most of my personal work focuses almost exclusively on the lives of women who
exclusively on the lives of women who
exclusively on the lives of women who are living in gender segregated
are living in gender segregated
are living in gender segregated environments in different places around
environments in different places around
environments in different places around the world and it’s such a privilege
the world and it’s such a privilege
the world and it’s such a privilege because as a photographer you get to
because as a photographer you get to
because as a photographer you get to experience in some small way what life
experience in some small way what life
experience in some small way what life might have been like if you were
might have been like if you were
might have been like if you were somebody else
thank you hi I grew up traveling in the
thank you hi I grew up traveling in the summers in a horse-drawn wagon in the
summers in a horse-drawn wagon in the
summers in a horse-drawn wagon in the southwest of the UK and over wintering
southwest of the UK and over wintering
southwest of the UK and over wintering in a caravan in a trailer in this field
in a caravan in a trailer in this field
in a caravan in a trailer in this field in Devon my parents made their living
in Devon my parents made their living
in Devon my parents made their living through odd jobs this picture was taken
through odd jobs this picture was taken
through odd jobs this picture was taken in 1985 and it’s me and my mom and our
in 1985 and it’s me and my mom and our
in 1985 and it’s me and my mom and our horse Shadowfax and my little brother on
horse Shadowfax and my little brother on
horse Shadowfax and my little brother on my mum’s back so we traveled and we had
my mum’s back so we traveled and we had
my mum’s back so we traveled and we had adventures but we were always broke and
adventures but we were always broke and
adventures but we were always broke and life was really difficult being broke
life was really difficult being broke
life was really difficult being broke and I remember thinking that I really
and I remember thinking that I really
and I remember thinking that I really didn’t want to be broke when I grew up
so eventually I learned about this
so eventually I learned about this wonderful job called photojournalism and
wonderful job called photojournalism and
wonderful job called photojournalism and I thought well maybe that’s for me
I thought well maybe that’s for me
I thought well maybe that’s for me because I could travel and I could get
because I could travel and I could get
because I could travel and I could get paid for it I would like to share with
paid for it I would like to share with
paid for it I would like to share with you some earlier work now the work that
you some earlier work now the work that
you some earlier work now the work that brought me here actually most of my
brought me here actually most of my
brought me here actually most of my personal work focuses almost exclusively
personal work focuses almost exclusively
personal work focuses almost exclusively on the lives of women who are living in
on the lives of women who are living in
on the lives of women who are living in gender segregated environments in
gender segregated environments in
gender segregated environments in different places around the world and I
different places around the world and I
different places around the world and I love being a photographer and I didn’t
love being a photographer and I didn’t
love being a photographer and I didn’t have to sacrifice so much to be one
have to sacrifice so much to be one
have to sacrifice so much to be one except for horses and this has made me
except for horses and this has made me
except for horses and this has made me so sad I’m not able to have my own I’ve
so sad I’m not able to have my own I’ve
so sad I’m not able to have my own I’ve spent maybe a few nights if I’m lucky at
spent maybe a few nights if I’m lucky at
spent maybe a few nights if I’m lucky at home in London a month and really not
home in London a month and really not
home in London a month and really not having those animals as part of my life
having those animals as part of my life
having those animals as part of my life made me sad and the wonderful thing
made me sad and the wonderful thing
made me sad and the wonderful thing about being a photographer is that you
about being a photographer is that you
about being a photographer is that you can go anywhere you want and you can
can go anywhere you want and you can
can go anywhere you want and you can meet anybody that you want for no reason
meet anybody that you want for no reason
meet anybody that you want for no reason other than that you just want to so one
other than that you just want to so one
other than that you just want to so one night I was sitting around complaining
night I was sitting around complaining
night I was sitting around complaining about how unhappy I words that I didn’t
about how unhappy I words that I didn’t
about how unhappy I words that I didn’t have horses in my life was my friend
have horses in my life was my friend
have horses in my life was my friend Camila and she had grown up in the
Camila and she had grown up in the
Camila and she had grown up in the circus and she said you know I metco sex
circus and she said you know I metco sex
circus and she said you know I metco sex in the circus I can’t go
in the circus I can’t go
in the circus I can’t go because I have a job but you should go
because I have a job but you should go
because I have a job but you should go and I thought why not
and this was really the start of my work
and this was really the start of my work in Russia and the caucuses why I’ve been
in Russia and the caucuses why I’ve been
in Russia and the caucuses why I’ve been working for the last couple of years I
working for the last couple of years I
working for the last couple of years I stayed at Bella kill it for the Cossack
stayed at Bella kill it for the Cossack
stayed at Bella kill it for the Cossack cadet school and the girls dormitories
cadet school and the girls dormitories
cadet school and the girls dormitories actually for a week and from there
actually for a week and from there
actually for a week and from there traveled around southern Russia and also
traveled around southern Russia and also
traveled around southern Russia and also into Crimea Ukraine this is the
into Crimea Ukraine this is the
into Crimea Ukraine this is the dormitory so my fixer Masha and I each
dormitory so my fixer Masha and I each
dormitory so my fixer Masha and I each got a bed in the dorm and and we stayed
got a bed in the dorm and and we stayed
got a bed in the dorm and and we stayed with the girls there again it’s such a
with the girls there again it’s such a
with the girls there again it’s such a privilege because as a photographer you
privilege because as a photographer you
privilege because as a photographer you get to experience in some small way what
get to experience in some small way what
get to experience in some small way what life might have been like if you were
life might have been like if you were
life might have been like if you were somebody else of course it’s not the
somebody else of course it’s not the
somebody else of course it’s not the same as experience but I at least have a
same as experience but I at least have a
same as experience but I at least have a sense of what it might have been like to
sense of what it might have been like to
sense of what it might have been like to to be a teenager in this school hard if
to be a teenager in this school hard if
to be a teenager in this school hard if you want to date boys I can tell you
you want to date boys I can tell you
you want to date boys I can tell you that much this is the only chance they
that much this is the only chance they
that much this is the only chance they get to interact in the corridors between
get to interact in the corridors between
get to interact in the corridors between lessons and so of course there are men
lessons and so of course there are men
lessons and so of course there are men in the Cossacks as well but continue
in the Cossacks as well but continue
in the Cossacks as well but continue with the theme of where my interest
with the theme of where my interest
with the theme of where my interest lives of groups of women and living or
lives of groups of women and living or
lives of groups of women and living or working in segregated environments
working in segregated environments
working in segregated environments I focus mainly on the women while I was
I focus mainly on the women while I was
I focus mainly on the women while I was there and I continued working in this
there and I continued working in this
there and I continued working in this region nagorno-karabakh is an
region nagorno-karabakh is an
region nagorno-karabakh is an unrecognized Republic that lies between
unrecognized Republic that lies between
unrecognized Republic that lies between Azerbaijan and Armenia it’s a 1700
Azerbaijan and Armenia it’s a 1700
Azerbaijan and Armenia it’s a 1700 square miles very small and in 2008 the
square miles very small and in 2008 the
square miles very small and in 2008 the de facto government they’re introduced
de facto government they’re introduced
de facto government they’re introduced the birth encouragement program and
the birth encouragement program and
the birth encouragement program and their aim was to repopulate the region
their aim was to repopulate the region
their aim was to repopulate the region and increase the birth rate and also the
and increase the birth rate and also the
and increase the birth rate and also the population to pre-war figures the war
population to pre-war figures the war
population to pre-war figures the war started in 1991 and ran 294 just as the
started in 1991 and ran 294 just as the
started in 1991 and ran 294 just as the Soviet Union collapsed and the ethnic
Soviet Union collapsed and the ethnic
Soviet Union collapsed and the ethnic Armenians the majority in
Armenians the majority in
Armenians the majority in nagorno-karabakh waged war against the
nagorno-karabakh waged war against the
nagorno-karabakh waged war against the ethnic as Ares Muslims each backed by
ethnic as Ares Muslims each backed by
ethnic as Ares Muslims each backed by neighboring countries so it also became
neighboring countries so it also became
neighboring countries so it also became a war between Armenia and Azerbaijan and
a war between Armenia and Azerbaijan and
a war between Armenia and Azerbaijan and this conflict left 45,000 ethnikos Ares
this conflict left 45,000 ethnikos Ares
this conflict left 45,000 ethnikos Ares displaced and 65,000 ethnic Armenians
displaced and 65,000 ethnic Armenians
displaced and 65,000 ethnic Armenians but in the region a total of 1 million
but in the region a total of 1 million
but in the region a total of 1 million became refugees the de facto government
became refugees the de facto government
became refugees the de facto government see increasing the population to pre-war
see increasing the population to pre-war
see increasing the population to pre-war figures before the Azzurri is left as a
figures before the Azzurri is left as a
figures before the Azzurri is left as a way of legitimizing and their country
way of legitimizing and their country
way of legitimizing and their country internationally and as is always the
internationally and as is always the
internationally and as is always the case with photography this isn’t the
case with photography this isn’t the
case with photography this isn’t the whole story I’d like to say it’s even
whole story I’d like to say it’s even
whole story I’d like to say it’s even half the story but but it’s not the
half the story but but it’s not the
half the story but but it’s not the majority ethnic Armenians remain in
majority ethnic Armenians remain in
majority ethnic Armenians remain in nagorno-karabakh and in 2011 they
nagorno-karabakh and in 2011 they
nagorno-karabakh and in 2011 they celebrated 20 years of independence from
celebrated 20 years of independence from
celebrated 20 years of independence from Azerbaijan so the birth encouragement
Azerbaijan so the birth encouragement
Azerbaijan so the birth encouragement program gives cash payments to couples
program gives cash payments to couples
program gives cash payments to couples on their wedding day and I’m just going
on their wedding day and I’m just going
on their wedding day and I’m just going to read the figures here
and surprisingly none of my friends are
and surprisingly none of my friends are ever asked me to photograph their own
ever asked me to photograph their own
ever asked me to photograph their own weddings so the first payment that the
weddings so the first payment that the
weddings so the first payment that the government administer is for seven
government administer is for seven
government administer is for seven hundred and forty dollars to help with
hundred and forty dollars to help with
hundred and forty dollars to help with the wedding of any young couple in
the wedding of any young couple in
the wedding of any young couple in nagorno-karabakh then it’s two hundred
nagorno-karabakh then it’s two hundred
nagorno-karabakh then it’s two hundred and forty dollars approximately for the
and forty dollars approximately for the
and forty dollars approximately for the first baby five hundred dollars for the
first baby five hundred dollars for the
first baby five hundred dollars for the second one thousand two hundred and
second one thousand two hundred and
second one thousand two hundred and twenty dollars for the third child and
twenty dollars for the third child and
twenty dollars for the third child and one thousand seven hundred and thirty
one thousand seven hundred and thirty
one thousand seven hundred and thirty dollars for the fourth baby once you
dollars for the fourth baby once you
dollars for the fourth baby once you have six children under the age of 18
have six children under the age of 18
have six children under the age of 18 you’re given a free house to keep and
you’re given a free house to keep and
you’re given a free house to keep and it’s working so the figures that I had
it’s working so the figures that I had
it’s working so the figures that I had access to were between 2007 and 2010 and
access to were between 2007 and 2010 and
access to were between 2007 and 2010 and during that time the birth rate had
during that time the birth rate had
during that time the birth rate had spiked by twenty five point five percent
spiked by twenty five point five percent
spiked by twenty five point five percent actually nagorno-karabakh has many
actually nagorno-karabakh has many
actually nagorno-karabakh has many repopulation programs in fact this might
repopulation programs in fact this might
repopulation programs in fact this might be something you guys are interested in
be something you guys are interested in
be something you guys are interested in sushi was them one of the considered to
sushi was them one of the considered to
sushi was them one of the considered to be the cultural capital of
be the cultural capital of
be the cultural capital of nagorno-karabakh the city of artists
nagorno-karabakh the city of artists
nagorno-karabakh the city of artists poets you know bohemian types and if you
poets you know bohemian types and if you
poets you know bohemian types and if you are a creative person and you have a
are a creative person and you have a
are a creative person and you have a creative job photography does count by
creative job photography does count by
creative job photography does count by the way because I did check and you want
the way because I did check and you want
the way because I did check and you want to move to sushi regardless of your
to move to sushi regardless of your
to move to sushi regardless of your nationality you will be given a free
nationality you will be given a free
nationality you will be given a free house so there are also programs to
house so there are also programs to
house so there are also programs to resettle poor Armenians and other things
resettle poor Armenians and other things
resettle poor Armenians and other things so this is just one part of a huge
so this is just one part of a huge
so this is just one part of a huge repopulation program that the de facto
repopulation program that the de facto
repopulation program that the de facto government are running and here an insta
government are running and here an insta
government are running and here an insta panic at Maternity Hospital is really
panic at Maternity Hospital is really
panic at Maternity Hospital is really the front line of the baby boom about
the front line of the baby boom about
the front line of the baby boom about six or seven children are born a day
six or seven children are born a day
six or seven children are born a day here and the maternity hospital it’s a
here and the maternity hospital it’s a
here and the maternity hospital it’s a one of only two maternity hospitals in
one of only two maternity hospitals in
one of only two maternity hospitals in Kara back this is the grandmother and
Kara back this is the grandmother and
Kara back this is the grandmother and grandfather Kara back it’s the national
grandfather Kara back it’s the national
grandfather Kara back it’s the national symbol of nagorno-karabakh and when
symbol of nagorno-karabakh and when
symbol of nagorno-karabakh and when couples get married they always drive
couples get married they always drive
couples get married they always drive past the monument to have their wedding
past the monument to have their wedding
past the monument to have their wedding pictures taken there
pictures taken there
pictures taken there so I shot this story in 2011 and that
so I shot this story in 2011 and that
so I shot this story in 2011 and that was the year as I said that
was the year as I said that
was the year as I said that nagorno-karabakh celebrated 20 years of
nagorno-karabakh celebrated 20 years of
nagorno-karabakh celebrated 20 years of independence from Azerbaijan yet remains
independence from Azerbaijan yet remains
independence from Azerbaijan yet remains unrecognized by the rest of the world if
unrecognized by the rest of the world if
unrecognized by the rest of the world if you look at a map it’s not there in 2011
you look at a map it’s not there in 2011
you look at a map it’s not there in 2011 the world population also reached 7
the world population also reached 7
the world population also reached 7 billion and I thought it was interesting
billion and I thought it was interesting
billion and I thought it was interesting that there might be this small country
that there might be this small country
that there might be this small country in the world who were actively trying to
in the world who were actively trying to
in the world who were actively trying to increase the bursary of their population
increase the bursary of their population
increase the bursary of their population where when there are so many programs to
where when there are so many programs to
where when there are so many programs to decrease it and most well-known are of
decrease it and most well-known are of
decrease it and most well-known are of course in China and India and also in
course in China and India and also in
course in China and India and also in 2011 I turned 30 and some of you might
2011 I turned 30 and some of you might
2011 I turned 30 and some of you might know this but when you turn 30 and
know this but when you turn 30 and
know this but when you turn 30 and you’re a woman almost to the hour people
you’re a woman almost to the hour people
you’re a woman almost to the hour people start asking you when are you going to
start asking you when are you going to
start asking you when are you going to have children and if they know you
have children and if they know you
have children and if they know you better they might say are you ever going
better they might say are you ever going
better they might say are you ever going to have children but in any case I
to have children but in any case I
to have children but in any case I realized that for all of the time that
realized that for all of the time that
realized that for all of the time that I’d been a photographer I had always and
I’d been a photographer I had always and
I’d been a photographer I had always and while I’ve been photographing young
while I’ve been photographing young
while I’ve been photographing young women i had never photographed mothers
women i had never photographed mothers
women i had never photographed mothers and again the wonderful thing about
and again the wonderful thing about
and again the wonderful thing about photography is that it’s a way to
photography is that it’s a way to
photography is that it’s a way to explore your own life as well as others
explore your own life as well as others
explore your own life as well as others so i decided well maybe now is the time
so i decided well maybe now is the time
so i decided well maybe now is the time since everybody’s bloody asking me to go
since everybody’s bloody asking me to go
since everybody’s bloody asking me to go and history about babies so this is
and history about babies so this is
and history about babies so this is mariana and sevak and i met mariana
mariana and sevak and i met mariana
mariana and sevak and i met mariana while she was giving birth to her
while she was giving birth to her
while she was giving birth to her daughter na rahe and insta panic at
daughter na rahe and insta panic at
daughter na rahe and insta panic at Maternity Hospital and the picture will
Maternity Hospital and the picture will
Maternity Hospital and the picture will come later Saavik is in the Armenian
come later Saavik is in the Armenian
come later Saavik is in the Armenian army and actually they were married in
army and actually they were married in
army and actually they were married in 2008 in a private mass wedding of almost
2008 in a private mass wedding of almost
2008 in a private mass wedding of almost 700 couples this was funded by wealthy
700 couples this was funded by wealthy
700 couples this was funded by wealthy Armenian diaspora businessmen and was
Armenian diaspora businessmen and was
Armenian diaspora businessmen and was actually the event that sparked the
actually the event that sparked the
actually the event that sparked the government program for the baby boom so
government program for the baby boom so
government program for the baby boom so actually they were given higher payments
actually they were given higher payments
actually they were given higher payments and with the birth of their daughter
and with the birth of their daughter
and with the birth of their daughter naari I think it’s almost five thousand
naari I think it’s almost five thousand
naari I think it’s almost five thousand dollars they’ve been paid and so these
dollars they’ve been paid and so these
dollars they’ve been paid and so these payments are quite significant in a
payments are quite significant in a
payments are quite significant in a region where the the average monthly
region where the the average monthly
region where the the average monthly income is 35 euros
income is 35 euros
income is 35 euros so I hang out in churches and hospitals
so I hang out in churches and hospitals
so I hang out in churches and hospitals and photographed people getting married
and photographed people getting married
and photographed people getting married and children being christened and women
and children being christened and women
and children being christened and women giving birth this is marina she’s 19 I
giving birth this is marina she’s 19 I
giving birth this is marina she’s 19 I went to stay with her and her tiny
went to stay with her and her tiny
went to stay with her and her tiny village Cole attack her husband serves
village Cole attack her husband serves
village Cole attack her husband serves also in the Armenian army and he’s based
also in the Armenian army and he’s based
also in the Armenian army and he’s based on the Israeli border although there is
on the Israeli border although there is
on the Israeli border although there is relative peace between a Kara back and
relative peace between a Kara back and
relative peace between a Kara back and Azerbaijan a piece a peace agreement has
Azerbaijan a piece a peace agreement has
Azerbaijan a piece a peace agreement has never been reached so there are still
never been reached so there are still
never been reached so there are still simmering tensions on the border and
simmering tensions on the border and
simmering tensions on the border and there’s a DMZ set up in that area this
there’s a DMZ set up in that area this
there’s a DMZ set up in that area this is the records department Stepanek at
is the records department Stepanek at
is the records department Stepanek at Maternity Hospital each file represents
Maternity Hospital each file represents
Maternity Hospital each file represents one woman who is currently a patient and
one woman who is currently a patient and
one woman who is currently a patient and her children
so I learned that having kids is really
so I learned that having kids is really really hard again I focused on the women
really hard again I focused on the women
really hard again I focused on the women in this story because although men are
in this story because although men are
in this story because although men are present they actually play a very small
present they actually play a very small
present they actually play a very small role in child rearing and domestic life
role in child rearing and domestic life
role in child rearing and domestic life you know they showed up at weddings and
you know they showed up at weddings and
you know they showed up at weddings and for supper but um no that’s a little bit
for supper but um no that’s a little bit
for supper but um no that’s a little bit me but of as it was also the case that i
me but of as it was also the case that i
me but of as it was also the case that i have noticed in russia and male and
have noticed in russia and male and
have noticed in russia and male and female gender roles are very very
female gender roles are very very
female gender roles are very very clearly defined so men must be manly and
clearly defined so men must be manly and
clearly defined so men must be manly and provide their family and go out and work
provide their family and go out and work
provide their family and go out and work and women are homemakers and caregivers
and women are homemakers and caregivers
and women are homemakers and caregivers and and both are respected equally
and and both are respected equally
and and both are respected equally within society so this is Marianna
within society so this is Marianna
within society so this is Marianna giving birth actually it was the first
giving birth actually it was the first
giving birth actually it was the first birth that I had ever witnessed I
birth that I had ever witnessed I
birth that I had ever witnessed I thought yeah when I was thinking about
thought yeah when I was thinking about
thought yeah when I was thinking about doing the project I thought that’s kind
doing the project I thought that’s kind
doing the project I thought that’s kind of crazy I’m a photographer I can go
of crazy I’m a photographer I can go
of crazy I’m a photographer I can go anywhere do anything I’ve lived 30 years
anywhere do anything I’ve lived 30 years
anywhere do anything I’ve lived 30 years on this planet and I’ve never seen a
on this planet and I’ve never seen a
on this planet and I’ve never seen a baby being born so this was this was the
baby being born so this was this was the
baby being born so this was this was the first time and actually and the birthing
first time and actually and the birthing
first time and actually and the birthing systems quite interesting here in
systems quite interesting here in
systems quite interesting here in nagorno-karabakh men aren’t allowed into
nagorno-karabakh men aren’t allowed into
nagorno-karabakh men aren’t allowed into the wards and the wards are locked so
the wards and the wards are locked so
the wards and the wards are locked so only women are allowed inside so it
only women are allowed inside so it
only women are allowed inside so it means that all of the women I met were
means that all of the women I met were
means that all of the women I met were giving birth alone I’m not even their
giving birth alone I’m not even their
giving birth alone I’m not even their relatives are allowed inside its kind of
relatives are allowed inside its kind of
relatives are allowed inside its kind of quite Soviet and the nurses are like
quite Soviet and the nurses are like
quite Soviet and the nurses are like shut up and get on with it so Mariana
shut up and get on with it so Mariana
shut up and get on with it so Mariana was quite glad to have me there and and
was quite glad to have me there and and
was quite glad to have me there and and as of my fixer and we sort of acted as
as of my fixer and we sort of acted as
as of my fixer and we sort of acted as unofficial birthing partners although we
unofficial birthing partners although we
unofficial birthing partners although we didn’t have a clue what we were doing
didn’t have a clue what we were doing
didn’t have a clue what we were doing except from what we’d seen on the telly
except from what we’d seen on the telly
except from what we’d seen on the telly so we were like I hate breathe please
so we were like I hate breathe please
so we were like I hate breathe please Ben and then occasionally I’d have to
Ben and then occasionally I’d have to
Ben and then occasionally I’d have to say two hours to get out the way I need
say two hours to get out the way I need
say two hours to get out the way I need to take a photo
this is Rosa she was 35 when I
this is Rosa she was 35 when I photographed her and she has six
photographed her and she has six
photographed her and she has six children under the age of 18 so this is
children under the age of 18 so this is
children under the age of 18 so this is one of the three houses that are given
one of the three houses that are given
one of the three houses that are given out and Stepanek yet an area called not
out and Stepanek yet an area called not
out and Stepanek yet an area called not a rush they’re all and prefab houses so
a rush they’re all and prefab houses so
a rush they’re all and prefab houses so they’re cheap but you you get to keep
they’re cheap but you you get to keep
they’re cheap but you you get to keep them it’s not like social housing in the
them it’s not like social housing in the
them it’s not like social housing in the UK for example so I continued working
UK for example so I continued working
UK for example so I continued working still in this region and the last story
still in this region and the last story
still in this region and the last story i will show you is is also from russia
i will show you is is also from russia
i will show you is is also from russia i’ll start by showing usual multimedia
i’ll start by showing usual multimedia
i’ll start by showing usual multimedia piece and then tell you a little bit
piece and then tell you a little bit
piece and then tell you a little bit about what interests me and what made me
about what interests me and what made me
about what interests me and what made me want to go there nice to meet you in
want to go there nice to meet you in
want to go there nice to meet you in italia my name’s andrew
italia my name’s andrew
italia my name’s andrew I detailed Chanel Christian Dior
I detailed Chanel Christian Dior
I detailed Chanel Christian Dior Givenchy martin margiela and Rhydian and
Givenchy martin margiela and Rhydian and
Givenchy martin margiela and Rhydian and I did christian dior five times you
I did christian dior five times you
I did christian dior five times you swore and eli’s your logic is one RF Lao
swore and eli’s your logic is one RF Lao
swore and eli’s your logic is one RF Lao si muy I’m strong I am
yeah but listen you soon and he likes
yeah but listen you soon and he likes your logic is one not a flower team oily
your logic is one not a flower team oily
your logic is one not a flower team oily and I’m strong I can t do I ever go back
and I’m strong I can t do I ever go back
and I’m strong I can t do I ever go back yes the wall good hold this good hi
yes the wall good hold this good hi
yes the wall good hold this good hi what’s your name my name nice to meet
what’s your name my name nice to meet
what’s your name my name nice to meet you violet how old are you yeah you’re
you violet how old are you yeah you’re
you violet how old are you yeah you’re 13
I’ll speculator the guy that is you
I’ll speculator the guy that is you might show you is there in socially
might show you is there in socially
might show you is there in socially scarce kia kaha the money is our money
scarce kia kaha the money is our money
scarce kia kaha the money is our money he’s only that idea so did she try in
he’s only that idea so did she try in
he’s only that idea so did she try in any shape or form to do that there’s no
any shape or form to do that there’s no
any shape or form to do that there’s no matter what you’re the bad guy
I had never really intended to do a
I had never really intended to do a story about the fashion industry it
story about the fashion industry it
story about the fashion industry it wasn’t something that necessarily
wasn’t something that necessarily
wasn’t something that necessarily interested me but when I heard about
interested me but when I heard about
interested me but when I heard about these tens of thousands of young women
these tens of thousands of young women
these tens of thousands of young women migrating from Siberia I’m trying to get
migrating from Siberia I’m trying to get
migrating from Siberia I’m trying to get to the west to work as supermodels it
to the west to work as supermodels it
to the west to work as supermodels it struck a chord with me because no matter
struck a chord with me because no matter
struck a chord with me because no matter where you go in the world young women
where you go in the world young women
where you go in the world young women usually have this drive to get the hell
usually have this drive to get the hell
usually have this drive to get the hell out of where they come from and although
out of where they come from and although
out of where they come from and although Devon isn’t as remote as Siberia it sure
Devon isn’t as remote as Siberia it sure
Devon isn’t as remote as Siberia it sure as hell felt like it when I was 15 and
as hell felt like it when I was 15 and
as hell felt like it when I was 15 and photography was my ticket so I kind of I
photography was my ticket so I kind of I
photography was my ticket so I kind of I admired them and actually what interest
admired them and actually what interest
admired them and actually what interest these girls mostly wasn’t modeling at
these girls mostly wasn’t modeling at
these girls mostly wasn’t modeling at all it was just the opportunity to see
all it was just the opportunity to see
all it was just the opportunity to see the world and experience life outside of
the world and experience life outside of
the world and experience life outside of the small towns where they had come from
the small towns where they had come from
the small towns where they had come from so I spent seven weeks traveling along
so I spent seven weeks traveling along
so I spent seven weeks traveling along with trans-siberian railway stopping off
with trans-siberian railway stopping off
with trans-siberian railway stopping off at major cities along the way and
at major cities along the way and
at major cities along the way and visiting modeling schools where girls
visiting modeling schools where girls
visiting modeling schools where girls are taught to walk apply makeup how to
are taught to walk apply makeup how to
are taught to walk apply makeup how to be demure actually I found that a lot of
be demure actually I found that a lot of
be demure actually I found that a lot of these schools weren’t only designed to
these schools weren’t only designed to
these schools weren’t only designed to prepare women for a modeling career but
prepare women for a modeling career but
prepare women for a modeling career but they were being used in a way as a kind
they were being used in a way as a kind
they were being used in a way as a kind of finishing school so again with gender
of finishing school so again with gender
of finishing school so again with gender roles being very clearly defined men
roles being very clearly defined men
roles being very clearly defined men being expected to be masculine and women
being expected to be masculine and women
being expected to be masculine and women being expected to be feminine this was
being expected to be feminine this was
being expected to be feminine this was almost a rite of passage in the way that
almost a rite of passage in the way that
almost a rite of passage in the way that where I come from young girls do ballet
where I come from young girls do ballet
where I come from young girls do ballet and what boys play rugby it was kind of
and what boys play rugby it was kind of
and what boys play rugby it was kind of expected that girls would go to these
expected that girls would go to these
expected that girls would go to these sorts of schools and I was also very
sorts of schools and I was also very
sorts of schools and I was also very aware that i didn’t want to necessarily
aware that i didn’t want to necessarily
aware that i didn’t want to necessarily make a comment about the modeling
make a comment about the modeling
make a comment about the modeling industry and the size zero issues and
industry and the size zero issues and
industry and the size zero issues and eating disorders and all these things
eating disorders and all these things
eating disorders and all these things that are associated with the industry
that are associated with the industry
that are associated with the industry particularly when it comes to social
particularly when it comes to social
particularly when it comes to social documentary that wasn’t so much what I
documentary that wasn’t so much what I
documentary that wasn’t so much what I was interested in focusing on
but I found while I was in Russia
but I found while I was in Russia although I have clearly never had any
although I have clearly never had any
although I have clearly never had any aspirations of becoming a model myself
aspirations of becoming a model myself
aspirations of becoming a model myself spending weeks and days and hours in
spending weeks and days and hours in
spending weeks and days and hours in rooms where I was surrounded by mirrors
rooms where I was surrounded by mirrors
rooms where I was surrounded by mirrors kind of make me feel about the way
kind of make me feel about the way
kind of make me feel about the way I looked as well and even I was only
I looked as well and even I was only
I looked as well and even I was only looking at myself to try and avoid my
looking at myself to try and avoid my
looking at myself to try and avoid my reflection in the picture but still I
reflection in the picture but still I
reflection in the picture but still I realized that it did it did eat away at
realized that it did it did eat away at
realized that it did it did eat away at these girls self-esteem they’re being
these girls self-esteem they’re being
these girls self-esteem they’re being you know they’re constantly being
you know they’re constantly being
you know they’re constantly being measured and prodded and that’s not a
measured and prodded and that’s not a
measured and prodded and that’s not a criticism necessarily at the end of the
criticism necessarily at the end of the
criticism necessarily at the end of the industry in many ways it’s a necessity
industry in many ways it’s a necessity
industry in many ways it’s a necessity for the industry that they work in as
for the industry that they work in as
for the industry that they work in as with all my stories I didn’t want to
with all my stories I didn’t want to
with all my stories I didn’t want to pass judgment on on anybody particularly
pass judgment on on anybody particularly
pass judgment on on anybody particularly within the story and lastly Nastya
within the story and lastly Nastya
within the story and lastly Nastya Nastya is short in Russian for Anastasia
Nastya is short in Russian for Anastasia
Nastya is short in Russian for Anastasia and nastya made it big and she came to
and nastya made it big and she came to
and nastya made it big and she came to London I photographed her during London
London I photographed her during London
London I photographed her during London Fashion Week she travels all over the
Fashion Week she travels all over the
Fashion Week she travels all over the world and the whole time she’s traveling
world and the whole time she’s traveling
world and the whole time she’s traveling or she says is that she’s gaining as
or she says is that she’s gaining as
or she says is that she’s gaining as many experiences as she can and she’s
many experiences as she can and she’s
many experiences as she can and she’s earning it as much money as she can so
earning it as much money as she can so
earning it as much money as she can so that she can go home and have a normal
that she can go home and have a normal
that she can go home and have a normal life and again that spoke to me because
life and again that spoke to me because
life and again that spoke to me because I think the further photography takes me
I think the further photography takes me
I think the further photography takes me away from that field in Devon perhaps
away from that field in Devon perhaps
away from that field in Devon perhaps the closer I am to coming back to it at
the closer I am to coming back to it at
the closer I am to coming back to it at some point so thank you very much for
some point so thank you very much for
some point so thank you very much for listening to me
”
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