Innholdsfortegnelse for September 2023 i Lens Magazine

Nicholas Bonner, owner of Koryo Tours & Studio, has been running tours and cultural exchanges with North Korea since 1993, in addition to producing and directing films focused on the country. Amongst various art projects, Bonner co-curated the DPRK inclusion for the 6th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art in Brisbane in 2010 and co-curated the North Korea content for the Korea pavilion at the 2014 Venice Biennale which was awarded the Golden Lion. His books include "Made in North Korea" and "Printed in North Korea" published by Phaidon. Bonner works with a number of emerging artists in North Korea by providing them with a platform to experiment outside of their everyday restrictions. His ongoing projects include the creation of North Korea’s first children’s international film festival and setting up…

GATOR WILDERNESS CAMP SCHOOL FOR BOYS IS A PRIVATE, NON-PROFIT (501C3) SCHOOL LOCATED ON 250 ACRES OF SUB-TROPICAL SAVANNA IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA’S RURAL CHARLOTTE COUNTY. ACTIVITIES ARE STRUCTURED ON "THERAPEUTIC CAMPING" PRINCIPLES, INCLUDING SHELTER CONSTRUCTION, MEAL PLANNING, AND WILDERNESS TREKS. ALL BUILDING PROJECTS ARE CONDUCTED USING MANUAL TOOLS ONLY. THE CAMP AREA HAS NO ELECTRICITY. THE BOYS' AGES RANGE FROM 13 TO 17 YEARS OLD. PARTICIPANTS LIVE AT CAMP UNTIL THEY GRADUATE BASED ON SOCIAL PROGRESS OR UNTIL THEY REACH THE AGE OF 18. "MY OLD FRIENDS GOT ME INTO DRUGS. THEY DRAG YOU DOWN, AND THEN THEY LEAVE. THEY'RE NOT HERE FOR YOU AFTERWARD." "IT’S A SAFE PLACE TO WORK THROUGH PROBLEMS WITHOUT GETTING TREATED DIFFERENTLY FOR OUR ACTIONS." I once read that many of the best photojournalists will…

When a Kassena woman dies, she is taken back to her parent’s house along the same route she took when she was married. During the marriage, she lives in her husband’s house. Here, she gives birth to her children in the presence of all the wives of the head of the family, symbolizing that the whole house gives birth and showing that the children belong to the house, not to the mother. The houses are built of clay. In the Kassena belief, the clay earth is the uterine regenerative source of life. The responsibility for the care and maintenance of the houses lies with the women. The houses are grouped into a concession that, in earlier times, served as a fortress. The concession is an organic structure that evolves according…

My passion for photography started at an early age but started to make sense when I arrived in Chad in 2013. Why did Chad trigger my interest? Chad counts not less than 250 different ethnic or sub-ethnic groups who have never suffered from the negative impact of tourism, offering an incredibly diverse playground first for my eyes and quickly for this passion that had to be put on standby due to life obligations. Since then, I have not stopped taking photos for my own pleasure. Three years ago, I started to post my photos on Instagram. Each photo I take is not just a photo. It’s a whole story. The people I photograph are people with whom I connect and forge links. The caption related to my photos is as…

"PHOTOGRAPHY IS A CONDUIT THAT ALLOWS ME TO REVEAL THE DIVINE PRESENCE SURROUNDING US, OFTEN HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT. THROUGH THIS MEDIUM, I AIM TO REVEAL BOTH THE ETERNAL AND THE INVISIBLE TO THOSE CONTEMPLATING MY WORK."- ANGELIKA KOLLIN Angelika Kollin (b. 1976) is an Estonian Fine Art/Documentary photographer currently residing in Tampa, USA. She is a self-taught artist completing the Academy Fotografika 1.5 yearlong online documentary photography course in 2023. Angelika passionately engages with photography and art as a means to explore interhuman connections and intimacy. Her work is driven by a lifelong yearning to understand and gain a deeper perspective on human loneliness and suffering and faith’s role in overcoming these challenges. Angelika’s photography is characterized by its honesty and unapologetic directness, which she skillfully balances with an…

Japan, a country roughly the size of California, offers a seemingly endless variety of photographic and adventure opportunities. While first-time travelers tend to make the classic pilgrimages to Tokyo, Nara, Kyoto, and the Hakone region for views of Mt. Fuji, those with the time to extend their stay or to come back again should venture forth camera-in-hand onto the road less traveled and into the heart and soul of the country. In conjunction with my speaking engagement at the Adventure Travel World Summit 2023 in Sapporo on the northern island of Hokkaido, I did a pre-summit hiking and cycling tour up the off-the-beaten-track eastern Tohoku coastline with tour operator Michinori Tohoku. It was in this area that the Great East Japan Earthquake struck, creating a devastating tsunami on March 11,…

In the high-altitude region of western Tibet, the Changthang plateau stretches 1600km into the remote and barren landscapes of Eastern Ladakh. As part of both the Himalayan and Karakoram mountain ranges, at altitudes of 4300 to 5800 meters (14,000 to 19,000 ft), it is the world’s highest permanently inhabited region and the home of the nomadic pastoralists known as the Changpa. The Changpa have lived intricately connected to this harsh but beautiful high-altitude landscape since fleeing western Tibet centuries ago and have learned, over time and through necessity, to coexist in a resilient and sustainable way with the unforgiving harsh climate. But times are changing. The Changpa raise yaks and pashmina goats, who rely on deeply cold temperatures to nurture the growth of a fine, soft, and extremely valuable undercoat.…

THE WODAABE CONSIDER LIFE A TAPESTRY OF SUFFERING AND JOY, REGARDING TRADITION AS A MEANS OF SURVIVAL. Pressed between the endless stretch of sand dunes of the Sahel Desert and the fertile grasslands of the African savannah, an immense steppe of land is the domain of the Wodaabe tribe. In this part of the world, nomadic life is directed by a never-ending search for water in an unforgivably arid climate. Though constantly on the move throughout the year, when rain visits the dusty terrain, the Wodaabe gather for an extraordinary seven-day festival called the Gerewol. Adorned in brightly colored cloth, beads, feathers, paint, and shells, the Wodaabe men dance under the hot desert sun to test their charm and endurance. After hours of dancing, singing, and parading, the female judges…

"WITHIN THE FOUR CORNERS OF A PHOTOGRAPH, I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CAPTURE THE RAW INTENSITY OF PEOPLE, TRIBES, AND CULTURES THAT HAVE MANAGED TO MAINTAIN THEIR CONNECTION WITH THEIR ANCESTRY. A DIGITAL TIME CAPSULE, IF YOU WILL."-BILJANA JURUKOVSKI Biljana Jurukovski is a Macedonian Australian acclaimed photographer whose artistic journey has taken her to different corners of the world, capturing the essence of humanity and shedding light on rarely visited communities. As a woman in the photography field, Biljana fearlessly breaks barriers and ventures into territories traditionally dominated by men. Her determination to push the boundaries of her craft has earned her global recognition and numerous awards. Biljana’s photographs have been showcased in galleries and festivals across the United Arab Emirates, Paris, New York, Berlin, Barcelona, and her homeland, Macedonia.…

"LEGEND HAS IT THAT THE SPORT ORIGINATED IN THE ALPINE REGION, WHERE SHEPHERDS WOULD COMPETE TO SHOWCASE THEIR PHYSICAL STRENGTH AND AGILITY."-JOSEF BUERGI Switzerland, a country renowned for its picturesque landscapes, rich cultural heritage, and precision engineering, is also home to a unique national sport known as Schwingen. This traditional Swiss wrestling style has captivated the Swiss people’s hearts for centuries, symbolizing their national identity, strength, and camaraderie. Schwingen, also known as Swiss wrestling, dates back to the early 19th century and is deeply rooted in Switzerland’s rural traditions. Legend has it that the sport originated in the Alpine region, where shepherds would compete to showcase their physical strength and agility. Over time, Schwingen evolved into a formalized wrestling discipline, gaining popularity among the Swiss population. Schwingen is characterized by…

LITTLE IS KNOWN ABOUT THE 'NOMADES ARABES' LIVING IN CHAD AND, LEAST OF ALL, ABOUT THEIR FESTIVALS AND CUSTOMS. DURING THE DRY SEASON, THEY STAY NEAR THE RIVERS FOR A LONGER PERIOD OF TIME, GIVING THEM TIME TO CELEBRATE. IT IS WEDDING SEASON. Little is known about the 'Nomades Arabes' living in Chad and, least of all, about their festivals and customs. During the dry season, they stay near the rivers for a longer period of time, giving them time to celebrate. It is wedding season. Directed by the bride’s mother, a colorful group of women build the future home for the newlyweds in a matter of hours. All the components have been constructed in months of preparatory work leading up to the wedding and are now spread out on…

For the Kurmanji Kurds in Iran’s northeastern Charam Kohan in Kalat, tying the knot is the most important event in anyone’s life that is celebrated with a colorful and joyful ceremony; they have managed to preserve their centuries-old wedding customs and are still practicing many of them in their traditions. The ceremony, which is praised for strengthening social cohesion within the tribe, has been registered on the National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage. The outstanding feature of the ceremony is the special centuries-old customs. My name is Hoda Barakat; I am 30 years old. I was born and grew up in Mashhad, a city in the northeast of Iran. One of my pocket lists for this year was to be published with my photo in an international magazine, and I'm…