Emil

Emil, age 22, studies Technology Management and Marine Engineering

Franziska

Franziska, age 25, she is German but studies economics in Sweden and she is currently attending 'Photography in a New Media Context' at AU

Franziska mostly studies in her bed with stuff all around her. She also eats in her bed while studying.

Camera Project

Camera Project

Imal Hashimi is a 26-year old freelance photojournalist. He was born in Kabul, Afghanistan, and came to Denmark as a refugee in 2009. Since he came to Denmark, he has been busy setting down and learning the language, but he is slowly finding his way back to life as a photojournalist. Next week he is going to Syria to shoot reportage photographs.

In 2006 Imal became curious to learn something new. He signed up for a one-month photography course in arranged by Austrian photographers at the Fine Arts Academy at Kabul University, where he was studying to become a film instructor. This course did not teach the students technical skills, but it encouraged them to explore the world visually. Imal, who previously only had used the family’s camera, was among three students whose talents were discovered through this course and thereby were offered to study photojournalism at Aina Media Center in Kabul.

Aina Media Center was founded in 2002 by the National Geographic photographer Reza Deghati. The photojournalism education lasted about a year, but was a condensed 4-year program. During this year, Imal discovered that photography was not as easy as he had thought hitherto. He had to learn the theories and techniques of professional photography. Imal’s skills were furthermore developed through working with other photojournalists as well as by looking at other photographers’ work. The political climate gave him the opportunity to assist professional photographers by acting as a translator and a cultural guide.  

Imal currently uses a Canon D7D, which is a digital SLR camera. Imal’s camera is remarkably heavier than the Nikon D3000, which I am using, due to its heavy technique and many layers of glass in the lens. He always hand holds the camera, due to the photojournalistic need to capture things really fast. When shooting his camera is either hanging over his shoulder or on his arm. He does not turn the camera off, nor does he cover the lens. All of this allows him to grasp his motif rapidly. His lens has an extra layer of glass which protects the lens from dirt and scratches. Imal finds the quality of photographs better when taken with an analogue camera compared to a digital camera, but what he likes about digital cameras is the opportunity to select which photographs to print and thereby the inexpensiveness. He holds his right hand on the right side of the camera in order to use the buttons, and he places his left hand around the lens to control the manual/automatic focus button, and to turn the lens in order to zoom.

Imal has two ways of working. Sometimes he is visually driven. In this situation he takes a photo when he sees something interesting. If he can connect the image to a current theme in the media world, he writes the connection down and sends it to newspaper editors in order to publish it.

His other way of working is much more time consuming and conceptual.  At first he finds a theme; then he goes to the library or on the internet to do research about the theme. He thinks about the structure of the project; he often starts out by taking a photo of the big picture and then gradually narrows it down and focuses on the details. He always considers where the light comes from, and at what time the light is optimal. He also thinks about the photo in connection to what he can write about it. Imal thinks people and actions add life to a photo. If he wants to take a photo of a person, he starts out from a distance and work himself closer; he puts the camera away and spends some time chatting with his subject to make him or her relax. If he wants to capture a certain emotion he talks to the person about a certain period in life or listens to the subject’s stories, thereby Imal can capture the subject’s best facial expressions. He does not always ask for permission to use the photos. The next step in Imal’s process is to combine the above mentioned thoughts in a shot list and then take the photographs. Imal tends to shoot a large amount of images, from which he can select the most successful ones when he gets home. He only uses Photoshop to edit light and contrast. When he has the amount of photos he has aimed for, he posts them on his blog supplemented with text from his research. According to Imal, the text emphasizes the stories he wants to pass on. His blog is built up by a factual text followed by his photos which each have a small descriptive text underneath. The blog functions as a way of marketing himself. He has several times experienced to be contacted by newspaper editors, who have seen his photos on the blog and asked him to do a certain job. However, he is currently working on the design of his website (www.imalimages.com).

Imal enjoys the adventurous life as a photojournalist, but he does not think there is enough work in Denmark; therefore most of his work is currently carried out in the Middle East. His goal is to document personal stories from warzones and pass them on to people who cannot experience them in person. Though he cannot promise anything, he hopes the photos will open our eyes and make us feel sympathy and take action.  The depressive stories he deals with sometimes makes him want to put the camera away. His work is a historical documentation.

 

According to Imal the internet is replacing the galleries, though he thinks both media have value. He could see his photographs exhibited in a historic museum as representations of a certain time in history, or in a museum dealing with Afghans or cultures in general. However, the downside of galleries is the limited access. Online on the contrary, the photographs are available to everybody all over the world and at any time. Although there are so many images to be found online, he believes it is easy to separate amateur work from professional work. Civilian work might have news value, but as soon as a professional photograph is available that is what the newspapers will use. In order to take a good photo you both need a professional camera and good skills.   

Mads

Mads, age 28, studies management accounting and control

Mads says he does not have any odd study habits, he just wants to get it over with. Most often he studies while sitting on a fitness ball in order to take care of his back, but he also tends to study on the couch. The striking thing about his appartment is his tall tomato plants.   

Cedric, age 23, studies culturel science and philosophy in Germany, is currently enrolled in the AU summer school program 'narratology'.

According to Cedric's girlfriend Carmen, he is always studying. Carmen is amazed how he can stydy anytime and anywhere. She has even seen him study on a bike.   

Kameliya, age 28, from Iran, studies at  Lærdansk (a language school)

This photograp does not show a concrete desk, but instead its connotations of being a place to work, study and learn. Kameliya has lived in Denmark for one and a half year. She is learning Danish, and I meet with her about every other week. In these friendly meetings she practises speaking Danish, which is part of her homework or her process of learning the language. At the same time same I learn about Iranian culture, which is relevant for my anthropological studies.

Cille

Cille, age 22, she just got accepted to study social education 

The desk was installed in her appartment yesterday. She still needs to buy a chair, as for now she is using her kitchen chair. She is excited to start school after two years of working. She has worked with disabled people and in a kindergarden, whereby it can be said she has already studied social education on a practical level.           

Christoffer

Christoffer, age 23, law student

Christoffer always studies at the state library. Here he finds it easier to concentrate for a long period of time. He does not always sit in the same spot. He uses the reading room when it is too noisy in the rest of the library, but it is too hot in there during summer.
Currently he is studying for an exam.

Soffe

Soffe, age 20, just got accepted to nursing school

Soffe is really excited to start her studies, but she stills needs to buy a chair (she borrowed mine), a laptop and books.
She is not sure if she will do her homework at home or at school yet, but her boyfriend does not bring work home.

my sunday

Selfportrait: Maria, age 22, studies anthropology

After a week with many new impressions and a night with much dancing, it is time to put my feet on the table and take a break.

Salome

Salome, age 26, studies economics

A desk can have many functions, expecially when living in a dormitory. In this photography Samome is getting ready for her birthday party.

Salome is born in Kenya, but her parents could not afford to let her attend the university there. She was lucky to get a scolarship whereby she could go to Denmark and study.

Helene

Helene, age 23, studies political science

Helene does not have a table at home, therefore I chose to take her picture at the library where she usually studies. The reason why she does not have a desk at home is a conscious choise by which she seperates work from home. She most often studies alone to avoid disturbances, but arranges to take breaks at the same time as her friends.

Mie

Mie, age 22, studying to become a journalist

Nanna

Nanna, Age 27, studies Political Science

When asked to write down on a piece of paper what she though about being photograped by her desk, she wrote 'revealed'. She thinks this photo reveals her habbit of studdying in the kitchen/entrance instead of in her study which would have been better for her physical health.
The reason why I asked her about her thoughts of being photograped, was to explore the feelings within the process of creating a picture. By working with Nanna, I went from being nervous and confused about what to do, to become relieved.