hi everyone since I’m nine years old I’ve been taking pictures of literally
I’ve been taking pictures of literally
I’ve been taking pictures of literally everything through the years and I went
everything through the years and I went
everything through the years and I went from discovering and photograph in my
from discovering and photograph in my
from discovering and photograph in my own world to commercial photography to
own world to commercial photography to
own world to commercial photography to weddings and then I decided to explore
weddings and then I decided to explore
weddings and then I decided to explore other parts of the other parts of the
other parts of the other parts of the
other parts of the other parts of the world and other countries as with my
world and other countries as with my
world and other countries as with my camera and with a lot of passion and by
camera and with a lot of passion and by
camera and with a lot of passion and by looking at all of these photographs I
looking at all of these photographs I
looking at all of these photographs I can no help I notice how different they
can no help I notice how different they
can no help I notice how different they have been through the years and these
have been through the years and these
have been through the years and these different moments in time and space it
different moments in time and space it
different moments in time and space it raises a question in my head what am I
raises a question in my head what am I
raises a question in my head what am I trying to say behind my images and well
trying to say behind my images and well
trying to say behind my images and well my passion for photography has taken me
my passion for photography has taken me
my passion for photography has taken me to multiple places like Bolivia burkina
to multiple places like Bolivia burkina
to multiple places like Bolivia burkina faso egypt india cambodia thailand and
faso egypt india cambodia thailand and
faso egypt india cambodia thailand and all across Europe and I have worked for
all across Europe and I have worked for
all across Europe and I have worked for agencies including the United Nations
agencies including the United Nations
agencies including the United Nations for Refugees the World Food Programme
for Refugees the World Food Programme
for Refugees the World Food Programme Records movement and they allow me to
Records movement and they allow me to
Records movement and they allow me to immerse him in communities ranging from
immerse him in communities ranging from
immerse him in communities ranging from the refugees from the world of Mali and
the refugees from the world of Mali and
the refugees from the world of Mali and Syria to victims of child exploitation
Syria to victims of child exploitation
Syria to victims of child exploitation in coal mines in burkina faso but for
in coal mines in burkina faso but for
in coal mines in burkina faso but for the last three years I’ve been doing
the last three years I’ve been doing
the last three years I’ve been doing something less trivial you show me I’ve
something less trivial you show me I’ve
something less trivial you show me I’ve been working in two completely different
been working in two completely different
been working in two completely different projects at the same time both of them
projects at the same time both of them
projects at the same time both of them ending in two different books one of
ending in two different books one of
ending in two different books one of them is a really positive colourful
them is a really positive colourful
them is a really positive colourful portrait book about people from
portrait book about people from
portrait book about people from Edinburgh and on the other hand we have
Edinburgh and on the other hand we have
Edinburgh and on the other hand we have living in solitude which is a dark black
living in solitude which is a dark black
living in solitude which is a dark black and white book about underage
and white book about underage
and white book about underage prostitution in a tiny island South
prostitution in a tiny island South
prostitution in a tiny island South Bangladesh these are the two reportages
Bangladesh these are the two reportages
Bangladesh these are the two reportages I would like to talk to you today so
I would like to talk to you today so
I would like to talk to you today so this one is faces of fair Umbra and you
this one is faces of fair Umbra and you
this one is faces of fair Umbra and you see a very personal journey and I lived
see a very personal journey and I lived
see a very personal journey and I lived in Edinburgh what I now consider my home
in Edinburgh what I now consider my home
in Edinburgh what I now consider my home and I documented the life of people that
and I documented the life of people that
and I documented the life of people that surrounded me and just bar managers
surrounded me and just bar managers
surrounded me and just bar managers helicopter engineer
helicopter engineer
helicopter engineer pirate ammerman shop owner he’s here
pirate ammerman shop owner he’s here
pirate ammerman shop owner he’s here today the director of the National
today the director of the National
today the director of the National Gallery and just some people that
Gallery and just some people that
Gallery and just some people that inspire me
inspire me
inspire me and in general people they saw every day
and in general people they saw every day
and in general people they saw every day on the street and then I never told to
on the street and then I never told to
on the street and then I never told to that’s what I came up with this book
that’s what I came up with this book
that’s what I came up with this book just to inspire other people by people
just to inspire other people by people
just to inspire other people by people that inspire me somehow in one way or
that inspire me somehow in one way or
that inspire me somehow in one way or another and this book has been just an
another and this book has been just an
another and this book has been just an excuse to meet interesting and inspiring
excuse to meet interesting and inspiring
excuse to meet interesting and inspiring people and to make a lot of friends like
people and to make a lot of friends like
people and to make a lot of friends like for example DeWitt he is now one of my
for example DeWitt he is now one of my
for example DeWitt he is now one of my best friends when I met him it was eight
best friends when I met him it was eight
best friends when I met him it was eight years ago when I arrived to Edinburgh
years ago when I arrived to Edinburgh
years ago when I arrived to Edinburgh and he helped me a lot he was the first
and he helped me a lot he was the first
and he helped me a lot he was the first person I talked in Edinburgh and I
person I talked in Edinburgh and I
person I talked in Edinburgh and I talked to him one morning he’s playing
talked to him one morning he’s playing
talked to him one morning he’s playing me things that you need to know when you
me things that you need to know when you
me things that you need to know when you arrive to our country I have no idea I
arrive to our country I have no idea I
arrive to our country I have no idea I didn’t speak English he’s a Spanish and
didn’t speak English he’s a Spanish and
didn’t speak English he’s a Spanish and he helped me a lot for me he was a very
he helped me a lot for me he was a very
he helped me a lot for me he was a very important piece of my puzzle for him I
important piece of my puzzle for him I
important piece of my puzzle for him I was just song and I told to him there
was just song and I told to him there
was just song and I told to him there was no nothing else so then a 7 years
was no nothing else so then a 7 years
was no nothing else so then a 7 years later when I came to talk to him and I
later when I came to talk to him and I
later when I came to talk to him and I asked him to take the portrait and ice
asked him to take the portrait and ice
asked him to take the portrait and ice playing the story he couldn’t believe it
playing the story he couldn’t believe it
playing the story he couldn’t believe it he was really happy and we took the
he was really happy and we took the
he was really happy and we took the portrait is a fantastic street artist
portrait is a fantastic street artist
portrait is a fantastic street artist and since then we have been really
and since then we have been really
and since then we have been really really good friends and what to say
really good friends and what to say
really good friends and what to say about Sina I love Tina Tina is a
about Sina I love Tina Tina is a
about Sina I love Tina Tina is a transgender girl and I met her on on the
transgender girl and I met her on on the
transgender girl and I met her on on the street she looked very interesting she
street she looked very interesting she
street she looked very interesting she was wearing like this just now and I
was wearing like this just now and I
was wearing like this just now and I associate if she wanted to be part of
associate if she wanted to be part of
associate if she wanted to be part of the book and she agreed so well then we
the book and she agreed so well then we
the book and she agreed so well then we went to her flat and I to the portrait
went to her flat and I to the portrait
went to her flat and I to the portrait of her I listened to her story she’s
of her I listened to her story she’s
of her I listened to her story she’s blaming her life a little bit more in
blaming her life a little bit more in
blaming her life a little bit more in detail I found her really interesting
detail I found her really interesting
detail I found her really interesting and really inspiring and I she inspires
and really inspiring and I she inspires
and really inspiring and I she inspires me because she’s unique because she’s
me because she’s unique because she’s
me because she’s unique because she’s seen the psychedelic unicorn and I think
seen the psychedelic unicorn and I think
seen the psychedelic unicorn and I think her story must be explained to encourage
her story must be explained to encourage
her story must be explained to encourage other people in her situation and that’s
other people in her situation and that’s
other people in her situation and that’s what I offer her to do a book and so far
what I offer her to do a book and so far
what I offer her to do a book and so far we’re working this book for eight months
we’re working this book for eight months
we’re working this book for eight months and it will take us at least eight more
and it will take us at least eight more
and it will take us at least eight more years we have to go through all the
years we have to go through all the
years we have to go through all the transition and everything and this is an
transition and everything and this is an
transition and everything and this is an amazing journey which I am learning a
amazing journey which I am learning a
amazing journey which I am learning a law firm so in general faces of a number
law firm so in general faces of a number
law firm so in general faces of a number has been a really really interesting
has been a really really interesting
has been a really really interesting project in in a personal level I met and
project in in a personal level I met and
project in in a personal level I met and I love new people and most of them will
I love new people and most of them will
I love new people and most of them will remain in my life forever and these two
remain in my life forever and these two
remain in my life forever and these two have not been possible
have not been possible
have not been possible without the excuse of photography and on
without the excuse of photography and on
without the excuse of photography and on the other hand we have living in
the other hand we have living in
the other hand we have living in solitude which is a reported David in
solitude which is a reported David in
solitude which is a reported David in South Bangladesh in a tiny island called
South Bangladesh in a tiny island called
South Bangladesh in a tiny island called Bonnie Shanta
Bonnie Shanta
Bonnie Shanta it’s about underage prostitution this is
it’s about underage prostitution this is
it’s about underage prostitution this is the island and when I worked in a in a
the island and when I worked in a in a
the island and when I worked in a in a reporter like living in solitude
reporter like living in solitude
reporter like living in solitude everything changes all the protocol that
everything changes all the protocol that
everything changes all the protocol that you may have on your day today is
you may have on your day today is
you may have on your day today is completely different and faces of a
completely different and faces of a
completely different and faces of a lemur I documented the people that’s
lemur I documented the people that’s
lemur I documented the people that’s around in my life but do these reporters
around in my life but do these reporters
around in my life but do these reporters I need hours of flights of roads and
I need hours of flights of roads and
I need hours of flights of roads and both and to arrive to an island when
both and to arrive to an island when
both and to arrive to an island when most likely I’m no welcome and usually
most likely I’m no welcome and usually
most likely I’m no welcome and usually the first day I don’t even take pictures
the first day I don’t even take pictures
the first day I don’t even take pictures I just walk around with my camera just
I just walk around with my camera just
I just walk around with my camera just to meet people and talking to them and I
to meet people and talking to them and I
to meet people and talking to them and I just try to understand the situation as
just try to understand the situation as
just try to understand the situation as better as I can and every trip every
better as I can and every trip every
better as I can and every trip every time that I go there they get me more
time that I go there they get me more
time that I go there they get me more and more into their lives and they
and more into their lives and they
and more into their lives and they explain me their stories and how they
explain me their stories and how they
explain me their stories and how they were trafficked to the island how
were trafficked to the island how
were trafficked to the island how difficult it is for them and how they
difficult it is for them and how they
difficult it is for them and how they live and then is when I start working on
live and then is when I start working on
live and then is when I start working on how to explain the right story
how to explain the right story
how to explain the right story empowering these girls and this girl
empowering these girls and this girl
empowering these girls and this girl share that experience with me and it is
share that experience with me and it is
share that experience with me and it is not the kind of experience you can find
not the kind of experience you can find
not the kind of experience you can find in faces of Edinburgh because everyone
in faces of Edinburgh because everyone
in faces of Edinburgh because everyone from faces of Umbra are so proud of
from faces of Umbra are so proud of
from faces of Umbra are so proud of their half of of their own life these
their half of of their own life these
their half of of their own life these girls are so proud of themselves but not
girls are so proud of themselves but not
girls are so proud of themselves but not how they life have been even though they
how they life have been even though they
how they life have been even though they shared a story with me because they want
shared a story with me because they want
shared a story with me because they want me to share it with the world
me to share it with the world
me to share it with the world because I believe showing these pictures
because I believe showing these pictures
because I believe showing these pictures is the right direction to do steps
is the right direction to do steps
is the right direction to do steps toward changing their injustice is a
toward changing their injustice is a
toward changing their injustice is a living in solitude has been an
living in solitude has been an
living in solitude has been an experience of crucial personal and
experience of crucial personal and
experience of crucial personal and professional development and I believe I
professional development and I believe I
professional development and I believe I have a moral and social obligation to
have a moral and social obligation to
have a moral and social obligation to amplify the voices of those who are
amplify the voices of those who are
amplify the voices of those who are often and seen by the world and who
often and seen by the world and who
often and seen by the world and who suffer social exclusion like shantih
suffer social exclusion like shantih
suffer social exclusion like shantih shantih is nine years old and she’s one
shantih is nine years old and she’s one
shantih is nine years old and she’s one of the many girls who are born in
of the many girls who are born in
of the many girls who are born in banishment Ireland after her mom fell
banishment Ireland after her mom fell
banishment Ireland after her mom fell pregnant from an encounter with a
pregnant from an encounter with a
pregnant from an encounter with a customer from unprotected sex and gas
customer from unprotected sex and gas
customer from unprotected sex and gas warrant these conditions are forced to
warrant these conditions are forced to
warrant these conditions are forced to follow the path of sex slavery and boys
follow the path of sex slavery and boys
follow the path of sex slavery and boys most likely are going to be drug dealers
most likely are going to be drug dealers
most likely are going to be drug dealers and chanta
and chanta
and chanta most likely in two years is going to be
most likely in two years is going to be
most likely in two years is going to be prostitute and she’s just nine years old
prostitute and she’s just nine years old
prostitute and she’s just nine years old she’s exactly the same age I was when I
she’s exactly the same age I was when I
she’s exactly the same age I was when I start taking pictures and we know that
start taking pictures and we know that
start taking pictures and we know that she will be a prostitute just in a few
she will be a prostitute just in a few
she will be a prostitute just in a few years just because of the because where
years just because of the because where
years just because of the because where and how she was born and this is crazy
and how she was born and this is crazy
and how she was born and this is crazy because she is only a kid
because she is only a kid
because she is only a kid and I love Shanta she’s a perfect
and I love Shanta she’s a perfect
and I love Shanta she’s a perfect example of smiling to life even if if
example of smiling to life even if if
example of smiling to life even if if life doesn’t smile you back and we spend
life doesn’t smile you back and we spend
life doesn’t smile you back and we spend a lot of time together and I was
a lot of time together and I was
a lot of time together and I was carrying her everywhere and I was
carrying her everywhere and I was
carrying her everywhere and I was following here she was following me
following here she was following me
following here she was following me everywhere and if I have to choose the
everywhere and if I have to choose the
everywhere and if I have to choose the person I am more attached to in one of
person I am more attached to in one of
person I am more attached to in one of my photographs
my photographs
my photographs Shanta will be the one this picture is
Shanta will be the one this picture is
Shanta will be the one this picture is hanging on my room in this angle my room
hanging on my room in this angle my room
hanging on my room in this angle my room because I want to see her every morning
because I want to see her every morning
because I want to see her every morning and I don’t want to forget about her
and I don’t want to forget about her
and I don’t want to forget about her situation because and this is why I want
situation because and this is why I want
situation because and this is why I want to finish the last part of my talk with
to finish the last part of my talk with
to finish the last part of my talk with this with her picture as well because I
this with her picture as well because I
this with her picture as well because I also don’t want you to forget her as an
also don’t want you to forget her as an
also don’t want you to forget her as an example of people to suffer in silence
example of people to suffer in silence
example of people to suffer in silence and as you may know by now I am foreign
and as you may know by now I am foreign
and as you may know by now I am foreign I am NOT from Spain I am from Spain as
I am NOT from Spain I am from Spain as
I am NOT from Spain I am from Spain as you I am from Barcelona I am from Spain
you I am from Barcelona I am from Spain
you I am from Barcelona I am from Spain and I decided to move to Edinburgh eight
and I decided to move to Edinburgh eight
and I decided to move to Edinburgh eight years ago and this was the most
years ago and this was the most
years ago and this was the most important and crucial decision of my
important and crucial decision of my
important and crucial decision of my life
life
life I was not able to speak any English at
I was not able to speak any English at
I was not able to speak any English at all so I became an observer and a
all so I became an observer and a
all so I became an observer and a listener and I learned the essence of
listener and I learned the essence of
listener and I learned the essence of photography listening and observing in
photography listening and observing in
photography listening and observing in silence and I learned how to see
silence and I learned how to see
silence and I learned how to see photographs with our camera and focusing
photographs with our camera and focusing
photographs with our camera and focusing on people on expressions and on visual
on people on expressions and on visual
on people on expressions and on visual stories and I realized that we need to
stories and I realized that we need to
stories and I realized that we need to have enough empathy with people around
have enough empathy with people around
have enough empathy with people around us just then we will be able to make
us just then we will be able to make
us just then we will be able to make bigger changes in this world because at
bigger changes in this world because at
bigger changes in this world because at the end of the day the photograph that
the end of the day the photograph that
the end of the day the photograph that you see on an exhibition or on a book I
you see on an exhibition or on a book I
you see on an exhibition or on a book I just the end result of everything that
just the end result of everything that
just the end result of everything that photographer Fields fears hopes lost
photographer Fields fears hopes lost
photographer Fields fears hopes lost hates or season in a long process and
hates or season in a long process and
hates or season in a long process and what I share with you here is just my
what I share with you here is just my
what I share with you here is just my way of seeing the world and laughing and
way of seeing the world and laughing and
way of seeing the world and laughing and crying and every picture is a reflection
crying and every picture is a reflection
crying and every picture is a reflection of my feelings in connection with other
of my feelings in connection with other
of my feelings in connection with other human being and I learned how to explore
human being and I learned how to explore
human being and I learned how to explore myself in connection with other people
myself in connection with other people
myself in connection with other people and learning that the most important
and learning that the most important
and learning that the most important thing is not the camera is the
thing is not the camera is the
thing is not the camera is the connection between us as human beings
connection between us as human beings
connection between us as human beings between the photographer and the
between the photographer and the
between the photographer and the photographed the heart behind the image
photographed the heart behind the image
photographed the heart behind the image and I have realized that photography has
and I have realized that photography has
and I have realized that photography has a gray
a gray
a gray power doing for people about the world
power doing for people about the world
power doing for people about the world and its issues and to inspire change and
and its issues and to inspire change and
and its issues and to inspire change and I try to be as close as I can to the
I try to be as close as I can to the
I try to be as close as I can to the people physically and emotionally
people physically and emotionally
people physically and emotionally because you never know how many lives
because you never know how many lives
because you never know how many lives you can change this by sharing you the
you can change this by sharing you the
you can change this by sharing you the story when I take a picture I don’t try
story when I take a picture I don’t try
story when I take a picture I don’t try to give an answer I just want people to
to give an answer I just want people to
to give an answer I just want people to question themselves within the image in
question themselves within the image in
question themselves within the image in the same way a question myself when I
the same way a question myself when I
the same way a question myself when I take that picture because I just want
take that picture because I just want
take that picture because I just want people to question the world we live in
people to question the world we live in
people to question the world we live in thank you very much
thank you very much
thank you very much [Applause]
”
Be First to Comment