Eastbound

Blog Migration

2010-07-20T07:31:00.000-07:00

As I'm migrating to Kyrgyzstan, my blog is also migrating to a new host for some technical reason. Here is the new site:

http://www.ikurukuwajima.com/blog

Southern Kyrgyzstan

2010-06-29T02:45:00.001-07:00

About 2000 people were thought to be killed in the recent clashes in the southern Kyrgyzstan. A number of people, especially ethnic Uzbeks lost houses due to arsons and looting, and hundreds, or thousands, of IDPs still don't know where to move. Worked with Save the Children in Southern Kyrgyzstan. I've been based in Bishkek in the past month and will be here for a while.

Samara, ru

2010-04-28T18:19:00.000-07:00

Trying to catch up with many things... I was in Samara, Russia for a photo project called disorientation. Basically, the idea is throwing 5 foreign photographers into a middle-sized Russian city and letting them photograph whatever while any research on the city is banned. We just had to wander around with a map of "other" city... Nonetheless, Samara turned out to be one of my most favorite cities in the world.

Joining Gruppe 28

2010-03-28T16:42:00.001-07:00

It's been almost three years since I left school, and I'm finally joining a relatively new German agency called Gruppe 28. www.gruppe28.com/
I've been rescanning and retoning photos to submit pictures for the whole week. I will post some new pictures soon....
Also, I will be in Japan in April for some business. Long time no home.

Passing on Message to People currently near Moscow...

2010-03-04T20:43:00.000-08:00

I was asked to pass а message on some photo event in Moscow on March 6th to 7th. There is gonna be a photo exhibition and lectures by professionals. Here is the link:

http://www.projectionsofreality.org/ru/lectures/

If anyone happens to read this and be near Moscow, that would be a cool event to attend, and I wish I could go...

6-7 марта в Москве будут лекции фотографов и продюсеров мультимедиа. Вот ссылка на информацию о событии:

http://www.projectionsofreality.org/ru/lectures/

Armenian Earthquake after two decades

2010-02-13T07:12:00.001-08:00

I shot the aftermath of Armenian earthquakes, which happened in Feb. 1988, when I was in Armenia in December. Even two decades later, the earthquake still affects people in the Northern Armenia. Vanadzor, one of the cities hit hard by the earthquake, still has housing shortage problems, and a number of people live in small houses domiks, which were built after the earthquake to shelter people with low income. The mix of the Soviet collapse, Karabakh war and subsequent economic turndown prevented the city from recovering. As a result, hundreds of people still live in those domiks.
It seems that the city is a sad example how natural disasters could cause damages to people and local economy in the long term...

Krishenie 2010

2010-01-31T13:46:00.000-08:00

Second time photographing Krishenie, the orthodox tradition that takes place on Jan. 19. I was in Kiev this time.

Blue Mood - Five Years after Revolution (Work in Progress)

2010-01-22T04:00:00.000-08:00

Five years after the Orange Revolution, Ukraine has been struggling economically and politically. As a result, indifference and hopelessness are rampant among the voters. The incumbent, pro-Western Viktor Yushchenko has already lost in the first round. Yushchenko's former rival and pro-Rusian Viktor Yanukovych, whose victory in the 2004's election was claimed fraud and annulled by the Supreme Court, advanced the second round along with Yushchenko's former ally and Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, who played unpopular political battles with Yushchenko. The second round is expected to be held on February 7, 2010.

Independence Square in Kiev were crowded with thousands of Orange Revolution supporters in the last election. But, the authority banned political activities there during the election time, and the square was left empty on the day before the first round of the election.

Yulia Timoshenko's campaign ad in a metro station in Kiev.

Viktor Yanukovych and Party of Region's supporters gather in St. Sophia Square in Kiev. Yanukovych, during the Orange Revolution, is now leading the poll for the presidential election.

Old man swims on a cross-shaped pond made for the Orthodox Epiphany's ritual. Many Kiev residents celebrated the holiday, and little political activities were hardly seen.

President Yushchenko lost in the first poll, finishing in the fifth.

St. Sophia Church.

Old woman walks on the street in Kiev.

Metro escalator where a number of campaign ads were hung. But, two days before the first round, all the ads were removed because of the campaign laws.

Railway station in Kiev.

Curtain of the voting booth in Dnepropetrovsk where Yulia Tymoshenko voted for the first round of the elections. She is also from Dnepropetrovsk.

Ballot box.

Tymoshenko surrounded by a number of reporters.

Tymoshenko gets out of the voting

Viktor Yanukovych.

Viktor Yanukovych's supporters gather in downtown Kiev a day after the first round of the elections.

Again Maidan.

"Place for ads" after the campaign ads were removed.

Merry Christmas From Kiev!

2010-01-14T16:05:00.001-08:00

I just moved to Kiev. Since I moved to Ukraine, I didn't feel like there is Christmas, though a lot of Christmas trees and decoration around, because Christmas here is on the 7th of January for the orthodox and kinda gets mixed with the new year celebration, I was almost frozen and sleeping home around Christmas last year. This year I was moving from Simferopol to Kiev on the 7th. A few days later, I saw Santa Clauses still roaming around in the center of Kiev until today or so to sell pictures with them... Finally, I felt like Christmas that day.

Armenia - Nagorno-Karabakh 2

2010-01-03T10:57:00.001-08:00

Carrying Scars

I visited Armenia (and Nagorno-Karabakh) twice last year. I liked people and the place. They are known as very friendly and hospitable people, which are very true.
Over there, I mostly photographed some issues in the country. Despite the recent development, the country is still carrying the scars from the past since the independence– the Nagorno-Karabakh War with Azerbaijan, the Armenian genocide by Turkey in the early 20’s and the deadly earthquakes. The country has great resources for tourism, as it has thousands years of history, beautiful mountains and interesting culture. And, the opening of the border with Turkey is expected to bring economical development to the country. However, Azerbaijan's opposition to the opening of the border has been hindering the border opening.
The two visits were not enough to cover the whole thing, but here is some edit.

Children pose for the picture in the meeting place built in the Soviet era in Kert, Nagorno-Karabakh. The village also suffered casualties during the war.

A village Margara is located by the closed Turkey-Armenian border.The weapon was installed during the Soviet era to watch the border with the west.

The skating rink located in the downtown area of the Armenian capital Yerevan.

The largest graveyard for the victim of the Nagorno-Karabakh war.

The street of the country's third largest town Vanadzor (Kirovakan). The city received serious damage from the Spitak earthquake in 1988.

Resident of a domik (small trailer houses) gets water in Vanadzor. Domiks were built after the earthquake destroyed a number of houses in 1988, and many poor families ended up living in the domiks for many years.

Armine Ateyan, 18, is disabled and has epilepsia and has been living with her parents and brother in the domik. Her parents were also unemployed, and they live on a small amount of allowance from the government.

The entrance of Copper smelting factory in Alaverdi, Armenia. The factory has been suspected of causing some health issues among the residents while the factory has been the main work place for the residents.

Resident of Alaverdi. She has worked at the factory for a few decades. She lost a job and now suffers lung problems while she raises a daughter.

Children pose for a picture before the service at the old monastery in Haghpat, a village near Alaverdi. The monastery founded in the 10th century is listed in the UNESCO World Heritage list and attracts many tourists.

Statue of face of a man's face was installed by a local artist in Alaverdi.

The road to the Turkish border in the southwest of Yerevan. The possible opening of the border is expected to bring economic development in the region.

Holga Ukraine in Progress

2009-12-30T08:19:00.000-08:00

I've been shooting with Holga often and on. I will shoot more with it next year. The second winter in Ukraine feels a little bit warmer.

Sasha - Dneprodzerzhinsk, April 2009

Lenin Statue - Donetsuk, July 2008

Cossack - Simferopol, Dec. 2009

Village - Crimea, Nov. 2009

Village 2 - Crimea, Nov. 2009

Fish, Herson Oblast, Nov. 2009

Geizer, Herson Oblast, Dec. 2009

Car, Herson Oblast, Nov. 2009

Bonzhu, Dneprodzerzhinsk, Dec. 2008

recently published

2009-12-01T10:59:00.000-08:00

I finally published the series from Cossack and Drug Issues. A new Romanian photo magazine Punctum published the series of Crimean Cossacks, and a Japanese magazine "journalism" published by Asahi Shinbun published the series of drug addicts. Thanks Hirose-san and Cosmin!

Some Town in Armenia

2009-11-16T08:23:00.000-08:00

I'm hoping to go back there...

2009-11-07T12:06:00.000-08:00

Karabax 2

Armenia

2009-11-04T09:03:00.000-08:00

I haven't updated the blog for a while. I went to Armenia, but nothing has been finished. So, I will post some singles in the next few weeks.

Kert, Karabax

Cossack Cadet Camp

2009-09-11T12:39:00.000-07:00

Shot Cossack Cadet Camp in the mountains by Yalta.

Mihai Barbu Is Alive Somewhere in Russia

2009-07-20T12:54:00.001-07:00

Living in Ukraine, I sometimes have unique and nice guests. Mihai, my Romanian friend who invited me to the center of cosmos, Petrila, which is a small Romanian mining town in the edge of Transilvania, where children even fly, stayed at my apartment in central Ukraine. He is heading by motorcycle from Romania to Mongolia and then many other stan countries, Caucasas, Turkey, Balkan to home. He had a hard time parking his BMW in the town, but beside this, he loved Ukraine and the town where I live for now. I just called him. He said he is somewhere in Russia. He had some problems with police, as is often the case, but he is fine. Barbu said Ukraine was "Coscogeamite Blana!!" (the mix of the old Romanian word and new slang, which even a Romanians would have hard time understanding...) I also miss Romania. It was coscogeamite blana (enormously super greate, or something like this), as well.
This is the link to his site for the journey: http://mongolia.ro/
I like the URL, as well.

Yagnob

2009-07-02T15:52:00.000-07:00

So, I spent a while trekking the mountains and photographing Yagnob people, who have their own unique language and were isolated from the outside world for centuries. Until recently, they didn't have electricity. They live by raising goats, sheeps, cows and some vegetables. There is no doctor now, and some children don't have access to schools, which are usually taught by one teacher at a house. In the winter time, the villages are shut out from the lowland, as the rugged roads are buried in the snow. The long winter could get as cold as minus -30°C to -40°C. I asked them why they keep living here. Many people said they just can't leave home, where their parents, grand parents, grand-grand parents and grand-grand-grand.... lived. Home is the best, basically that's what they said although some people said they actually want to move to Dushanbe or other cities but have to take care of their families. Anyway, they are extremely nice and hospitable people. A lot of older men served for the Army in the Soviet time, so they speak Russian, and actually some of them even served or worked in Ukraine. On the other hand, Yagnobi women there were conservative and very shy while children were curious to see the outsider as always.

More background about Yagnob:

Yagnobi are an ethnic group in Tajikitan. Yagnobi have their own language, and it considerably differs from Tajik language.
They used to live in the lowland around the city of Pendzikent, the northwestern Tajikitan neary the border with Uzbekistan. However, after the invasion of the Arabs to the region around the 7th century, Yagnobi fled to the Yagnob valley surrounded by the mountains. Yagnobi practiced Zoroastrianism but were later converted to Muslim. Until the 20th century, Yagnobi remained in the valley and were isolated from the outside world. However, during the Soviet era, the Soviet government forced all the Yagnobi to the lowland around the early 70's and made them work in the cotton farms. The harsh summer caused a number of deaths among the population, and some of them began to go back to the mountains several years later while many men served for the Soviet Army. The residents said they missed home and couldn't abandon their houses. Currently, around 500 people live in about 35-40 communities along the Yagnob river.

Some Snaps from Tajikistan

2009-07-01T15:42:00.001-07:00

I realized it's been a year since I've been based in Ukraine. I wasn't really going to stay here so long, but strange enough, it's already a year since.
I took a week trip to Tajikistan to shoot a minority called Yagnob who live in the mountains. Tajikistan was one of the countries where I dreamed about going since I was little. When looking at the small country on the world map in school, I had no idea what would be like over. But, after living in Ukraine, it's interesting to find something similar to what I found in Ukraine as they were in the same Soviet Union before. Sceneries are, off course, pretty different except those Soviet buildings, and people also look different. But, people (mostly guys since a lot of them served for the army) keep something Russian more or less. For the first timer, it was a bizzare mix - Russian and Muslim culture. It's strange, but I always feel excitement and disappointment at the same time when coming to a new place. It's always quite different, yet it's still the same. Change in location is like being under influence and a little child for a little while. I will update photos for the project soon.

Cossack Revised

2009-06-23T03:33:00.000-07:00

I had one more shoot from Cossacks and decided to present them in dyptych for now.

Automan Serghei in Kuban Cossack uniform

The victory day

Cossack Cadets

Ivan Ivanovich at his horse farm. Right - annual horse racing (Cossack Igur) held by his farm.

Sasha

Cossack architecht - left, Cossacks' traditional houses have the wall made out of twigs. Right, each cossack community used to have a wooden tower, as well as a cross with an icon.

More From Cossack Cadets in Crimea

2009-05-30T16:20:00.001-07:00

Crimean Cossacks

2009-05-21T18:51:00.001-07:00

I've been photographing Crimean Cossacks often and on this month. Their origin is Russian Cossacks - mostly Don and Kuban Cossacks. During the Soviet era, Cossacks' tradition was somewhat suppressed, but since the collapse, the Cossacks are reviving their tradition. Crimean Cossacks are Russian supporters and generally don't have very good relationships with Crimean Tatars because of the complicated historical territorial issues although the aggression between Tatars and Russians have calmed down in the past years. Well, it's in Ukraine, but Crimea has a large number of ethnic Russians, and that makes stuff complicated especially foreigners like me. Anyway, I'm more interested in the way they live and the efforts to reserve and revive their century-long old tradition and their main role as military communities than politics.

Morning before the start of the parade for the victory day. Cossacks started participating with traditional style a few years ago.

Cross and the tower are installed near Yalta a few years ago. Cross and the tower used to be seen in every Cossack community.

Kuban Cossack's uniform with a sabre.

The victory day parade in Northern Crimea.

Young Cossack boy.

The only Cossack cadet school in Crimea and Ukraine.

Cossack tent. They used to travel with horses and stay in the tent in the Wild Field.

Just dancing after the Victory Day parade. Not Cossack dance... Also, the film screwed.

More photos.

Narcoman Portraits 2

2009-04-25T04:37:00.000-07:00

I've been re-visitng some drug addicts I shot before and their acquaintance. Since I realized that it's almost impossible to follow them around without taking a lot of risk, I'm redoing drug addicts' project with portraits.

More Portraits

2009-04-09T12:27:00.000-07:00

Since I came back to Ukraine, I've been working on portraits while preparing for a trip in Tajikistan. I still shoot drug addicts in the town, but I kind of feel stuck on this these days. It's pretty hard to follow around them. I haven't published this story, but this type of story doesn't sell... Well, if it's not gonna be published, what's the point? I mean I really think drug addiction is a serious problem here. I heard one third of youngsters here have tried drug harder than marijuana. Anyway, I still like shoot them, so I continue it while I'm here. I also started shooting portraits of them. I don't know if color would give me a better chance for publication, but it might...

Laptop&Mamiya

2009-03-30T09:24:00.000-07:00

Part of the reason I went to New York was to receive a used Mac Pro as a bonus and buy a used Mamiya 6. I'm pretty happy about them so far except that I had to ship back a broken Mamiya lens for exchange . It's a pretty sharp lens.
This is the test shot while Jake is setting up his mac pro for me, kindly coming all the way to New York to give me a laptop.

No Picture For A While

2009-03-18T18:41:00.000-07:00

I've been quite lazy on updating the blog. Went to London, New York and Warsaw for various businesses... I'm shooting more with film, so it will take some time to post new pictures...

Memory of Donetsk

2009-02-15T16:56:00.001-08:00

I moved to Dniprodzerzhynsk some months ago. Before that, I lived in Donetsk for two months, translating, learning Russian and drinking alone. I couldn't find much over there to shoot and shot Lenin's statue just like every tourist. I realize later that every former Soviet union city and town has a Lenin statue... Ukrainian landscape is pretty similar everywhere in the east part, to say the least.

Kinda slow these days...

2009-02-11T09:25:00.000-08:00

Kreshenie

2009-01-25T13:31:00.001-08:00

Epiphany in Kurilovka, Ukraine.

Homelessness

2009-01-16T03:58:00.000-08:00

Drug addiction and homelessness are somewhat interrelated. People start drug, lose everything but drug and the become homeless. Or, after becoming homeless, they start taking drug to survive on the street. I photographed a group of homeless people living in the sewer and in the basement of an apartment. They live on selling empty bottles and junks or stealing. They inject or swallow many pain killers at once as a substitute for opium. It has serious physical and mental side effects.

Zavod

2009-01-11T04:46:00.000-08:00

After Work

2009-01-05T15:04:00.000-08:00

I spent the New Year sleeping and drinking on the train to Poland for my visa. This is a picture I took last year.

Smelting factory worker Sasha "Motor" Valeryu wipes his eyes hurting from the work while he drinks vodka at home.

More from Smelting Factory

2008-12-26T14:30:00.000-08:00

Steel

2008-12-24T14:54:00.000-08:00

Although I still continue the drug story, I started an essay on the steel industry in Ukraine. It's Ukraine's major industry, but it's been struggling due to competition with cheaper Chinese and Russian counterparts. Many workers have been laid off or work only a few times a week. Meanwhile, some small old factories somehow thrive and operate as they have been doing for a century. This old steel smelting factory produces sewer material like manhole covers.

Some Portraits

2008-12-14T14:38:00.000-08:00

I've been busy with some other stuff these days... Here are some portraits of Sasha, Tanya and Dima with holga.

Visit

2008-11-28T15:59:00.000-08:00

Sasha was out of jail for a few hours when he had to go to hospital for treatment for gastric ulcer, which is a common side effect for drug users. His common law wife Ira and father came to the prison's entrance to meet him for a short period of time.

Help...

2008-11-21T17:14:00.000-08:00

Tanya Rasoshik runs the only charity organization that provides shelter, food, clothes, pampers and education to children in need in Dniprodzerzhynsk, Ukraine. A British charity fund provided financial support for the organization, but the charity told Tanya that it would stop the support soon. She takes care of children of parents in extreme poverty, and most of their parents are drug addicts or alcoholic. Those parents don't even have money to buy foods, let alone clothes and electricity. Tanya often wash children's body and cut their hair to get rid of lice. She goes out on the street and provides clothes and foods for street children and tell them to come to the shelter. She goes to children's hospitals and provide pampers for abandoned babies and clothes and foods for sick orphans because the public hospital can't even afford pampers for those children. However, without financial help, she would not be able to do as much support as she has been doing. If she couldn't run the shelter, many children would have to stay at home without electricity or wonder around the street with dirty clothes and lice on their hair, which could cause them to become like street children. I haven't pitched this kind of story or worked with NGO/charities. If you have any idea how to spread words to help them out or good organizations to contact to, let me know.

Tanya washes the body of Vitalik, 4, after she cut his hair.

Children's pictures. Tanya said many children changed after coming to the shelter often. she said one little girl who she found in the park now works a normal job and has a family years after she met Tanya and came to the shelter daily.

Children play at the shelter.

Tanya visits many families with no money and provides foods for their children.

Foods provided for children at the shelter.

Nurse feeds abandoned babies at Children's hospital. Tanya comes to the hospital to provide pampers for babies because the hospital can't afford it. The nurse said the hospital has about 100 babies a year, and their parents are usually alcoholic or drug addicts.

Alyona, 15, holds her baby. She regularly comes to the shelter. She gave birth recently, but she would have to raise the baby alone. Her mother is alcoholic, and they live in a dire condition.

Alyona visits the shelter while her baby is asleep at the hospital. The foreground is Dima, 4, whose father is Vietnamese, but the father left his Ukrainian wife and four children and went back to his country.

Tanya dresses Vitalik after washing him in the bathroom

Tanya sprays to kill lice on the hair.

Vitalik and his brother Serghei, 1, after haircut.

Andrei, 4, has HIV and temporarily stays at Children's hospital in Dniprodzerzhynsk. He was an orphan, but a family adapted him. However, after the family found out that he has HIV, the family "returned" him. He is supposed to go to an orphanage for children with HIV in Dnipropetrovsk later.

Tanya hugs a girl who regularly comes to the shelter when they accidentally met at the hospital.

Baby

2008-11-17T15:45:00.000-08:00

I'm still following the con and drug addict Sasha and his wife, Ira. She finally gave birth. Sasha is still in prison.

My website changed a bit - bigger pictures. It still has some problems, and we have to add clicking-on-picture-navigation etc.

renewed website

2008-11-06T17:15:00.000-08:00

My ukraine friend worked on my site... Let me know what you think if you have time. I think it looks better than the one I had before. It's not done yet, though.
http://www.ikurukuwajima.com/

Correction Center

2008-10-31T17:26:00.000-07:00

In the past week, I was out of Ukraine to get my old slow laptop stored in Romania because my laptop was broken... It's fixed now, but this is a drawback living away from the States or maybe Japan. Laptop is expensive here. I ended up having it repaired in Kiev, but it still takes 8-10 hours to get to Kiev by Train. To Bucharest, it took 30 hours from Kiev. Train is cheap, but it was a long trip... Ukraine is a big country,
Here is a photo from a correction center for drug addicts and alcoholics. It's fonded by the U.S. Church. They study Christianity and live there to get out of their addiction.

Yury

2008-10-17T08:49:00.000-07:00

He is a 0 year old. His mother is a HIV-infected, but it is unchear whehther he has HIV. Even if a mother has HIV, many new-born children could be born without HIV. But, breast milk would easily tramsmit HIV. However, many poor pregnant mothers go to hospital in the very last minute, and they can't really test their children.

Ira & Vania

2008-10-16T03:46:00.000-07:00

I thought it's a bit confusing to put this picture for the last post, but after I looked at it again and heard others' opinions, I feel this one is better. Anyway, life is very unstable and complicated for them. Sasha's common-law wife Ira is waiting for time to give birth with her first son Vania at home without electricity.

Sasha (Con) is Gone Again

2008-10-13T16:30:00.000-07:00

Sasha is back to prison. When I came back to photograph, he was already gone. It was a bit complicated why it happened, but he is now behind the bar again before his wife gives birth. These are pictures shot while he was enjoying the freedom for a little while. His wife is left with her first son in her mother's apartment where they don't have electricity.

Finger

2008-10-04T10:20:00.000-07:00

This is a drug addict Sidik's finger. He cut it by himself when his blood circulation had a problem due to overdose.

Sasha the Con

2008-09-28T13:25:00.000-07:00

It was weird when I met him again - he is the same guy as the one I photographed at the arresting scene... So, we wondered what the hell was going on. Well, his wife is giving a birth soon, and he is allowed to stay with her for a while. And, after the baby is born, he is supposed to go back to the prison. He is actually pretty nice, and let me follow him.

HIV Endemic

2008-09-27T04:57:00.000-07:00

There are a lot of families who are all infected with HIV in Ukraine. Some people with HIV don't think much about what would happen. Some people are in self-denial to accept the fact that they have HIV. But, if those people make children, they will be born with HIV.

Dima

2008-09-22T15:02:00.000-07:00

Dima, 30, has been taking narcotic since 1993. He is living with her 5 year old daughter and parents. The drug caused the lack of calcium, and he broke his bones a couple years ago. His immune system was also affected, and he got bone cancer and the swollen jaw. He also broke his left leg, and since then he can't walk fast anymore. He is now unemployed and still takes drug.

Sasha Again

2008-09-13T05:22:00.001-07:00

He gets treatment for wounded legs from his mom, 72. Sasha is 51, but his mother looks younger.

Drug - Arrest

2008-08-22T01:54:00.000-07:00

I'm basically doing this project to show how bad the drug is. Druggies know it's bad, but they do because they have nothing else to do - no job, no document, no money, no fun etc etc. It also causes worse things like the spread of HIV by needle sharing. And, some of them get arrested, spend time in prison and again go back with some exceptions. Police are doing something, but there are too many to deal with. Here is the scene of a druggie getting arrested. He is 28 old and taking drug for about 10 years. When he gets arrested, I asked a question, for which answer would be pretty obvious. I asked if he regrets taking drug, sure he said yes. But, it doesn't mean that he would quit and do something after getting out the prison a few years later.

More Drug

2008-08-21T11:03:00.000-07:00

Some more drug scenes. One of them, Andrei, 32, is a drug addict, dealer and cooker. He started drug in 1992 during the chaotic time in Ukraine after the Soviet Collaps. "I'm a veteran, so to speak" he said. He said he makes money for drug by selling, cooking, teaching "newbies," gambling and "ripping off" people. "I don't care about life," he said.

Drug 2 - Sibik

2008-08-19T03:16:00.000-07:00

This is another druggie sibik, 35, who has been taking drug for almost
twenty years since he was in prison. I photographed his drug scene, but i hope to go back as well.
He is sick because the drug caused some problems with
his blood circulation. His legs are swollen, also when
he had a problem with his blood circulation on his finger years ago
because of the drug, he cut his finger by himself like yakuza instead
of receiving treatment at hospital. Since then, he has been keeping
the finger that turned like smoked scallop on his shelf. He is actually friendly and
inteligent person at least when not desparetely in need for drug.

Drug&AIDS - Sasha

2008-08-17T10:38:00.000-07:00

I followed several drug addicts and/or HIV/AIDS patients last week. I'm still trying to figure out whether i can make a drug&AIDS in one essay. Anyway, i will try to continue to follow those people. Here is Саша (Sasha), 55, who has been a drug addict for decades after he spent some time in prison when he was 17. He said everything seemed shattered when he was in prison and started taking drug. Since then, he has been with drug. He said he regrets and wants to start over his life. He was infected with HIV about 7 years ago when he used unwashed needles. He said the number of needles were sold at once, and a lot of his friends who bought the needles at the same time were infected with HIV. "Everyone died except me. I don't know why i'm still alive." He said drug now became a medicine for pain killer - he has skin cancer, gustric ulcer and hepititus beside HIV. His HIV has reached the third phace, but he is still working some random jobs for money. There are not so many older drug addicts in Ukraine as many of them started around the confusion in the chaotic time after the Soviet's collapse.

Drug&AIDS 1

2008-08-08T13:15:00.000-07:00

AIDS is still a big problem in Ukraine. The number of patients is still increasing. The causes of the spread of the disease are the needle sharing and sex. Many people in the extreme poverty endedd up taking drug or becoming prostitutes, and thus the helpless and vicious circle sets in. No money, but they want drug. Then, they don't care if they use risky old needles or new ones. This issue has been reported for years, and there are some international and domestic efforts to change it. But again, the numer is still increasing. I hope to continue this project for a while.

Я Приехал в Донецк из Букурешта

2008-07-29T13:09:00.000-07:00

I came to Donetsk from Bucuresti a month ago after a long two-days trip by train. I'm still distant here, but I will get closer sooner or later.

Published!

2008-07-22T01:39:00.000-07:00

I have not been shooting at all these days. It takes some time to get it started in a new foreign country unless you have a good contact or know the language well... But, I will probably start something within a week or two. I feel like I should keep updating blog even though i don't have new photos. So, I'm posting some photos recently published. For the fishermen stuff from the Delta, I was fortunate to have those pictures published on "Romanian" and "Japanese" versions of National Geographic. Japanese one hasn't come out, but it will next week or so.

New Temporary Home Base

2008-07-14T03:36:00.000-07:00

Without too much thought, I came to Донецк, Украина. I wasn't really sure how long I was going to stay. And, I still don't know. But, I left my apartment in Bucuresti because I didn't want to pay 350 euro every month. I found cheap Russian school here, and the agent found an apartment for me. There is an internet cafe nearby, so i can work and make a living. The living cost is a lot cheaper than Bucharest, and I can also learn Russian - here people speak more Russian than Ukrainian. Russian is pretty hard, and i have been busy with learning Russian, translating and trying to meet contacts for projects. It's certainly different here. Romania and Ukraine are neighbors and were both under the communists' rule. But, mentality and cultures are pretty different, yet similar in many ways. Anyway, I guess Донецк will be a new temporary home base for a while.

Eastward...

2008-06-29T19:54:00.000-07:00

I'm writing from Gara de Nord train station in bucuresti. I'm heading to Donetsk and will be staying there hopefully for more than one month. It's cheap to get there but takes two days... I hope i will arrive there safely.

Some Shots from Two Months ago

2008-06-29T02:09:00.000-07:00

I haven't posted photos from the Easter in Delta. When I was shooting, I wasn't sure if i was allowed to move around during the service, and pictures didn't turn out well. But, I'm posting these anyways. #1,2,3 and 8 are from Greek churches, and the rest are from Lipovan church

Playing with Holga

2008-06-20T13:26:00.000-07:00

Summer in Lacul Morii

2008-06-17T04:59:00.000-07:00

Shot this a couple weeks ago.

Zen Organic Farm in the Bay Area

2008-06-11T09:23:00.000-07:00

San Francisco was fast, efficient, clean and expensive. I liked it, but except the hills, the city seemed, in some ways, too perfect to me. Maybe because I was freaked out by the city, I ended up shooting mostly at Green Gulch Zen Center, which also runs a organic Farm, near San Francisco. Now, I'm back in Romania again. It was really nice to come back to the states.

So, i'll be wandering in San Francisco next week

2008-05-31T10:55:00.000-07:00

I've been lazy with editting photos and busy with my second job... But, I got a call just some minutes ago. I will be heading to San Francisco for the Hearst in a few hours. I'm really glad that i'll be able to come back to America for several days. I really thank Jackie, John and David who helped me on this from the U.S..

The photo is from the Labuor day in Delta.

Caruta Trip in Delta

2008-05-16T04:29:00.000-07:00

I procratinated again. I've been really slow these days, and I feel like I'm allowed to do so. The delta was very slow and peaceful. It was like a paradice. After the Easter, people are just resting. No work. It's so quiet, You hear only the song of the birds.
Here, I met kids in a small Lipovan village Sfistofca in Delta. From the village to a border village Periprava, there is a rough road but no bus. They were going to Perprava for drive with caruta (horse wagon), and I joined their three hours trip.

View from Balcony

2008-04-22T02:31:00.000-07:00

I was kind of sick in the past week. Couldn't do much. But. at least, I edited the fishermen story.
http://www.lightstalkers.org/galleries/contact_sheet/11890

My moneymaking job is deskwork at home, and my short break is always on the balcony. The street was totally grey during the winter, and it was reminiscent of stereotypical communism-era atmosphere and made me felt like I was in adventure or something. But, as time passes, everything that was unusual to me turned rather normal - not just communism buildings but like gypsies, beggars, strays, tons of smokers and such. Same in the U.S., the empty Midwest lands, cornfields and soy fields and rednecks, as examples, become rather normal after a while four years ago. Yet, I'm still foreign, but this foreignness became normal, and people thinking I’m different becomes normal. It's same in Missouri, but it's a different kind and would be different in every country and state.
Adjustment in foreign countries is like a series of mental training. When you do weight lifting or wrestling or whatever the tough sports, it's kind of pain first, then you like it, and then you get soar again. Then after a while, it becomes normal - less pain and less excitement in a sense. But, you feel more about small daily things. Like when you realize the grey street has turned a bit green in a spring day. The photo is shot by Contax G1 - finally I got a new used contax! Though it's not aG2...

Misha and His Brothers

2008-04-16T09:31:00.000-07:00

Misha, or Mihai Kfitaef, is a 37 year-old Lipovan fisherman in Sulina. Like Misha, there are a number of Lipovans, Russian descendants, in the Delta, and many of them work as fishermen. He and his brothers used to go fishing whenever the wind is mild. But, stricter restrictions on fishing around the Danube Delta, partly caused by Romanian's joing EU, made their life harder. Because of the new rules, the fishermen in the area have to spend certain periods just staying at home until the season starts. Misha said the life is getting harder and harder in the past years, but the government has done nothing for the fishermen. "This is my country," he said. He has a wife and two children, and because of the inflation and stricter restrictions, he barely manages it. Still, he and his brothers, like many men in the Delta, don't have other options but continue fishing. Their thick and rough hands tell you how hard their work is. People called my hands a girl's hands. In fact, their hands are like three times thicker than mine.

Pasageri

2008-04-14T10:23:00.000-07:00

Going to Delta is a pain in the ass. It's long, as it takes a day to get there. But, if you have a time, it can be a nice long trip from Bucharest through empty lands and the Danube. From what's called the gate town of the Delta, Tulcea, there is a ferry going to Sulina or other parts of Delta. Like I've written, Delta is like a bunch of islands. There is only a couple ferries a day (or once every other day depending on where you go), and if you miss it, you are stuck. Going to Sulina, the main town in the Delta, is relatively faster because they have "Rapid" ferries, which get you to the destination in one hour and half. But, it's twice more expensive than the regular one called Pasageri. It runs slow and, to Sulina, it takes about four hours and half. For many villagers, it's the only transportation to the outside of their villages. I took Pasageri on my way back and enjoy photographing them. It's slow, but pretty relaxing, and very photogenic. I regret that i didn't take this before.

Again Delta

2008-04-13T07:52:00.000-07:00

I was again a lazy blogger for a few weeks. I was shooting some NATO stuff, but it was very boring, and no hardcore protest happened due to the government's tight security. Right after the dissapointing and boring NATO Summit, I headed back to the Delta and stayed there for a few days... Because of my second job, I had to come back a bit earlier, but I probably made some more photos from there. I will upload them once I picked the selects.

Delta

2008-03-26T06:48:00.000-07:00

I went to the Denabe Delta area to look for some story ideas. Over there, the main industry is fishing, but the fishermen are pretty poor and struggling with increasing taxes and heavier restriction in fishing. i will probably go back there, but the area is actually like islands as you need to take a ferry to move one town to another, and the transportation is pretty tricky.

The town area is a multi-ethnic place. There are Romanians, Russian dissendants called Lipovan, Ukranians, Turks, Greeks and so on. The pictures are from Greek community's celebration before the easter.

New Site

2008-03-18T03:58:00.000-07:00

Finallly, I put some photos from Romania and Kosovo on my website: www.ikuruphoto.com
I guess i need to edit it down. But, I'm putting loose edits on the web to see get some opinions...
Also, i shot this photo in my neighborhood again. I think things are getting easier as my romanian gets better.

Look Back

2008-03-17T01:20:00.000-07:00

It's been a month since Kosovo's declaration of independence. I left Kosovo about a week ago, and i've been busy with catching up with non-photo work and archiving... I learned a lot in Kosovo and made some mistakes. So, next time, I'd do better.
After the independence declaration, and the Serbians' protest reached the peak around the burning of the U.S. embassy. The next day in Mitrovica, the protest was intense and almost turned into a tear gass situation. Then, I spent the next several days travelling to Mitrovica to see if something happens during the protest which calmed down day by day after all. We also thought something may happen today because it's a month from the independence. Something actually happened, but as of now, no one has any idea how it turns out. Yes, it's an endless speculation, and you need to quit someday unless you have a lot of money to afford it.
In my last week in Kosovo, I travelled to small Serbian towns Strpce and Brezovica, where a protest also takes place each despite that there is no media. Over there situations are worse, little electricity and transportation - they can't go to the nearby Albanian towns, of course. Only bus to Mitrovica leaves once a day in the morning at 5:00 a.m. They have a refugee camp, where people live since 1999 or 2004. But, people in the camp were tired of journalists because little has changed since 1999. Also, time and money - and my patience in a way - run out. Anyway, it's hard to do everything without a lot knowledge and experience. Next time, I have a better idea what to do. Also, if something happens there again, I'd be more prepared than the last time.

Anniversary of the death of Kosovo Albanian legendary Adem Jashari in Precaz, Kosovo on March 7, 2008.

Like one in Strpce, protests continue in each Serbian community in Kosovo.

back to bucuresti

2008-03-09T14:40:00.000-07:00

I came back to bucuresti sunday morning. I've made some attempts to work on projects, but the costs were a bit too hihgh, and I figured it's time to give up and leave. My last two weeks in Kosovo was a rather bitter experience, yet I learned a lot. Kosovo was an interesting place, and there are full of political issues, obviously. But, it's been also covered tons, and that makes work both easier and hader for new comers like me... I'll write and post a few more photos later.

2008-02-27T16:01:00.000-08:00

I decided to stay in Kosovo another week or two or maybe more. No one seems sure what's gonna happen. So, I'lll wait and see what happens. Meanwhile, I'm just wandering around Kosovo to make some more photos for now. There are ontinuous protests, and security got tighter here right after the protests broke out.

Albanian kids playing at the remain of Serbian houses at a village near Vushtrii.

SerbianProtest

2008-02-18T08:45:00.000-08:00

One day after the independence, Serbians formed a large protest in the northern side of Mitrovica.

Independence Day

2008-02-17T16:40:00.000-08:00

It was calmer than we expected. I was in Mitrovica - mostly in the north side. Watched by a lot of KFOR soldiers, I felt sort of tense at first. But, fortunately, nothing bad happened (although there was an explosion later at a UN building...). So, i went back to Pristina after they declared independence. It didn't have the last day's excitement. People were basically walking around the street or dancing in music in the downtown area. It's a bit hard to pick a place when you have some options like -to get a better flag waving picture from more relevant day, or to be there when something bad is happening. Either way, i know indecisiveness is photographers' enemy... I'm heading again to the Northern Mitrovica where a demonstration is expected on Monday.

Night before Kosovo Independence Day

2008-02-16T23:57:00.001-08:00

Kosovo Albanians in Pristina already started celebration Saturday night for Kosovo independence expected to happen on Sunday. It's hard to decide where to photograph. I decided to head to Mitrovica for Sunday, where "something" may happen.

Decani Monastery

2008-02-15T07:10:00.000-08:00

A service takes place at an ld Serbian monastery Visoki Decani Monastery in Decani, Kosovo on Feb. 14 and 15 2008. The monastery was built between 1327 and 1335 and survived many wars. The monastery is currently protected by the KFOR force after the Kosovo war. Four Serbian refugees have been staying at the monastery after the riot in Gyakova destroyed their houses on March 17, 2004.

Two more days

2008-02-15T06:08:00.001-08:00

Xhavit Kamberi puts up a Kosovo flag in front of his shop Niti Mex in Pristina, Kosovo, on Feb. 15, 2007. Kosovo is expected to declare independence on Sunday.

Martyrs' Hill

2008-02-13T13:51:00.000-08:00

Few more days...

Ashkali man Musaf Mohamed and His Family

2008-02-11T04:50:00.000-08:00

Musaf Mohamed is an Ashkali man living in the Ashkali community by the railway station in Fusha Kosovo, 8km away from Pristina. The community is in dire poverty, and the majority of residents don't have jobs. Musaf is from one of the poorest family in the community as he has no job and lives on social welfare. He lives with his wife and four children.

Ashkali/Egyption

2008-02-08T14:54:00.000-08:00

Ashkali and "Egyptian" community in Fusha Kosova. The description is after the pictures.

Since the exact date of Kosovo's independence is anyone's guess, i've been trying to work on something else. Looking at the pictures, you might think it's another roma story. But, it's not. They are called Ashkali, or Egyptians. Their origin is unknown. Many of "Egyptians" claim they originated from Egypt.Some think they are related to Roma and came from Palestine root, according to some internet sources. Others say they originate from Persia. They are Muslim and speak Albanian as their first language- only Albanian unlike Roma who often speaks their language. Most of them live in Albania and Kosovo, but they are also treated poorly by Albanians and Serbians like Roma. In fact, they often live in the same neighborhood with Roma. The Kosovo war made their situation more complicated. Most Serbians left Albanians towns in Kosovo, but Ashkali, Egyptian and Roma remained in Kosovo or displaced to other parts of Kosovo. Albanians themselves have very high unemployment rate - somewhere around 60% in Kosovo. So, it gets even more difficult for them. I photographed two days so far in the Ashkali/Egyptian community in Fusha Kosova (or Kosovo Polje before the Kosovo war) only 8 km away from Pristina. The Ashkali/Egyptian formed the community around 40 years ago there, since Pristina got too expensive for them. The Kosovo war also ripped their life. Albanians have been sometimes hostile to the minorities other than Serbias because they thought the other minorites also collaborated with Serbians. They said some of them are worried about Albanians' attack against their houses. As a result, most of the residents don't have jobs and live on social welfare - around 50 euro a month. Yet, they have strong belief in Muslim, and the community appears to keep a high ethical standard. In fact, the people are very, very nice and friendly. I've met one of the most friendly, open and modest people despite their misfortune.

Election

2008-02-03T15:16:00.000-08:00

The results are already up by now. But, here are some takes from voting for Serbian Presidential election in Serbian commmunities in Kosovo (Mitrovica and Gracanica)

Pristina

2008-02-03T15:08:00.000-08:00

Pristina, Kosovo

Kosovo

2008-02-03T09:34:00.000-08:00

I arrived in Kosovo two days ago. I will be here for a while. I will update pictures shortly.

Bucuresti Cityscape

2008-01-30T16:50:00.000-08:00

I will be away from Bucuresti for a while.. I will miss it!

Manhole

2008-01-24T16:39:00.001-08:00

Some Features

2008-01-23T04:24:00.001-08:00

Walked around my neighborhood and shot some pictures.

NikonF4 Manual

2008-01-21T06:00:00.000-08:00

It's been a few months since I lost my Contax... I still missed film and burrowed a NikonF4. Its autofocus is broken, but it still worked well.

Back to Crângasi

2008-01-04T12:29:00.000-08:00

I made two visits to the roma families in the past week.

2007-12-31T03:03:00.000-08:00

pig kill

2007-12-27T14:07:00.001-08:00

Light

2007-12-19T12:00:00.000-08:00

I visited the families again. The only one of the three rooms has light, but tonight it was broken. I couldn't stay ther for a long time, but here is a picture shows a situation a bit. The man is trying to read something with the light from the tv. They have a tv, they probably don't have running water either...

no title - yet

2007-12-15T16:57:00.000-08:00

I made another visit to the families. Well, I found out that there are three families in the small three room house.

Snow

2007-12-13T16:40:00.000-08:00

It's getting cold...

first shoot at Nelu's family's place

2007-12-09T11:25:00.000-08:00

One of street kids i've been photographing allowed me to go to his place with him. In fact, his family is pretty friendly. I came back with a camera and stayed for a short period of time.

Lost in Tramvais

2007-12-06T17:05:00.000-08:00

Sunt în România de trei luni. N-am facut nimic. Dar, acum vorbesc Româna mai bine... I've been in Bucharet for three months. I haven't done anything. But, now I speak Romania better... Anyway, I photographed some stuff from tramvais and also some street kids again.

2007-11-19T00:12:00.000-08:00

Unidetified street musician at Piata Unrii

Potential Stories...

2007-11-12T05:06:00.000-08:00

In the past two weekends, I traveled outside Bucharest. I didn't have enough time to make stories or essay in any of the places, but I will probably be able to go back to those places. But, I'm a bit indicisive which one I should be doing.

Story 1: Comunie - In a mining town Petrila, there is a remain of a communal life which was brought by Ceaucescu. Those people were relocated from other areas and have been living in the area for a long time. One of the residents said they don't have money but enjoy their simple life. They often have activities together. The community has about 50 -100 people.

Story 2: Mining town - Petrila, Petrosan, Lupeni are all mining towns located the central west of Romania. Access is a bit limited, but may be possible to work on a story there.

Story 3: Azil - Here in Azil, old people with mental disablities live quietly. Petrila is one of a few towns to be able to afford such facilities.

Story 4: Horse Shoe Roma - There is a gypsy community that makes horse shoes for living. They live about 30-40 minutes away from Pitesti. You hear the sound of horse shoe making every where in the community. It's got nice rhythm and like music.

Story 5: Tuica place - Several old men in a village near Pitesti make țuica in a small den .. Each person has 12 hour shift, and the operation is supposed to last 24 hours to make the alcohol. People bring fruits to make țuica and woods for the fire by horses. It's a nice a little place.

Story 6: No picture yet but... - a story on people struggling in a rural area. I've visited a family in a village. She has one year downsyndrome child and live with her little boyand husband. Her house doesn't run electricity, but she tries hard to raise the children. Another story I heard was that there is also a mother and her disabled kid living under the bridge in a village. I haven't met them, but it sounds like a story to tell...

Universitate 2

2007-11-01T01:56:00.000-07:00

Unidentified man performs at Piata Universitate's underground area.

StreetKids3

2007-10-30T09:41:00.000-07:00

This was the third time I spent time with them. Then, they disappeared and came back to the same place today. Seems like most Romanians are tired of those because the foreign media cover only gypsies, homeless and street kids. Still, it's shocking and
makes me curious about this issue...

Street Kids 2

2007-10-27T07:10:00.000-07:00

I thought it would be fair to have the last picture. They are very cool kids, at least to me, but they don't have much to do. If teenagers don't have any guidance and are left alone on sthreet, what could you expect them to do? I've never seen things like this in Japan or America, but again this doesn't seem to be an unusual thing in the rest of the world.
I haven't seen the kids in the past few days, and I'm a bit worried. Seems like police are getting stricter. I wonder where police would send them if the kids get caught...

Armando, 8, smokes in front of the subway station, after he received a cigarette from a pedestrian.

Nelu and Rolanda inhale the cheap drug from the plastic bag.

Nelu, 18, Rolanda, 13, Vasile, 14, photographed at Armata Poporului.