of a project with Bombay Flying Club colleague Poul Madsen and radio journalist Line Wolf Neilsen are featured on BURN Magazine today.
Check it out HERE.
BURN is curated by Magnum photographer David Alan Harvey, and features the work of emerging photographers.
Holy Waters
My parents are visiting from Canada so it’s time for me to take my first little break and see some of India’s sights, and of course make some pictures along the way. Our first couple nights were spent in Delhi, followed by a trip to “the Holiest City in India,” Varanasi. I had my own little spiritual journey making photos. My days consisted of waking up at 4 am and walking the ghats, a boat ride, and some quality family time. Here are a few images from the trip to the exhaustingly wonderful city. Off to Rajasthan next, then back to work April 16.
Varanasi – Images by Brent Foster
Wrapping up Wasteland
Poul, Line, and I are wrapping up our project with busy times to come.
We have a day and a half left of shooting, and are working to fill the gaps in the project. Very excited to edit this project back in Delhi in the coming months. Here are some of my images from the story so far.
Poul’s images can be seen here
The Wasteland Project
I’m in Dhanbad working with Bombay Flying Club team member Poul Madsen and radio journalist Line Wolf Nielsen on the beginnings of a Bombay Flying Club project we will be launching sometime in the next couple months entitled The Wasteland Project.
Our first chapter in the project takes place in Kujama and focuses on the effects of open coal mining. This is my fist project as part of Bombay Flying Club, and Poul’s first project shooting video with the 5d Mark II.
We’re very excited with what we have so far. Stay tuned…
The most beautiful place on earth
Never in my life have I experienced such beauty. Explaining Kashmir as the California coast meets the rocky mountains and everything in between doesn’t begin to do it justice. Neither do pictures.
I’ve spent the last four days working on a project which started in Srinagar, and led me to quite a few small villages towards the line of control in Indian occupied Kashmir.
I’m working on a portrait project and multimedia piece on half widows- women whose husbands have disappeared during the conflict. Without proof of their husbands death they are unable to re-marry, receive funding, and often are cast out of society.
There are thousands of them according to NGOs in the area. This is a project that I hope to continue to work on over time. The challenge is most of them are in the villages surrounding the India-Pakistan line of control and take a long time to get to. I will be back however, hopefully many, many times.
Sweating under a blanket and talking to myself
Thankfully this time it’s not due to illness. Well sort of. I feel a bit ill doing it. Narration that is. This is my first go at it, as I spent the better part of the last week working to produce a multimedia piece for Time Magazine. I’m actually doing it more as practice and a placer as the editor plans to remove my voice and narrate the story, which I am more than content with. I’ve battled this for a while, and I knew it would come eventually.
Narration for me has always been something television does, not a photojournalist. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not knocking any one way of doing anything, I just have always felt for me, it doesn’t work. I’m no Ira Glass.
I’ve learnt a few things from the first go.
1) It forces me be a better photojournalist- Writing a script, collecting information, and knowing the story inside and out.
2) I suck at it. I counted down 5,4,3,2,1 about fifty times. I tried to time it while watching the video with no volume, and then swore. Repeat that 50 times over, and you get my experience.
3) Lastly, when renting a flat, seek out a room with a carpet. It may save the whole blanket look.
Aside from that, life in India has been grand. I’ve been shooting the odd still assignment, producing several multimedia pieces, planning a couple trips, and dealing with visa issues(not so grand while doing this one). Thankfully I’ve been able to extend my Indian visa, and start to call Delhi home.
From Delhi to Dharavi
It’s been a busy few days but I am loving my job right now. I’m in Mumbai working on a couple assignments for various clients in Dharavi, Asia’s largest slum, which is home to more than a million people, mainly due to the Slumdog Millionaire hype. I’m here till Friday producing a multimedia piece, and shooting another still assignment for a national newspaper. In the meantime, I get to make pictures. Dharavi is a bit of a challenge for me considering the people who have been here and photographed this place. Three of my favorite photographers have set foot in Dharavi and done some incredibly inspiring work. I’m trying to look at it as a chance to document an incredibly important story whether or not it’s been done before. I’m trying to make it my own, and to enjoy being in one spot for a decent amount of time to simply document life. Throughout the week when I’m not shooting other assignments, I will be updating this gallery.
Toilet, sink, floor
The day started the same way it ended, and Rick slept through the whole thing. As I wanted to cry for my mother, there I sat alone, spewing from both ends, shivering and shaking to the point of hallucination. I filled the toilet, the sink, the floor. Several times over.
The poor man who had to clean it up. The poor people who rushed me to the hospital. The poor person who had to clean it up at the hospital. Oh, and then there’s Rick. He slept through the whole thing.
Today has quite possibly been the longest day of my life. For those who missed yesterdays blog, I am traveling with Rick Westead of the Toronto Star on an assignment for a couple days.
I started to feel ill come dinner. Even as we were loading up on naan and curry I knew something wasn’t right. I thought a shower would help, but it was all downhill from there. I’ll spare you anymore details. Lets just say the evening ended with a shot in the ass.
Rick and I spent the day with local police in India’s north. They were such great hosts. As we drove with them from town to town, village to village, they put up with Rick, and even myself.
As we set out to head back to the station I puked out the back of their vehicle. Many times. And that’s how this post ends as frankly, I feel too crappy to write anymore.
Things are looking up!
Everything in India is semi-private. Picking your nose, peeing on the street. It’s all a sort of public affair. No one really looks, but it’s all done in plain view, and I’m quite content with that.
I spent most of the morning learning from my mistakes. A real shocker. The theme of the week.
Last night I slept in a cold room with a very wet blanket. All my own fault. Thought the idea of laundry at 2p.m was brilliant. I had no clean underwear after all. Turns out things don’t dry so well when the sun goes down.
This morning I awoke quite grumpy, with a fear that I may have caught pneumonia. Didn’t help that I forgot to turn on the hot water before a shower. Turns out I haven’t figured it all out.
Today I started to get to work. Spoke to several contacts, and visited that NGO that Natalie and I had hoped to meet up with the day before.
After that I headed to meet a reporter friend of mine here in Delhi. We had a great dinner, hung out for a while, and are heading out of Delhi on assignment before sunrise tomorrow morning. He even let me use his wi-fi access. Oh the luxury of being a staffer.
Things are looking up!
A dog day Delhi afternoon
I am blogging this week for the News Photographers Association of Canada.
See fullposts here.
Wow. I’m working as an international journalist. How romantic. Traveling the world, camera in tow. How prolific. I’m living the dream and running free. Enjoy the journey, I keep hearing. You enjoy the journey; I just want to take pictures. Moving, still, audio, multimedia. I’m sick of the debate. I just want to run away and tell stories. Wait, I’ve already run away. Now what about the stories? Well to be honest, I’m having a hell of a time wrapping my head around this place. Everything seems like a story, yet nothing seems like a story. I better get on that.
Today was another exciting day at the office. Try to contain yourself while reading this blog. I dare you.
I spent the day waiting for the Internet to arrive at my new place. She stood me up. The candle is still melting; I’m still waiting. I had hoped to spend at least part of the day visiting an ngo that I hope to hook up with for a story. But there’s always tomorrow.
Today was certainly a new day. A dog day, if you will.
This fine sunny Tuesday marks a week in India. When I reflect on the past seven days they feel like a month. That being said, I’ve figured out the basics: what’s up is down (light switches), what’s left is right (steering wheels). In fact, a lot was accomplished, and I am one modem away from having officially set up shop. Ready to roll. Bring on the assignments. Oh wait. Obama’s not in India…hmmm. Maybe they’ll come in a few days. I’ll keep you updated.
The Delhi dilemma
I am blogging this week for the News Photographers Association of Canada. Will be posting a similar version here as well, but please check out the full version on NPAC’s site.
Plain and simple. Today sucked.
The morning started with a trip to the Ministry of External Affairs Publicity Division.
To get to that you need to know a bit of the back story.
On Friday last week Natalie Alcoba, a friend and colleague who is taking a year leave from the National Post to travel and write, and I went to the Foreigner’s Regional Registration Office. After standing in line for an hour or so, we made it to the front just in time for lunch break at the FRRO. Promptly, everyone picked up and left and returned a half hour later to assist us.
We were there to extend our journalist visas, which are currently three months. Many people I know have come to India to work on tourist visas, but I felt it smart to take the journalist visa approach as I have heard story after story of people not being able to come back to the country after working as a journalist on a tourist visa. Google does wonderful things.
After meeting with the FRRO, we were sent to the Ministry of External Affairs as we were informed that a letter was needed from them to extend our visas. After arriving at the Ministry of External Affairs we were sent to the Ministry of External Affairs Publicity Division. It was closed. This brings us to today. I hope it sounds as confusing as it is.
Today we made it to the Publicity Division where we met with a man who gave us bad news. Chances of extending our visas were slim to none. Not going to lie, my heart sunk more than a little. I know it’s two and a half months away from expiration, but I really want to sink my teeth into a country, and am extremely interested in what India has to offer. From the day I got here I pictured India being a lifelong project. I am infatuated with the people, the country’s environment, and the divide of new and old, rich and poor.
I gave my pitch to the man at External Affairs, as well as the letters that I brought from my past employers who intend to use me as a freelancer. I was told the main concern is no one is responsible for me. I’m not part of a bureau, and the man stated his other concern was they don’t want journalists to move here who can’t sustain themselves, and start other businesses within the country.
I gave it my best. Told the truth, and made it very clear who I am and what I do and reiterated the fact that I have no plans on becoming a jewel merchant. All I can do now is cross my fingers, work hard in the time I’m here, and start to look at a plan b. I left the LA Times because I want to live, and work internationally. It’s just looking like India may not be the place I plant roots for long.
In the meantime the weekend was spent looking for places to live. After seeing 15 places, Sunday ended with a successful find in an area known as Green Park.
After the stomach sinking visit to the Ministry, we met our new landlord. Things went well in the end, after a bit of a stressful meeting. There were concerns such as visas, 11 month leases, wanting cheques rather than cash, and price negotiations, but in the end things worked out and we immediately moved upstairs. Nat’s room has a nicer toilet than mine, but alas, not battling that one.
Our hood is awesome. There’s an alley right beside our place loaded with merchants, and people cooking fresh street food. A cow walked in front of our place today, which made me more excited than most of the locals. Samosas run 3 rupees in the new hood(8 cents Canadian) and are the best I’ve found so far.
The day ended as unpleasantly as it started. India is amazing, communication wise. It’s very cheap to set up a cell phone and internet access via a usb modem that will work country wide. Unless you own a Mac.
We spent the rest of the evening going from internet cafe to internet cafe, hotel to hotel in search of wifi. Wireless was banned in all coffee shops and public areas after the Mumbai attacks. The night finished with traveling back to a hotel we had previously stayed 15 kms away from the new pad to send this blog post, and will be capped off with dinner and a much needed beverage.
Tomorrow is another day…
Hello Delhi
Day one. Get bearings. Find cell phone.
Everything I’ve read was true. The congestion, the smog, the traffic, the touts, the beggars, the beautiful women in saris, the men drinking chai, the smell of samosas frying, people yelling, and horns honking. What I didn’t picture was myself fitting somewhere within that scene.
My first 24 hours has been an interesting mix of culture shock, excitement, and relief in that order.
Let’s start with the culture shock.
Today I awoke, and Natalie Alcoba (see her blog here) the writer I am traveling with and I decided to take a walk since we were still on North American time, and the sun was just rising. Late last night we arrived in India, and cabbed it to an area of New Delhi called Karol Bagh, a section of Delhi populated with shops, and a plethora of people.
Natalie and I walked our way through the dusty streets as the sun rose creating streaks of light down long straight alley like roads. Most people went about their business, and we worked hard not to get run over. My close call was a bus, Natalie’s a motorcycle. I like her odds on that one. The real culture shock set in when we were walking back to our temporary hotel and a woman threw a used sanitary napkin at my shoe as part of what I can only assume was a scam set up with the many young shoeshiners on the street. I have heard feces being used in a similar fashion, but that one honestly cough me off guard.
Onto excitement. The great cell phone hunt.
Natalie and I spent the rest of the morning, into the late afternoon on a search for a cellular. After a long rickshaw ride, we went from shop to shop trying to haggle our way into the best deal. By lunch we felt defeated and took a break over some mutton, and chicken, then back at it. Eventually we both walked away phone in hands ready to attempt tomorrows venture, find a place to call home for a while and set up shop.
Lastly relief.
Back in Karol Bagh we went on a hunt for food and a beer. No dice on the beer, but some great samosas and aloo tikki.
Day one complete, and onto the next adventure. My goal is to up and running for freelance assignments in a weeks time.
10 days and counting… here’s my gear list
I’ve had quite a few inquiries and with 10 days to go before I head to India to start my freelance career I thought I’d share the gear I plan to take along with me. I’m trying to keep my load as light as possible, but also want to make sure I have everything I need to get the job done properly. Happy New Year!
Cameras:
(2) Canon 5d Mark II and 6 batteries
(1)Canon HV20 video camera with twoneil adapter and 3 batteries
(1)Canon G7 with underwater housing with 3 batteries
Lenses:
(1)Canon 24 1.4
(1)Canon 50 1.2
(1)Canon 135 2.0
(1)Nikon 35 1.4 for the HV20
Audio:
(1)Rode Video Mic
(1)Beachtek apapter
(1)Rode NTG-2 Shotgun Mic
(1)Sony MDR-7506 headphones
(1)Zoom H4 Audio Recorder
(1)Sennheiser EW112P bodypack lavalier kit
Computer/storage:
(1)15″ Macbook Pro 2.8 GHz w/4GB ram
(1) Drobo with 4 terabytes
(1)250 gig LaCie Rugged Drive
Accessories:
(1)Canon 580ex speedlite
(1)Canon STE2 Transmitter
(4)SanDisk Extreme 16 gig cards
(2)Sandisk 16 gig SD cards
(3)Card readers
(1)Ipod touch
(2)XLR mic cords
(1)Manfrotto Modosteady 585
Not to be missed – Left Behind
Left Behind, by Dai Sugano at the San Jose Mercury News. This multimedia piece is not to be missed.
Thanks to Richard Hernandez at Multimediashooter for pointing it out.
The Places We Live
From a release at: http://www.aperture.org/tpwl/
In 2008 more people live in cities than in rural areas. One third of city dwellers, more than a billion people, live in slums. In The Places We Live, Magnum photographer Jonas Bendiksen presents sixteen homes in four different slum areas: Caracas, Venezuela; Mumbai, India; Nairobi, Kenya; and Jakarta, Indonesia.
