The magazine of the art-form of the photo-essay
“A free, really high quality photo-essay magazine. Fabulous!”
Stephen Fry. British actor, writer and film & documentary maker
Oct 2014 back issue
John Pierre Laffont
To commission Jean Pierre or to request prints of his work: www.jplaffont.com
Jean-Pierre Laffont was born and raised in Algeria and Morocco. He completed his Master
Degree in Photography at the Arts et Métiers School of Vevey (Switzerland) in 1959
In 1965 he moved to the U.S. and began his career as Photojournalist.
In 1969 Jean-Pierre became the first foreign correspondent for Gamma.
In 1970 with his wife Eliane Laffont, they opened the U.S. office of Gamma Press Images
agency. He covered the main American events of that period.
In 1973 as co-founding member of Sygma Photo News agency, his work expanded to the
coverage of international events in Japan, Korea, Africa, India, China, the Middle East,
Poland and U.S.S.R.
In 1979 his photo documentary of child labor around the world was awarded the Oversea
Press Club Madeline Dane Ross Award, the University of Missouri School of Journalism
World Understanding Award and the World Press First Prize, General Picture Category.
His photographs are featured in major publications around the world and gained high
recognition through numerous awards.
In 1996, a retrospective of his work was presented at the International Photojournalism
Festival Visa pour l'Image, where he was honored with the National French Order of
Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres.
Vidhyaa
To commission Vidhyaa to request prints of her work: www.vidhyaa.me
I‘m Vidhyaa, a passionate photographer based in Dubai and a marketing graduate working
for an engineering consultancy in Business Development.
My love for photography began in 2011; it’s a true passion, which relaxes and excites me a
lot, so much so that I graduated from the New York Institute of Photography, published my
work in several international magazines and freelancing for leading local newspaper in
Dubai.
I love people, faces, so I do a lot of portraiture. Currently, I am doing 100 strangers project
where I am getting lot of experience. My vision is to explore globally, I love walking long
way with music and my camera in the streets of a large city. I am most excited to know
about the people and places; I love colors and textures and the liveliness of life and my
Simon Lambert
To commission Simon or to request prints of his work: www.simonlambert.fr
31 years old photojournalist, I’m part of the collective of photographers Kaïros, and my
work is distributed by Haytham Pictures agency. I live and work between Paris and the
Southwest of France.
Before becoming a photographer in 2012, I was, for about a decade, a sound engineer in
broadcasting and live performances in Toulouse, Montreal and Paris, where I settled down
in 2009. In 2012, I joined the photojournalistic training at EMI-CFD in Paris, which brought
me the technical and journalistic skills I needed to practice photojournalism. With my
sound and photographical skills, I am able to realize multimedia projects as well as print
orientated work.
Besides my collaborations with the French national and regional press, my professional
and personal interest goes to subjects such as music, teenagers or health. These directions
can be seen in my project “Josem, un peu, beaucoup, à la folie”, which allowed me to win
the Mark Grosset prize in photojournalism in 2013 at the Promenades photographiques de
Vendôme. Native of the Landes, in the Southwest of France, I am also interested in the
Andrew Renneisen
To commission Andrew or to request prints of his work: www.andrewrenneisen.com
Andrew Renneisen (b.1992) is an American documentary photographer and 2014
graduate of the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University.
In 2013, Andrew was selected for Eddie Adams Barnstorm XXVI and was honored by the
Alexia Foundation for World Peace and Cultural Understanding with an Award of
Excellence for his project, Violent Times. The following year he was recongnized for the
same award for his project, Hip-Hop, Save Me - the first time a student has ever been
recognized twice by the foundation.
Andrew's clients and publications include The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times,
The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Associated Press, Pro Publica, Rolling Stone, USA Today,
The Washington Post, TIME, and ZUMA Press, among others.
Andrew currently lives and works in New York City.
Sandra Hoyn
To commission Sandra or to request prints of her work: www.sandrahoyn.de
Sandra Hoyn is a freelance photojournalist based in Hamburg, Germany. She studied
photography at the University of Applied Sciences Hamburg and graduated in 2005. Since
then she has worked for several magazines, for NGOs and on personal photo projects
concentrated on social issues. She has worked in various in countries in Asia, Africa and
Europe. Since 2007 she has been represented by Laif, agency for photos and reports.
In 2014 she was selected by LensCulture as one of the Top 50 Emerging Talents. In 2013
she received the Henri Nannen Award for her photo story Fighting for a Pittance. In 2012
she won 2nd place at IPA - International Photography Awards in category Professional
editorial sports. Also in 2012, she was awarded the Px3 - Prix de la Photographie with
three silver medals for her features. In 2011 and 2007 she received a scholarship from
VG Bild-Kunst. In 2009 she received the Kindernothilfe Media Award, 2004 the Kodak
Young Talent Award.
Samyukta Lakshmi
To commission her or to request prints of her work: www.samyuktalakshmi.com
Samyukta Lakshmi is a documentary photographer based in New York.
She is a graduate of the Documentary and Photojournalism program at the International
Center of Photography. Her work has been featured in the The New York Times- Lens Blog,
The New York Times- Metropolitan Section, The International New York Times, Deccan
Herald, an Indian National Daily and Grazia, an Italian Magazine.
She has shot stills for a Bangalore based film, Station, a music video called 25 for Megha
Girish which was aired on MTV recently.
Mario Marino
To commission Mario or to request prints of his work: www.mariomarino.com
Mario Marino is a travel portrait photographer, Austrian born and based in Germany.
Marino has been photographing various peoples in their native lands since 2000.
His work is exhibited in museums and galleries around the world: Amsterdam, Basel,
Berlin, Brusells, Cologne, Dubai, Gent, London, Munich, Nijmegen, Paris, Salzburg,
Schwaz, Stockholm & Würzburg.
Central to his pictures is a fascinating portraiture in which he maintains an empathetic
connection to his subjects. Each image conveys a sense of simple joy of being and living
in the world.
“To me it’s essential to show the beauty and dignity of people. Empathy and walking is the
key to my work. A normal day consists of about 8 - 10 hours walking around looking for
people (15 to 20 kilometers a day). I try to read people’s lives, the circumstances they live.
I’m fascinated by their cultural background and identity.”
Dipanjan Mitra
To commission Dipanjan or to request prints of his work: www.dipanjan-mitra.com
My journey with camera (Yashica auto) started rather accidentally in 1995 when I first went
to Sikkim, a mountain state in North East India. It was my uncle's camera which he later
gave it to me for use. I got myself a digital camera first in 2005. Serious journey in
photography started after a few of my images got into the National Geographic Creative
(Stock Photos) in 2009 after which I got deeper into photography.
My ongoing work on the Indian Himalays is a tribute to the Indian Army who make it
possible for me to experience the grandeur of the mighty mountains.
To sum it up, my work is the outcome of all the travels through time and space that I made
over the years with the camera. It has been a wonderful journey so far and I thank God for
letting me see my beautiful country.
Alvaro Laiz
To commission Alvaro or to request prints of his work: www.alvarolaiz.com
My personal projects are focused on those realities, commonly forgotten, in places such as
Africa (Planes de Futuro, Cursed Skin), Asia (Transmongolian, Ninja!) o Sudamerica
(Wonderland).
My photographs have been published, among other media, in Sunday Times Magazine,
Forbes, British Journal of Photography, National Geographic or New York Times.
In 2012 I was awarded with Premio Revela and with the Gold Medal in the International
Photographic Art Exhibition in China. In 2013 I was considered by the British Journal of
Photography, one of the most renowned photography magazines in the world, as one of the
most prominent emerging photographers.
I perceive documentary photography as a tool that lets me approach situations that captivate
me, preoccupy me, and make me want to participate with my own point of view. This spirit
Baker
To commission Baker or to request prints of his work: www.bakerworld.co.uk
Sports and music were my two things growing up, which quickly developed into travelling
and shooting the breeze with as many random characters as possible. Throw a book in
there and I’m totally made up. I completed a degree in Business with Marketing in London,
cut my teeth in the world of music by releasing records for independent music group Full
Time Hobby before producing art shows for their management client UNKLE. That lead me
to the world of art and photography...
One life changing move of leaving the world of music, moving to NYC to live and assist
various photographers later, and I’m back in London, a photographer with sports, music and
books still as my thing, shooting the breeze with everyone and travelling as much as
possible.
Gabriella Demczuk
To commission Gabriella or to request prints of her work: www.gabriellademczuk.com
Gabriella Demczuk is a visual journalist for national and international publications.
Born in Sweden but raised in Luxembourg, Belgium and later the United States, she
studied fine arts and journalism at The George Washington University and photography at
the Parsons School of Art and Design in Paris.
Gabriella is a regular contributor to The New York Times and has been published in many
other news outlets including The New York Times International, TIME Magazine, NPR,
National Geographic online, Bloomberg Businessweek, The Boston Globe, The Baltimore
Sun, Internazionale Magazine, among others.
George Nickels
To commission George or to request prints of his work: www.georgenickels.com
George Nickels is a freelance photojournalist, and the focus of his work covers social
conflict and humanitarian issues across Asia. His in-depth photography and editorial
provide an often un-reported aspect of current affairs and news.
His work has been published in leading magazines and newspapers worldwide including
Vice, National Geographic, South East Asia Globe, Jakarta Globe, Daily Mail and Asia
Life to name a few.
Based in Siem Reap, Cambodia, George is available for international reportage, editorial,
travel assignments and corporate projects, and has a wealth of experience to assist the
promotion of brands, and business.
Heidi Laughton
To commission Heidi or to request prints of her work: waysoftheworldexhibits.com
A fascination with world culture has always inspired Heidi Laughton and has brought about
her cultural photography series.
Since leaving a previous successful career commissioning and overseeing photo and
video shoots for world renowned recording artists (at Sony Music UK), Heidi Laughton has
been working as a professional photographer, shooting and writing for magazines,
advertising campaigns and working for non-profits. In 2008 she curated and produced
“Fresh Photo Fair” on behalf of the Lucie Foundation. 2011 found her exhibiting in a group
photojournalism show at the Orange County Center of Contemporary Art and at the
Laguna Art Museum. In 2012 she was chosen as a judge for the 2012 PX3 Paris Photo
Prize.
Her forte lies in researching stories, integrating with her subject matter and understanding
the necessity to be trusted by the people who’s story she is telling.
The series “Yunnan: A Portrait of a Province” depicts the smallest minority groups of China.
Collaborating with a Chinese Ethnologist, Heidi spent time living with these communities,
Jean-Pierre Laffont currently resides in New York with his wife Eliane, his daughter Stephanie and his grand daughters
Sparrow and Silvie.
Irena Baker
To commission Irena or to request prints of her work: irenabakerlondon@gmail.com
Origianally I am from Lithuania. I now live in London.
I have a big passion for photography, art, poetry...Started about 7 years ago. Shooting with
different cameras- Canon 5Dm2, 5Dm3. After I had my first exhibition, a very good friend
gave me a camera as a gift as long as I promised to continue with my photography shooting
with 3 medium format film cameras - Hasselblad 503cx, ETRS zenza Bronica, Mamiyac3.
So, I started to shoot with film cameras and I’m enjoying it so much...Its my passion, my life
and my desire...
http://dropr.com/portfolio53113
Laurent Baheux
To commission Laurent or to request prints of his work: www.laurentbaheux.com
Laurent Baheux is a french photographer, born in Poitiers in 1970. He was attracted to
journalism and editing at first, rapidly discovering a passion for photography and becoming
a self-taught photographer. Since 1998, he has travelled around the world as
photoreporter for international sporting events. From 2002, during a visit in Africa, he
started private work on wild fauna, its beauty, strength, roughness and great fragility. he is
at the beginning of a wonderful adventure with nature, animals and landscapes. This new
way is an evidence : Laurent changes his life and decides to focus his work on wildlife,
only in black and white, with lights and contrasts.
Currently, I am a passionate amateur photographer, with an aspiration of being a full time professional one day.
I am also a passionate lover of cricket, music, drawing and painting.
Equipment - Canon EOS 60D and Canon EF-S 15-85mm.
Inspirations - National Geographic and Magnum Photos.
You may say I am a dreamer but I am not the only one - John Lennon.
led me to became one of the founder members of An-Hua, an NGO focused on commitment issues and concerns related to
human rights, anthropology, economics and environment to promote fundamental social change in disadvantaged or minority
communities and to connect documentary photography with a wider audience.
including the Bulangs, the Nu, the Jinuos and the smallest of all, the Dulongs. These groups all reside in Yunnan Province,
Southwest China.
Originally from England, Heidi spent several years more recently, living in Los Angeles and created a portrait series “Spirit
Hawk Eye: A Tribute to American Native Culture”. Taking medium and large format cameras into the Southwest, and with
guidance from Native Elders and museum curators, the resultant exhibition features inspirational Native peoples with
anecdotes about their lives and the stories they have to tell.
Both the Yunnan and Spirit Hawk Eye series have been exhibited in galleries and published in magazines. Laughton
continues her work, celebrating how people live, the similarities and diversities across cultures and the many ways of the
world.
rural territories, their associative networks and the links which unite people with their territory.
genre is portraits and documentary.
Feel free to connect me on Facebook and Twitter and to check out my blog to get to know me a little better!
Sam Branson
www.sundogpictures.co.uk
Sam Branson is a social entrepreneur, adventurer and filmmaker. His passion for
adventure and the environment has seen him endure many challenges, including one of
the harshest environments known to man - the Arctic. Sam’s passion for the environment
sparked his desire to create conversations about important topics and that’s why he set
up his production company Sundog Pictures.
Sam’s Virgin Strive Challenge was a gruelling attempt to get from London to the summit of
the Matterhorn entirely under his own steam. The aim; to raise funds for a charity he co-
founded called Big Change to invest in life skills programs around the UK, which will help
young people develop the characteristics they need to thrive.
Sam sits as a non-executive on the board of Virgin Group and has recently joined the Virgin Management as story guardian
to oversee the content distributed across the group.
Damian Bird
To commission him or to request prints of his work: www.damianbirdphotography.com
Damian Bird, is a photographer and photojournalist with many years of experience,
working in war zones and trouble spots around the globe. He was educated in
Photography at the Surrey College of Art and Design and at the London College of
Printing where he studied for a post graduate degree in Photojournalism.
In 2011 he founded Life Force magazine with his business partner and wife of ten years,
Alice. As well as Editing Life Force magazine, he is currently engaged in photographing
a series of photo-essays on English culture and has recently returned to Afghanistan
(Aug 2013).
He continues to have his work published in national and international newspapers and
magazines including The Times, the Telegraph, the Express, the Observer, GQ, Esquire,
Dazed & Confused,The Face, Country Life and Geographical magazine.
He lives with his wife and three children in Devon, England.
