Jason Florio’s images – taken over a 15 year period – as part of a slideshow he was invited to present about his work at Athens Photo Festival, Greece, 2013 (APhf:15).
Earlier this year, we traveled a short distance across the border, south of The Gambia (where we have been based for the last 8-9 months), into the Casamance region of Senegal – on assignment for a local NGO, Concern Universal, who we have worked with on previous projects. The purpose of this assignment was to document a celebratory forest festival in the village of Koudioubé – a juddering, hold-onto-anything-fixed-down and mind-your-head-whilst-you’re-at-it, 20 minute drive on a deeply rutted ‘road’ (which, we were told by the driver, is often impassible during a heavy rainy season) through the bush, from the small town of Diouloulou.
What the villagers have achieved – in a region where, for 30 years, communities have been broken apart by civil war, and forests have been decimated – is truly uplifting…
‘Local orginazation, ASIPID, a partner of Concern Universal, came up with the idea to the peace and save the remaining forests… .
The Koudioubé Community Forest – managed by four communities, was the first to be protected. It’s regeneration has been a source of celebration for the community. Then this grew to 8 more communities, who have set up community forests. Now many more want to follow...’ (read more on the video) – CU, The Gambia & Senegal.
To find out more about traditional masquerades (as pictured above) in West Africa, you may like to read about our new multimedia project, on this very subject – which we will continue to work on when we return to West Africa – here.
In November, 2013, before we headed down to The Gambia, West Africa, to present our first ‘Photos Tell Stories‘ photography workshops, Jason was invited to exhibit his award winning portraits of village chiefs, ‘Silafando‘ – taken whilst on our ‘Short Walk in the Gambian Bush –930km African odyssey‘ – at the Athens Photo Festival (APhf:15), Greece, along with presenting a slideshow of his work – which spans over fifteen years.
As a photographer, his work has taken him around the world – covering a wealth of subject matter. Therefore, it was a tough edit for him. However, his time on the stage at APhf was limited – which helped somewhat, in narrowing down what he had time to show.
All of the following photographs tell a story… many of which are just as relevant in today’s world, as they were when originally shot.
We can hardly wait to get back down to West Africa, to carry on working on our personal projects – one of which is a photographic anthology of the traditional masquerades of The Gambia, West Africa.
As a photography producer, my work takes place behind-the-scenes of assignments, ensuring that everything runs as smoothly as possible for and during shoot days – often a lengthy process from pre through to post production. Perks of the job? Watching Jason Florio at work – his knack of putting all those he works with so quickly at ease is continually inspiring – you can see, from the end results, how well he does this. There is another aspect of our work together, which I enjoy in equal measure – watching the fascination, amusement and, often, bemusement on the faces of those people you don’t see in the final edit… those outside of the frame.
Don’t get too close to the ‘Fairies’! Banjul, The Gambia
Here comes the bride – Banjul, The Gambia
On guard! Banjul, The Gambia
There is a photographer somewhere in this photograph – Banjul, The Gambia, West Africa
There is always time to interact with the kids – Kembujeh village, The Gambia
Locals stay well clear of ‘The Hunter’ – Kembujeh village, The Gambia
Street photography -Banjul, The Gambia, West Africa
Jason’s camera is loaned to a budding photographer – from a Malian masquerade group, Banjul, The Gambia
I do, however, think that I can safely add ‘security person’ to my résumé now – when on so many of our shoots, I regularly have to keep thirty curious kids from jumping in front, gesticulating madly (double thumbs up, gangsta style backwards peace sign, and smart military-like salutes, being the top three), of Jason’s lens!
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