Comments on: Ed Kashi Travel Notes – A return to the Niger Delta reiterates the challenges of overseas photojournalism http://blog.livebooks.com/2009/07/ed-kashi-travel-notes-a-return-to-the-niger-delta-reiterates-the-challenges-of-overseas-photojournalism/ A collaborative online community that brings together photographers and photo industry professionals of every kind to find ways to keep photography relevant, respected, and profitable. Tue, 16 Mar 2010 21:10:39 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: ed kashi http://blog.livebooks.com/2009/07/ed-kashi-travel-notes-a-return-to-the-niger-delta-reiterates-the-challenges-of-overseas-photojournalism/comment-page-1/#comment-6173 ed kashi Tue, 21 Jul 2009 14:09:08 +0000 http://blog.livebooks.com/?p=9884#comment-6173 John, I was lucky where I was staying in the Government House..their generators were quiet and far away. But it's true in these countries you must learn to live with the constant drone of generators. Think about what it's like for the people living there all the time. John, I was lucky where I was staying in the Government House..their generators were quiet and far away. But it’s true in these countries you must learn to live with the constant drone of generators. Think about what it’s like for the people living there all the time.

]]> By: john densky http://blog.livebooks.com/2009/07/ed-kashi-travel-notes-a-return-to-the-niger-delta-reiterates-the-challenges-of-overseas-photojournalism/comment-page-1/#comment-6142 john densky Tue, 21 Jul 2009 02:16:59 +0000 http://blog.livebooks.com/?p=9884#comment-6142 I just returned from Nigeria and man oh man I can echo some of those sentiments! Nigeria by and large was the most difficult place to photograph I have ever photographed. From the maddening "Africa time" to the officials who come out of the wood work at the sight of a camera or onjibo. Amazing bunch of folks I have met there but very, very simple tasks can turn into multiple day herculean events with little one can do save go along for the ride. I am just surprised at the "electricity" part Ed!?!? How can you sleep through the droning of those generators? John www.galler7.com I just returned from Nigeria and man oh man I can echo some of those sentiments! Nigeria by and large was the most difficult place to photograph I have ever photographed. From the maddening “Africa time” to the officials who come out of the wood work at the sight of a camera or onjibo.

Amazing bunch of folks I have met there but very, very simple tasks can turn into multiple day herculean events with little one can do save go along for the ride.

I am just surprised at the “electricity” part Ed!?!? How can you sleep through the droning of those generators?

John
http://www.galler7.com

]]> By: duckrabbit http://blog.livebooks.com/2009/07/ed-kashi-travel-notes-a-return-to-the-niger-delta-reiterates-the-challenges-of-overseas-photojournalism/comment-page-1/#comment-6110 duckrabbit Fri, 17 Jul 2009 17:51:47 +0000 http://blog.livebooks.com/?p=9884#comment-6110 Try Ethiopia ... the Head of Save The Children once told me he was impressed if just one thing got done, and he had 800 staff. Thanks for the insight Try Ethiopia … the Head of Save The Children once told me he was impressed if just one thing got done, and he had 800 staff.

Thanks for the insight

]]> By: Daniel http://blog.livebooks.com/2009/07/ed-kashi-travel-notes-a-return-to-the-niger-delta-reiterates-the-challenges-of-overseas-photojournalism/comment-page-1/#comment-6104 Daniel Fri, 17 Jul 2009 09:39:49 +0000 http://blog.livebooks.com/?p=9884#comment-6104 This sums up working in Africa (ok maybe elsewhere, but Africa has its own pace) Trying to get stuff done here, on a timely basis, is impossible. I guess you get used to it in the end, but damn it's hard work. This sums up working in Africa (ok maybe elsewhere, but Africa has its own pace)

Trying to get stuff done here, on a timely basis, is impossible. I guess you get used to it in the end, but damn it’s hard work.

]]> By: kg http://blog.livebooks.com/2009/07/ed-kashi-travel-notes-a-return-to-the-niger-delta-reiterates-the-challenges-of-overseas-photojournalism/comment-page-1/#comment-6099 kg Thu, 16 Jul 2009 17:57:08 +0000 http://blog.livebooks.com/?p=9884#comment-6099 this sounds like italy. this sounds like italy.

]]> By: Michael Friberg http://blog.livebooks.com/2009/07/ed-kashi-travel-notes-a-return-to-the-niger-delta-reiterates-the-challenges-of-overseas-photojournalism/comment-page-1/#comment-6098 Michael Friberg Thu, 16 Jul 2009 17:22:32 +0000 http://blog.livebooks.com/?p=9884#comment-6098 I recently shot a documentary in Northern Uganda and I can totally relate to this. EVERYTHING is canceled at the last minute. NOTHING is on time. Nothing makes sense, and everybody is trying to get something from you. It feels like every second of footage or roll of film shot is like climbing uphill with a bungee cord attached to a weight at the bottom of the hill. Ultimately you just have to let go and do what you can without loosing control. I stayed composed for the most part but by god there were times when I thought I was going to murder somebody with my tripod. I recently shot a documentary in Northern Uganda and I can totally relate to this. EVERYTHING is canceled at the last minute. NOTHING is on time. Nothing makes sense, and everybody is trying to get something from you. It feels like every second of footage or roll of film shot is like climbing uphill with a bungee cord attached to a weight at the bottom of the hill. Ultimately you just have to let go and do what you can without loosing control. I stayed composed for the most part but by god there were times when I thought I was going to murder somebody with my tripod.

]]> By: Marc Climie http://blog.livebooks.com/2009/07/ed-kashi-travel-notes-a-return-to-the-niger-delta-reiterates-the-challenges-of-overseas-photojournalism/comment-page-1/#comment-6093 Marc Climie Thu, 16 Jul 2009 15:16:54 +0000 http://blog.livebooks.com/?p=9884#comment-6093 While my trips to Nigeria for weddings were nothing like the experiences Ed has had (I won't take weddings in Delta State), I find myself nodding in agreement to all the difficulties he's encountered. My very first trip there and my very first day saw my driver forcibly arrested and taken away, leaving me in Lagos alone with only cell contact with my client and no uniquely recognizable landmarks for them to find me. One and a half uncomfortable hours later, I was found by my hosts. It turns out it was just a way to extort some money from the family. I feel like I've been quite lucky on those trips, but I make sure I am with someone in the family, and they make sure I stay out of trouble. Still, everything there is fast and loose, and the rules change with the direction of the wind. Ed is right in that nothing works, not even new things. Nothing is on time. Schedules are a fantasy. The difficult nature of just getting around and getting things done means things are done when they get done. Forget time. Just go. But the people I have been with have been genuinely lovely and are some of the nicest people I've ever met, and I'm very happy to have experienced their hospitality. They do the best with what they have. While my trips to Nigeria for weddings were nothing like the experiences Ed has had (I won’t take weddings in Delta State), I find myself nodding in agreement to all the difficulties he’s encountered. My very first trip there and my very first day saw my driver forcibly arrested and taken away, leaving me in Lagos alone with only cell contact with my client and no uniquely recognizable landmarks for them to find me. One and a half uncomfortable hours later, I was found by my hosts. It turns out it was just a way to extort some money from the family.

I feel like I’ve been quite lucky on those trips, but I make sure I am with someone in the family, and they make sure I stay out of trouble. Still, everything there is fast and loose, and the rules change with the direction of the wind. Ed is right in that nothing works, not even new things. Nothing is on time. Schedules are a fantasy. The difficult nature of just getting around and getting things done means things are done when they get done. Forget time. Just go.

But the people I have been with have been genuinely lovely and are some of the nicest people I’ve ever met, and I’m very happy to have experienced their hospitality. They do the best with what they have.

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