Shiny, Happy People

The Welcoming Committee

Returning to Belarus for another three weeks.

Istanbul Boys

Living Under Lukashenko or Within the Soviet Shadow

Final Project

Title: Either "Living Under Lukashenko" or "Within the Soviet Shadow"

Short Summary of Intro: Labeled by many western politicians as "Europe's last dictator," Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko is serving one of the longest continuous leaderships of a post-Soviet nation. First elected in 1994, Lukashenko has maintained his control by winning two more controversial elections - the latest in 2006. Although he receives international criticism for his strong-armed rule, poor human rights record, suppression of government opposition, control of the media, lack of economic reform and re-nationalization of private companies, internally, Lukashenko stills garners widespread support from the population, many of whom call him "Batka" or "father". Promoting himself as a "man of the people," the former collective farm manager dismisses scorn over his authoritarian rule, claiming it to be his country's only alternative to instability and from slipping into the same dark period of social dislocation seen in Russia in the 1990s.

But Lukashenko's grip on power and his vision of "market socialism" has made his country a political, economic and information island within Europe. More than 27 percent of a population of 10 million live in poverty. Belarus is not rich with natural resources. Much of its economy is supported by the subsidized import and re-export of Russian oil and gas at market prices. But Russia, which has the greatest political and economic influence on Belarus, has dramatically raised its price for gas and oil going to its western neighbor. Analysts now believe Lukashenko will not be able to continue his role as a "provider" to the people and survive this economic storm as it builds pressure. While his government is financially bankrupt and barely surviving with IMF loans, internally a growing financial and political elite are beginning to prod for more liberalization and privatization. Rumors of all sorts blow through the streets of Minsk and across the marshes of the Polesie region, guessing how much longer he can hold on to his power.

During his time in office Belarus has retained the strongest connection with its Soviet past. Statues of Lenin loom over city and town squares; collective farms employ thousands, although under miserable conditions; May Day parades continue in Minsk with workers and athletes now carrying Lukashenko portraits; most of the economy is state owned; the national security force is still called the KGB; and most of the population plods along in an information black hole. In many ways, Belarus still is the Soviet Union. This project aims to document this transitionary post-Soviet to post-Lukashenko period by capturing the daily survival of the population and the eccentricities of what make Belarus unique in a post-communist Europe.

Product: I have already had two exhibitions in Sweden on this longterm documentary project, which was started in 2006. I have another solo exhibition scheduled for May 2010 in the Eksjö Museum. This new exhibition will include work from Belarus, as well as images of my work in other post Soviet republics in the Caucasus and central Asia. For the purpose of this LCC MA course I will be producing a photo book of roughly 150-200 images, including digital images shot with Nikon DSLRs and medium format film images shot with a Hasselblad.

Current status: One three-week trip completed with the focus on Minsk street scenes, the Catholic minority near Lithuania, culture, youth interests and fishing (one of the largest past times). A second trip of two to three weeks is scheduled with my arrival in Belarus planned for Oct. 21. The second trip will focus on collective farming, the Polesie Radiological zone and village life, the Polish and Ukrainian minorities near Brest and the work of NGOs treating people suffering from physical and mental disabilities as well as suffering from poverty. Images from these two trips will be combined with images shot during six weeks in 2006.

Images for review:

2006 tight edit

2009 loose edit from September

2009 tight edit from September

2009 medium format of Soviet-era icons

Back Into the Belly of the Beast

After three weeks of absolutely wretched photos and wasted time I am returning to the place I love to hate and hate to love. I plan to work on four smaller stories over a two- to three-week trip that will get me out of the capital and into the other half of the country. It is part of the story desperately missing. Departure date set roughly for Oct. 21.

It's Killing Me

Three weeks of crap photos. I'm feeling sick to my stomach.

Back in Belarus

Borders - Water Crossings

Sweden shares 2,200 kilometers of land borders with Nordic neighbors Norway and Finland. But it’s the connection Sweden has with the rest of Europe along its 3,200 kilometers of coastline via ferry traffic that helps shape much of the country’s culture and economy. Currently more than 40 ferry lines connect Swedish shores with more than a dozen other European countries. These lines support commerce and migration as well as tourism and entertainment.

This presentation of audio slideshows – four chapters of photos and audio recordings – explore several of the themes that connect Sweden with other European countries. Passengers on four of the main ferry lines tell in their own words why they are on the journey and how it is a part of their lives.

Three young adults make the short journey to Denmark to buy alcoholic products cheaper than in Sweden due to a lower tax rate. A Croatian truck driver explains his monotonous routine, a lifestyle shared by thousands of long-distance truckers who sustain Sweden’s commerce with the rest of Europe. A Polish ship builder travels to the far north to secure a financial future for himself and his family. As a farewell gift to a friend moving away, a group of 20-something Swedes enjoy a daylong party on possibly Sweden’s most famous ferry line.

As ferries travel nonstop day and night across watery boundaries, these stories document that, although disconnected by land, Sweden still maintains strong links with the rest of Europe.  

Explore the multimedia project.

Ferry Route 1 - Helsingborg to Helsingor

"More beer, more beer. All I want is more beer." 

The first of five ferry trips leaving Swedish shores has been completed for the Borders project. I chose the 20-minute journey from Helsingborg to Helsingor (Denmark) to begin the five-part series so I could get a feel of how successful or unsuccessful the project may turn out.

"When I get home from work and I'm dyin' of thirst
All I want is more beer.

I run into the kitchen and I tear off my shirt
All I want is more beer."

This aim of this trip was to document the popularity of this route as a liquor and beer shopping trip by avoiding the high tax rate on alcohol in Sweden. This ferry route claims to be have most frequent trips in all of Europe. And the ferries run 24 hours.

"Open up a six pack I'll be downin' it first
All I want is more beer.
I can open up and finish faster than you
All I want is more beer."

The main way of presenting each of these five journeys is to tell it through a single person or group of people who are on each ferry route for a specific purpose. On this route I met three young adults whose sole purpose was to buy beer and liquor on the boat and return home to Sweden, never disembarking on the Danish side.

"Gonna kill a case or maybe two
All I want is more beer.
If there was no more beer then what would we do
All I want is more beer."

I will edit each of the three trips in an audio slideshow format, recording short interviews with the subjects and capturing natural sound. The five chapters will be presented as one package at the end.

"More beer, more beer
All I want is more beer."

Preview: Ferry trip part two will be the Sweden-Germany route to focus on the trade industry between mainland Europe and northern Europe.

- lyrics courtesy of Fear, from the song More Beer on the album More Beer

Borders Project - Ferry Routes

Five ferry routes to shoot for the Borders project:

1. Helsingborg to Helsingor (Denmark)

2. Trelleborg to Travemunde, Rostock or Sassnitz (Germany)

3. Ystad to Swinoujscie (Poland) or Karlskrona to Gdynia (Poland)

4. Stockholm to Riga (Latvia)

5. Stockholm to Helsinki (Finland)