An individual at work

Pastor

When given this first assignment I thought it was great as the subject “An individual at Work” touches one of my favourite subjects “Workers”.

We were given strict guidelines to follow in shooting the images: B/W, manual focus,with a 35 or 50mm lens, ISO up to 400.  Two weeks and three individuals at work. At first, I only saw the requirements and mentally going through possible subjects.  The word that stuck me the most was deconstruction. The strict guidelines given for our assignment are meant to de construct our ways of shooting an image. Somehow this freed something in me. I was to shoot in a different manner, that would restrict the technical vocabulary, but still different and new.  This restriction somehow has opened many doors. Within these restrictions,  I felt less restraint.

I am used to spend a lot of time with a subject, taking care to do a lot of research before hand.  Sometimes I get to know the subject for a while before I take the first image. Two weeks for shooting three separate individuals at work are quite a challenge to my working methodology.

I have mostly covered essays abroad with themes that I have been passionately involved in. My challenge was to find the same engagement within my door step.

We are not allowed to shoot above 400 ISO which for my indoor shots have been a real challenge.

The criteria I set out to myself in the choice of a work to document has been on the basis of wanting to found out more of the particular work.  In retrospect, I should have taken in consideration jobs that are visually stronger as well as the nature of the job versus light.  With some of the images such as the florist ones, I struggled with the poor light and a lens that did not open up further than a f3.5.   of what would have been more visually strong but I didn’t. Oops!

A Pastor
A Child minder

A Florist

Taking pictures of Reuben (Pastor) was quite challenging as a lot of his work at the moment is done in a study room. From a photographic point of view, this could be considered rather boring. However, I was quite taken by the intensity of his work. After some  time , I think that he was so absorbed in his work that he completely forgot about me.  Consequently, some of my ‘favourite’ pictures belong to this session.

Jolanda (childminder). I have been thinking that this is a job that although most of us has an idea of what consists of, it just so much depends on the others routines.  Jolanda cooks, takes care of children in more than one home. Her day is take by the routine of the household she enters. Jolanda did not mind  that I was taking pictures of her, but I could feel her tension.  Only in our last session, I have been feeling that she was getting used of me with a camera and being more relaxed.

A florist

Keira (florist) The subject is visually strong. The main difficulty or frustration is that the subject was moving fast and with a slow shutter speed a few images turned out blurry.

MA Photojournalism and Documentary Photography January 2012

It was wonderful to start on this collaborative and educational journey by joining into the MA on Photojournalism and Documentary Photography at London College of Communication.  I have decided to take on the on line mode so that I can carry on working, being a mum, whilst studying. The on-line mode has an inspiring aspect to it; photographers from various parts of the world sharing experiences at the same time as well as a vast arrays of creative backgrounds. The course started with Paul Lowe session explaining the course structure, the philosophy and the various on line platforms available to us to share and to communicate. Some of it feels daunting to me such as forums where I am often too shy to pitch in with my thoughts. After the initial orientation, the whole group introduced themselves in three separate sessions with the presentation of past work and/or work in progress.
The group showed interesting, engaging and awesome work. I am really happy to be part of it.
I have pondered a lot on what to share. I decided on my projects on the Dark Truth of Coal Miners, the Widows of War in Kosovo, and a couple of most recent work, Living with Loss in Campania,Italy and the Roma communities in Bulgaria.

Kiustendil Roma ghetto

Occupy London

Occupy London is an ongoing global demonstration against economic inequality, social injustice, corporate greed and the influence of companies and lobbyists on government taking place in London, UK. The Occupy London protests are also backed by the tax avoidance protest group UK Uncut.The planned march on the 15 October 2011 ended in the occupation of the square surrounding St Paul’s Cathedral in London. The protests began in solidarity with the Occupy Wall Street protests in New York, United States. Occupy London has also established another encampment in Finsbury Park.
Occupy London outside St. Paul’s Cathedral in London. St.Paul’s Cathedral, 23rd November 2011.

The road to Freedom -Syria

The road to Freedom march for Justice and the end of oppression and killings in Syria took place in London. The march started at Paddington Green and headed off to the Syria Embassy in Belgrave Square. Supporters cheered, chanted and vowed defiance to the regime in their country. 29/10/2011 London, UK

“Unwanted in Europe”

My long term photo project on unwanted communities in Europe will be shown in Iceland. I am very proud of this as the project is not only a fruit of years but I hope that it will be an eye opening on the sad realities that are literally on our footsteps. I will be presenting this work in a public space, in the shopping mall Kringlan in Reykjavik.
Alongside the exhibition there will a series of workshops with local NGOs around the theme of social inclusion.

Unwanted in Europe
In Europe, minorities continue to live in fear, insecurity topped with overwhelming prejudices, isolation and discrimination.
We are witnessing societies whereby the minorities would be primarily seen in very mean paid jobs, if they would be able to reach employment at all. We are also looking at increasing marginalisation transforming numbers of populated areas into ghettos or rather the ghetto-isation of a number of communities due to their ethnic origins or socio-economic status.
One of such groups is the Roma population that after the collapse of the communist block were they had found reprieve and work, found themselves unemployed and unemployable and evermore discriminated against. The Roma are the largest minority in Europe and according to the European Commission’s estimation their number is over 12 millions, exceeding the population of many countries within the European territory. Their large presence in Europe that dates back centuries combined with their unique language, customs and traditions has not being recognized or valued. The nomadic roots of minorities like the Roma and the Irish Travellers have often been questioned and perhaps used as a justification for the lack of tangible efforts in integrating them.
What we are witnessing today is a lack of understanding and closure towards groups that are not mainstream and being put aside or driven out because of their being different.

Photography Exhibition
“Unwanted in Europe”
Kringlan – Reykjavik
24 October – 06 November
Opening 24 October 16:00-18:00

Living in a ghetto

Rom in Bulgaria, immagini dal ghetto

Testo e fotografie di Cinzia D’Ambrosi
I Rom sono la minoranza più numerosa in Europa: ben oltre i 12 milioni secondo le stime Ue, superando così la populazione di molte nazioni appartenenti alla Comunità Europea. Nonostante questo, la lingua, la cultura e le tradizioni dei Rom non sono state riconosciute ed accettate e la loro marginalizzazione non è diminuita. Cittadini europei o meno, i Rom non hanno le stesse opportunità degli altri e le loro comunità vivono in periferia delle città, nei ghetti, in campi illegali o in enclavi. Discrimati, esclusi; quasi tutte le grandi città europee hanno delle zone ghetto dove le popolazioni Rom sono costrette a vivere. Fakulteta Mahala il più grande ghetto di Sofia, Bulgaria, racconta di una realtà triste per le popolazioni Rom. Entrandoci, in questo come in qualsiasi altro ghetto del Vecchio Continente, ci si dimentica di essere sul suolo europeo.
Il seguente reportage è parte del progetto “Europe Unwanted”, in mostra dal 24 Ottobre a Kringlan in Reykjavik, Islanda. [www.cinziadambrosi.com]

Marginalized Communities in Europe: a journey in photographs

Unwanted in Europe by Cinzia D’Ambrosi | Make Your Own Book

Londoners pay respect to victims of 9/11

Families of some of the 67 British victims of the tragic events of the 09/11 terror attack in New York gathered on the 10th anniversary at the memorial gardens in Grosvenor Square, to pay their respects. London. UK. 11th September 2011

Dale Farm Irish Travellers in last bid to save their homes – Wickford

Basildon Council is set to spend over 18 million pounds to evict the largest Irish Travellers community at Dale Farm in the UK. Up to 90 families with children will lose their home. One of the arguments used is that the travellers site is on a green belt field. However, the Travellers say that the land has not been a green area since 1950 and that in fact they built their homes on a registered scrapyard. As it is approaching the 19th September, the date set for their eviction, the Travellers went to Wickford to demonstrate hoping that their voice will be heard, in one of their last bid to save their home. Wickford, Essex, 10/09/2011

Dale Farm Irish Travellers outside Wickford railway station.

Basildon Council is set to spend over 18 millions pounds to evict the families.

Dale Farm Travellers at Wickford

Dale Farm Traveller demonstrating in the town of Wickford.

The Travellers have not been given an alternative site to the Dale Farm

A young girl holds a sign. Among the 90 families set to lose their homes at Dale Farm, many are children.

Up to 90 families will lose their homes

Most Travellers have been living at Dale Farm for over 10 years.

Dale Farm Travellers are fighting to remain in their homes

The Dale Farm Travellers in Wickford town.

The Travellers do not have a great support from the local community.

Dale Farm Travellers demonstrate in the town of Wickford

Many children will also lose out on schooling if the eviction goes ahead.

A Dale Farm supporter in the streets of Wickford.

Dale Farm travellers face evictions

Basildon Council is planning to evict the resident of Dale Farm, the largest travellers community in the UK. These are the last days to save their homes of 10+ years before the eviction notice forces them to leave. United Kingdom. 27th August 2011