27 I was living and working in Papa and I was on a huge story my job was to find
I was on a huge story my job was to find
I was on a huge story my job was to find people in the middle of the Punjab that
people in the middle of the Punjab that
people in the middle of the Punjab that we’d interviewed one year before during
we’d interviewed one year before during
we’d interviewed one year before during the worst running the country had ever
the worst running the country had ever
the worst running the country had ever seen I left my home in the UK for years
seen I left my home in the UK for years
seen I left my home in the UK for years before on what I told my parents with a
before on what I told my parents with a
before on what I told my parents with a one-year trip overseas I was having
one-year trip overseas I was having
one-year trip overseas I was having overland through Asia no flying and I
overland through Asia no flying and I
overland through Asia no flying and I had this dream to work as our foreign
had this dream to work as our foreign
had this dream to work as our foreign correspondent sustained of international
correspondent sustained of international
correspondent sustained of international newsroom and I thought I could
newsroom and I thought I could
newsroom and I thought I could eventually go home with my experience
eventually go home with my experience
eventually go home with my experience get a job with a newspaper in the UK and
get a job with a newspaper in the UK and
get a job with a newspaper in the UK and that would be my start but I also knew I
that would be my start but I also knew I
that would be my start but I also knew I could do it a little differently I was
could do it a little differently I was
could do it a little differently I was already living in the country I wanted
already living in the country I wanted
already living in the country I wanted to report from I wasn’t fitting in at
to report from I wasn’t fitting in at
to report from I wasn’t fitting in at that we tend to be fine personally I was
that we tend to be fine personally I was
that we tend to be fine personally I was already in that hot expecting unusual
already in that hot expecting unusual
already in that hot expecting unusual place that I wanted to be telling
place that I wanted to be telling
place that I wanted to be telling stories and I was okay with that
stories and I was okay with that
stories and I was okay with that so I’m sitting on a chopper in the
so I’m sitting on a chopper in the
so I’m sitting on a chopper in the middle of the Punjab middle of the
middle of the Punjab middle of the
middle of the Punjab middle of the afternoon
afternoon
afternoon baking Sun we think one of our subjects
baking Sun we think one of our subjects
baking Sun we think one of our subjects arrived and I was talking with
fine quit and I took the first image
fine quit and I took the first image that I’m gonna show you
so this is our villages they’re gathered
so this is our villages they’re gathered outside of a small group of shops the
outside of a small group of shops the
outside of a small group of shops the two women in the image are collecting
two women in the image are collecting
two women in the image are collecting clean drinking water
clean drinking water
clean drinking water it’s calm it’s green is but one able for
it’s calm it’s green is but one able for
it’s calm it’s green is but one able for this photograph is taking this whole
this photograph is taking this whole
this photograph is taking this whole area was covered in water and these
area was covered in water and these
area was covered in water and these people lives and their dreams and their
people lives and their dreams and their
people lives and their dreams and their houses now this whole area look small
houses now this whole area look small
houses now this whole area look small expose people were stacking bricks they
expose people were stacking bricks they
expose people were stacking bricks they were implementing they’re trying to
were implementing they’re trying to
were implementing they’re trying to rebuild their lives a hell of it and
rebuild their lives a hell of it and
rebuild their lives a hell of it and when I took this image I was dying that
when I took this image I was dying that
when I took this image I was dying that with my camera and I’ll try a missile to
with my camera and I’ll try a missile to
with my camera and I’ll try a missile to technically good and she’d say I was
technically good and she’d say I was
technically good and she’d say I was talking to the photographer that I went
talking to the photographer that I went
talking to the photographer that I went and and look in the back of the camera
and and look in the back of the camera
and and look in the back of the camera and I realized that you can make a
and I realized that you can make a
and I realized that you can make a technically good image that works but
technically good image that works but
technically good image that works but when we take what about you also capture
when we take what about you also capture
when we take what about you also capture a moment in someone’s life and when you
a moment in someone’s life and when you
a moment in someone’s life and when you capture these moments you can start to
capture these moments you can start to
capture these moments you can start to share that and part little stories and
share that and part little stories and
share that and part little stories and this is the image that I took in
this is the image that I took in
this is the image that I took in I realized that I don’t
I realized that I don’t
I realized that I don’t [Music]
so the moving part of the exciting thing
so the moving part of the exciting thing for me to realize but it was also very
for me to realize but it was also very
for me to realize but it was also very terrifying it kind of like deciding you
terrifying it kind of like deciding you
terrifying it kind of like deciding you one of these in the hundreds but only
one of these in the hundreds but only
one of these in the hundreds but only know I’m kind of plays because I’m a
know I’m kind of plays because I’m a
know I’m kind of plays because I’m a football I played taking photographs for
football I played taking photographs for
football I played taking photographs for a very long time I didn’t know how to
a very long time I didn’t know how to
a very long time I didn’t know how to turn that into taking a lot of good
turn that into taking a lot of good
turn that into taking a lot of good photographs over a very long period of
photographs over a very long period of
photographs over a very long period of time and I also have already had job I
time and I also have already had job I
time and I also have already had job I was doing something that I really wanted
was doing something that I really wanted
was doing something that I really wanted to do I was working as a foreign
to do I was working as a foreign
to do I was working as a foreign correspondent I was living it after me
correspondent I was living it after me
correspondent I was living it after me this was the thing of the I said I
this was the thing of the I said I
this was the thing of the I said I wanted to happen it was a strict to my
wanted to happen it was a strict to my
wanted to happen it was a strict to my life and no point in strict would it
life and no point in strict would it
life and no point in strict would it have said now take everything you
have said now take everything you
have said now take everything you thought that you knew you wanted and and
thought that you knew you wanted and and
thought that you knew you wanted and and throw that out the window but that was
throw that out the window but that was
throw that out the window but that was the situation that I was facing so I’m
the situation that I was facing so I’m
the situation that I was facing so I’m standing in the field I’m holding my
standing in the field I’m holding my
standing in the field I’m holding my camera and I’m thinking how am I gonna
camera and I’m thinking how am I gonna
camera and I’m thinking how am I gonna make this new dreamless new reality
make this new dreamless new reality
make this new dreamless new reality you think tangible something real
you think tangible something real
you think tangible something real because up until that point I had taken
because up until that point I had taken
because up until that point I had taken a long burst I’ve taken advantage of
a long burst I’ve taken advantage of
a long burst I’ve taken advantage of opportunity that given I created my own
opportunity that given I created my own
opportunity that given I created my own as well but this really felt like I had
as well but this really felt like I had
as well but this really felt like I had to now create something from nothing and
to now create something from nothing and
to now create something from nothing and follow this new party’s talk so there
follow this new party’s talk so there
follow this new party’s talk so there are always obstacles and I know a lot of
are always obstacles and I know a lot of
are always obstacles and I know a lot of you in this room are going to be trying
you in this room are going to be trying
you in this room are going to be trying to face the kind of obstacles that’s
to face the kind of obstacles that’s
to face the kind of obstacles that’s going to make me govern a little bit at
going to make me govern a little bit at
going to make me govern a little bit at the start of your career mine kind of
the start of your career mine kind of
the start of your career mine kind of came down to two things one how can I
came down to two things one how can I
came down to two things one how can I become confident enough to say the thing
become confident enough to say the thing
become confident enough to say the thing I thought I want it I don’t want any I
I thought I want it I don’t want any I
I thought I want it I don’t want any I want this new different dream that I
want this new different dream that I
want this new different dream that I don’t really know how to achieve but
don’t really know how to achieve but
don’t really know how to achieve but it’s something that I know I need to do
it’s something that I know I need to do
it’s something that I know I need to do and the other a second biggest issue and
and the other a second biggest issue and
and the other a second biggest issue and I think for all of us me because say
I think for all of us me because say
I think for all of us me because say something a little bit simpler I’m at
something a little bit simpler I’m at
something a little bit simpler I’m at point a over here point B where I want
point a over here point B where I want
point a over here point B where I want to be is over here and I don’t know
to be is over here and I don’t know
to be is over here and I don’t know exactly what needs to go in the middle I
exactly what needs to go in the middle I
exactly what needs to go in the middle I just know I need to figure out how I’m
just know I need to figure out how I’m
just know I need to figure out how I’m going to get there I was just doing it
going to get there I was just doing it
going to get there I was just doing it to feed myself I already had a job you
to feed myself I already had a job you
to feed myself I already had a job you just believe that
just believe that
just believe that so I decided pretty quickly if I was
so I decided pretty quickly if I was
so I decided pretty quickly if I was going to change my direction in my
going to change my direction in my
going to change my direction in my career I have to fit the topography
career I have to fit the topography
career I have to fit the topography around what I was already doing and one
around what I was already doing and one
around what I was already doing and one thing I had on my side of time because
thing I had on my side of time because
thing I had on my side of time because we do
we do
we do and I was fascinated
and I was fascinated
and I was fascinated so from that moment I started
so from that moment I started
so from that moment I started photographing around my real life
photographing around my real life
photographing around my real life I was sitting photo editors or my thing
I was sitting photo editors or my thing
I was sitting photo editors or my thing though I’m getting four in the morning I
though I’m getting four in the morning I
though I’m getting four in the morning I was going out shooting and I slowly
was going out shooting and I slowly
was going out shooting and I slowly started to photograph the images that
started to photograph the images that
started to photograph the images that we’ve gone with the stories that I was
we’ve gone with the stories that I was
we’ve gone with the stories that I was right and it’s really the biggest thing
right and it’s really the biggest thing
right and it’s really the biggest thing being it’s also the simplest and it’s
being it’s also the simplest and it’s
being it’s also the simplest and it’s going to be able to sing for about you
going to be able to sing for about you
going to be able to sing for about you here I’ve never studied so I needed to
here I’ve never studied so I needed to
here I’ve never studied so I needed to find a way becoming the thing I wanted
find a way becoming the thing I wanted
find a way becoming the thing I wanted to become the first thing I did was I
to become the first thing I did was I
to become the first thing I did was I found a few mentors that who took me
found a few mentors that who took me
found a few mentors that who took me through what I was going through and
through what I was going through and
through what I was going through and that will be key I think and the second
that will be key I think and the second
that will be key I think and the second thing is you have to be willing to get
thing is you have to be willing to get
thing is you have to be willing to get out there and practice there’s an
out there and practice there’s an
out there and practice there’s an already culture brussels word says
already culture brussels word says
already culture brussels word says you’ve got 10,000 photograph your worst
you’ve got 10,000 photograph your worst
you’ve got 10,000 photograph your worst I know this this photograph lectures the
I know this this photograph lectures the
I know this this photograph lectures the first one I took that I said yes this is
first one I took that I said yes this is
first one I took that I said yes this is what I want I think that was probably
what I want I think that was probably
what I want I think that was probably about put it off number seven so the
about put it off number seven so the
about put it off number seven so the thing about ours and taking your time
thing about ours and taking your time
thing about ours and taking your time and getting into what you want to do
and getting into what you want to do
and getting into what you want to do that has been easy for me
that has been easy for me
that has been easy for me and I also think that you need to take
and I also think that you need to take
and I also think that you need to take more chances and take more risk and
more chances and take more risk and
more chances and take more risk and we’re talking about disruption today and
we’re talking about disruption today and
we’re talking about disruption today and I think for me going after what I wanted
I think for me going after what I wanted
I think for me going after what I wanted and jumping in and gone to these new
and jumping in and gone to these new
and jumping in and gone to these new places taking their chance on my future
places taking their chance on my future
places taking their chance on my future that was something I was really prepared
that was something I was really prepared
that was something I was really prepared to do at the time I was also reporting a
to do at the time I was also reporting a
to do at the time I was also reporting a lot growing gradually g-packs
lot growing gradually g-packs
lot growing gradually g-packs on the thousands of people displaced
on the thousands of people displaced
on the thousands of people displaced from Afghanistan because place from
from Afghanistan because place from
from Afghanistan because place from within Pakistan let their whole lives
within Pakistan let their whole lives
within Pakistan let their whole lives behind coming to these huge refugee
behind coming to these huge refugee
behind coming to these huge refugee camps living very close together very
camps living very close together very
camps living very close together very smart very practical and I was traveled
smart very practical and I was traveled
smart very practical and I was traveled a lot in Arabic and I was writing about
a lot in Arabic and I was writing about
a lot in Arabic and I was writing about a lot I was meeting I was covering
a lot I was meeting I was covering
a lot I was meeting I was covering stories about fear about displacement
stories about fear about displacement
stories about fear about displacement just
just
just practical things lacking resources
practical things lacking resources
practical things lacking resources mental health and the more I was in the
mental health and the more I was in the
mental health and the more I was in the area and the more I was meeting with
area and the more I was meeting with
area and the more I was meeting with people that are surprised about me
people that are surprised about me
people that are surprised about me the more I started realizing that
the more I started realizing that
the more I started realizing that telling that story especially for me was
telling that story especially for me was
telling that story especially for me was he it’s very rare particularly to be
he it’s very rare particularly to be
he it’s very rare particularly to be allowed to perform in it it’s very rare
allowed to perform in it it’s very rare
allowed to perform in it it’s very rare to be allowed in such intimate moments
to be allowed in such intimate moments
to be allowed in such intimate moments and lies but every time I went to these
and lies but every time I went to these
and lies but every time I went to these areas I was walking I was able to fit
areas I was walking I was able to fit
areas I was walking I was able to fit with families women talk through their
with families women talk through their
with families women talk through their stories and I can’t imagine coming away
stories and I can’t imagine coming away
stories and I can’t imagine coming away from these areas without an image that
from these areas without an image that
from these areas without an image that would show what these people who had
would show what these people who had
would show what these people who had never met we like I can’t even begin to
never met we like I can’t even begin to
never met we like I can’t even begin to understand what they were going through
understand what they were going through
understand what they were going through and and how they were now this thing is
and and how they were now this thing is
and and how they were now this thing is totally alien life and I know a lot of
totally alien life and I know a lot of
totally alien life and I know a lot of you here are looking at
you here are looking at
you here are looking at the idea of realizing I put myself on
the idea of realizing I put myself on
the idea of realizing I put myself on the final furlong I would then go and
the final furlong I would then go and
the final furlong I would then go and try and figure out how to sell his
try and figure out how to sell his
try and figure out how to sell his interest later I would shoot for myself
interest later I would shoot for myself
interest later I would shoot for myself I am broke under reported issues I once
I am broke under reported issues I once
I am broke under reported issues I once interviewed an exhale gunfighter that I
interviewed an exhale gunfighter that I
interviewed an exhale gunfighter that I met in vegetable market so it’s very key
met in vegetable market so it’s very key
met in vegetable market so it’s very key for me to keep taking advantage of my
for me to keep taking advantage of my
for me to keep taking advantage of my changes and I just started to realize
changes and I just started to realize
changes and I just started to realize that I can tell stories that I wanted to
that I can tell stories that I wanted to
that I can tell stories that I wanted to tell without showing
tell without showing
tell without showing the second image I have to show you is
the second image I have to show you is
the second image I have to show you is of a woman in a refugee camp near
of a woman in a refugee camp near
of a woman in a refugee camp near Peshawar she survived her name is
Peshawar she survived her name is
Peshawar she survived her name is Kenyatta she came from Pakistan tribal
Kenyatta she came from Pakistan tribal
Kenyatta she came from Pakistan tribal area and she was suffering with
area and she was suffering with
area and she was suffering with depression PTSD from living in the kind
depression PTSD from living in the kind
depression PTSD from living in the kind of conditions she was living
of conditions she was living
of conditions she was living and coming from the kind of life and
and coming from the kind of life and
and coming from the kind of life and when I met her and I thought about her
when I met her and I thought about her
when I met her and I thought about her particularly you photograph someone’s
particularly you photograph someone’s
particularly you photograph someone’s face you can’t show I really wanted to
face you can’t show I really wanted to
face you can’t show I really wanted to show the space she lived in and trying
show the space she lived in and trying
show the space she lived in and trying to talk to something with her heart
to talk to something with her heart
to talk to something with her heart system and it was these kind of images
system and it was these kind of images
system and it was these kind of images that I really thought I needed to start
that I really thought I needed to start
that I really thought I needed to start showing ir s– interest and it was
showing ir s– interest and it was
showing ir s– interest and it was paying off and I really started to
paying off and I really started to
paying off and I really started to realize this life I thought it wanted
realize this life I thought it wanted
realize this life I thought it wanted been replaced by the new to tell my
been replaced by the new to tell my
been replaced by the new to tell my story and I wasn’t sitting at that desk
story and I wasn’t sitting at that desk
story and I wasn’t sitting at that desk waiting here’s mine
waiting here’s mine
waiting here’s mine I was chasing my own dream and I would
I was chasing my own dream and I would
I was chasing my own dream and I would be able to go out into areas of Pi in
be able to go out into areas of Pi in
be able to go out into areas of Pi in particular and meet these this is a
particular and meet these this is a
particular and meet these this is a device on an Afghan border in northern
device on an Afghan border in northern
device on an Afghan border in northern Pakistan there’s only about 3000 of them
Pakistan there’s only about 3000 of them
Pakistan there’s only about 3000 of them left and they’re very important to me
left and they’re very important to me
left and they’re very important to me and very special because this was the
and very special because this was the
and very special because this was the third time I started to work on my own
third time I started to work on my own
third time I started to work on my own story and trying to show the lives of
story and trying to show the lives of
story and trying to show the lives of people that I had never heard
there’s a practical because of the past
there’s a practical because of the past are very much to get to
are very much to get to
are very much to get to it’s only 80 villages related
it’s only 80 villages related
it’s only 80 villages related [Music]
[Music]
[Music] this is the first time they’ve ever had
this is the first time they’ve ever had
this is the first time they’ve ever had a written alphabet I believe this is one
a written alphabet I believe this is one
a written alphabet I believe this is one of the few images that actually shows
of the few images that actually shows
of the few images that actually shows the new alphabet to have before this
the new alphabet to have before this
the new alphabet to have before this picture was taken there really struggled
picture was taken there really struggled
picture was taken there really struggled to try to bring their own language and
to try to bring their own language and
to try to bring their own language and this is iconic and that’s really
this is iconic and that’s really
this is iconic and that’s really important to me being able to show the
important to me being able to show the
important to me being able to show the tiny moments and people’s lives that are
tiny moments and people’s lives that are
tiny moments and people’s lives that are important to them
important to them
important to them [Music]
[Music]
[Music] they’ll have some pretty good constable
so talking about destruction and was
so talking about destruction and was working about bravery to go up to
working about bravery to go up to
working about bravery to go up to something that you want his phrase in
something that you want his phrase in
something that you want his phrase in that risk exactly to me and it will do
that risk exactly to me and it will do
that risk exactly to me and it will do for you as well but the real bravery
for you as well but the real bravery
for you as well but the real bravery from me comes from the people whose
from me comes from the people whose
from me comes from the people whose stories and telling I was photographing
stories and telling I was photographing
stories and telling I was photographing in Kabul earlier this year in women
in Kabul earlier this year in women
in Kabul earlier this year in women shelter and I met a girl that I run away
shelter and I met a girl that I run away
shelter and I met a girl that I run away from home after she was raped by a
from home after she was raped by a
from home after she was raped by a Taliban mother when I photographed her
Taliban mother when I photographed her
Taliban mother when I photographed her she was holding her food for itself
she was holding her food for itself
she was holding her food for itself 260
260
260 she arrived in Kabul alone and what
she arrived in Kabul alone and what
she arrived in Kabul alone and what helped her find the shelter and when she
helped her find the shelter and when she
helped her find the shelter and when she got there she had to give back her money
got there she had to give back her money
got there she had to give back her money had never heard from her they were
had never heard from her they were
had never heard from her they were probably dumber again from the outset
probably dumber again from the outset
probably dumber again from the outset her life impossible back she has dreams
her life impossible back she has dreams
her life impossible back she has dreams as well she is going to be a policewoman
as well she is going to be a policewoman
as well she is going to be a policewoman and this is happening
and this is happening
and this is happening [Music]
[Music]
[Music] in Kalia I’ve watched families bury
in Kalia I’ve watched families bury
in Kalia I’ve watched families bury their sons and I followed patients
their sons and I followed patients
their sons and I followed patients report it takes bravery to be in the
report it takes bravery to be in the
report it takes bravery to be in the places where I live but the remarkable
places where I live but the remarkable
places where I live but the remarkable person in that situation isn’t me if a
person in that situation isn’t me if a
person in that situation isn’t me if a person who’s taking me into that home
person who’s taking me into that home
person who’s taking me into that home and allowing me to spend time with them
and allowing me to spend time with them
and allowing me to spend time with them who’s opening up is giving me the
who’s opening up is giving me the
who’s opening up is giving me the moments and the stories that I won’t be
moments and the stories that I won’t be
moments and the stories that I won’t be showing so whatever parent card in
showing so whatever parent card in
showing so whatever parent card in itself to make the changes that you made
itself to make the changes that you made
itself to make the changes that you made or what I want to do or remarkable
or what I want to do or remarkable
or what I want to do or remarkable courage in situations that I’m finding
courage in situations that I’m finding
courage in situations that I’m finding from other people the complex term
from other people the complex term
from other people the complex term bravery has played an important role in
bravery has played an important role in
bravery has played an important role in my life yeah and I know that some of you
my life yeah and I know that some of you
my life yeah and I know that some of you here are starting the next phase I
here are starting the next phase I
here are starting the next phase I realize you’re looking at
realize you’re looking at
realize you’re looking at and you might have idea that looks like
and you might have idea that looks like
and you might have idea that looks like you might have no idea whatsoever you
you might have no idea whatsoever you
you might have no idea whatsoever you might have a total change of heart the
might have a total change of heart the
might have a total change of heart the way I did but all of you are going to be
way I did but all of you are going to be
way I did but all of you are going to be afraid something afraid of how much
afraid something afraid of how much
afraid something afraid of how much it’ll take me did you
it’ll take me did you
it’ll take me did you and I can tell you now that the only
and I can tell you now that the only
and I can tell you now that the only thing is to focus on is being brave
thing is to focus on is being brave
thing is to focus on is being brave enough and honest enough to make the fun
enough and honest enough to make the fun
enough and honest enough to make the fun decisions that maybe a little bit less I
decisions that maybe a little bit less I
decisions that maybe a little bit less I may be completely different that will
may be completely different that will
may be completely different that will take you through to the next stage
decisions that you make now aren’t
decisions that you make now aren’t forever
forever
forever the part that you follow will be ones
the part that you follow will be ones
the part that you follow will be ones you don’t expect and no matter what
you don’t expect and no matter what
you don’t expect and no matter what happens to you in the career about certs
happens to you in the career about certs
happens to you in the career about certs they caught it’s probably not going to
they caught it’s probably not going to
they caught it’s probably not going to look like highly expected and you’ll
look like highly expected and you’ll
look like highly expected and you’ll need courage
need courage
need courage whether it’s stuck in the table or iron
whether it’s stuck in the table or iron
whether it’s stuck in the table or iron or saying goodbye switch me or firstly
or saying goodbye switch me or firstly
or saying goodbye switch me or firstly one but only by being brave enough to
one but only by being brave enough to
one but only by being brave enough to make those decision we discovered a new
make those decision we discovered a new
make those decision we discovered a new life adventure that you could happen
life adventure that you could happen
life adventure that you could happen so in conclusion I think this bravely
so in conclusion I think this bravely
so in conclusion I think this bravely it’s okay to be afraid because you can’t
it’s okay to be afraid because you can’t
it’s okay to be afraid because you can’t be brave
be brave
be brave [Music]
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