On February 24, 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine. Despite the fact that the war has been brewing for years, the Ukraine invasion came as a shock. Since the beginning of the war, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has confirmed a total of 3,942 civilian deaths, with many more unaccounted for. Furthermore, since the invasion, over 5 million refugees have crossed the border. They entered one by one. Hundreds of thousands behind and millions ahead. Footprints in the mud, traced over by those who come after. This is the final bridge to safety. This project aims to highlight the extreme loneliness and uncertainty that comes with war. In between air raid sirens, crying, and the loudness that is conflict, are the hardest moments—the quiet times, where you remember everything that is gone, people who have died, and the palpable fear of not making it out alive.
This project was shot solely on 35mm film.
Read my blog post entry about traveling into Ukraine for the first time here.
Part of this story was published on HUCK magazine.
Przemysl, Poland February 2022- A Ukrainian man waits to cross the border. Over 66,000 men have left their life and home to return to Ukraine to fight, according to the Ukrainian Defence Minister, Oleksii Reznikov.
Ukraine, February 22- The train going into Poland from Ukraine. The railway system in Ukraine has been heavily relied on to help transport people out of areas with heavy fighting across the country into safety.
Ukraine, February 2022- A woman sleeps on the train on the way to Ukraine. Many crossed back into Ukraine, to help the war efforts, gather the rest of their belongings or their family members.
Ukraine, February 2022- The train car from Poland to Ukraine.
Ukraine, February 2022- A little girl looks out the window of a train on the way into Poland.
Lviv, Ukraine, March 2022- A man kisses a cross during prayer. Since the war began, church visits and prayer have offered a glimpse of hope in such difficult times.
Lviv, Ukraine, March 2022- A bomb shelter in a makeshift center housing refugees. While Lviv is farther west, it has not avoided targeted bombings on infrastructure.
Lviv, Ukraine, March 2022- Ghe (18 they/them) and their mother came from Kyiv, Ukraine and are now housed in a makeshift center for refugees with their two dogs. Ghe is a part of a minority group in Ukraine since they identify as non binary. They are a part of a community that are most under threat if Russian forces succeed in their invasion. Eventually, Ghe and their mother evacuated on a bus and crossed the border safely.
Lviv, Ukraine, March 2022- Tamara (34), originally an artist from Donetsk in the east of Ukraine, has already fled two wars. With her, was her husband, Husariev Vadim (31) who holds a Russian passport but has been living in Ukraine for 10 years. Before this, their art was how they made a living. Tamara draws virtual characters and Husariev makes small animations. For Tamara, her art is an escapism. But as she says this, her voice trails off and begins another thought, “…I was told not to do the things I like during war, otherwise I will hate it later.” Husariev answers differently saying that for him, what he sees just expands his knowledge of the world and that he can use it to help develop new ideas.
Lviv, Ukraine, March 2022- The Lviv train station.
Lviv, Ukraine, March 2022- Soldiers at the train station ready to leave for the frontlines. Some soldiers have their partners next to them on the platform to say one last goodbye. For now, all reservists for the Ukrainian military have been obliged to fight. But all men above 18 years old and deemed eligible to fight are banned from leaving the country in case a draft occurs. This has lead to a large number of separation in families.
Lviv, Ukraine, March 2022- Refugees carry their belongings over train tracks at the Lviv train station.
Lviv, Ukraine, March 2022- Apartment buildings surrounding the Dzherelo Rehabilitation Centre. Walking around civilian buildings and the city you can see sand bags piled up on windows to prevent glass from breaking if there is an explosion.
Lviv, Ukraine, March 2022- Sophia (9) and her mother Olia (29) have their picture taken together at the Dzherelo Rehabilitation Centre. The Dzherelo Children’s Rehabilitation Centre have been helping Ukrainian people with disabilities since 2008. It is a center dedicated to helping kids and adults, with a wide range of disabilities, gain independence and skills to live their fullest life possible. That was until the Russian invasion happened and the center was quickly turned into helping refugees with disabilities. They still try to stick to a sense of normalcy by providing the usual group sensory and play sessions. The teachers try their best to help those who come through.
Olia (29) who traveled from Odessa to Lviv had to have her husband pass Sophia's wheelchair over the crowds through the windows of the train while many Ukrainian women helped carry Sophia onto it because of here cerebral palsey, she is unable to walk on her own. With the overcrowded and panicked train platforms, navigating this can be difficult in any situation, but especially as a disabled person. The Dzherelo Children’s Rehabilitation Centre is one, if not the only, centre providing care for disabled refugees and their families. Not just providing a place to say but also wheelchairs if someone needs them.
Lviv, Ukraine, March 2022- Sophia (9) playing in a group session of the Dzherelo Rehabilitation Centre.
Lviv, Ukraine, March 2022- Andre (31) has been making wheel chairs for the Dzherelo Centre for four years now. Before the war, Andre and his colleague, Maxime (31) made them just for civilians and people who received help from the center. However, since the war started they have been making wheelchairs for the military as well and delivering them to the hospital.
Lviv, Ukraine, March 2022- A mother carries her son at the Lviv train station. Major challenges are posed even after escaping heavy fighting areas. Refugees find themselves at the bottleneck of everyone escaping. Thousands of people trying to squeeze through only three ways out of the country. Waiting for a train to leave Ukraine can take at least four hours, but that is just the minimum. Once you are through, fighting for a place on the train for not just you, but your family as well is another challenge to face. Some people do not make it on or families are separated.
Lviv, Ukraine, March 2022- A child looks out the window on her way to Poland from Ukraine.
Lviv, Ukraine, March 2022- A mother holds her son on the border between Ukraine and Poland where the train was stalled up to eight hours with no access to food or water and no ventilation besides the 2 inch crack one window had. Having to process thousands of refugees at the border can take time, and the fact you are still in Ukrainian territory, there is still risk you could become a target. The trains have seen multiple attacks across the country, targeting those who are trying to leave and the ability to get aid and weapons across the border.
Lviv, Ukraine, March 2022- A grandma does the hair of her granddaughter on the train from Ukraine to Poland. After the trained stalled for 8 hours, it began to move and families started getting excited for the final relief of safety in another country. People changed clothes, did their hair, and cheered as the train first started moving.
Przemysl, Poland, February 2022- A recently emptied hub on the border where refugees temporarily camped and built fires to stay warm. The weather often dipped below freezing and during some days it even snowed.
Przemysl, Poland, February 2022- Passport photos of previous refugees who had stayed in a tent on the border. Once having crossed over, many people lose or abandon their personal belongings. In this tent there was birth certificates, bank information, visas, and extra passport photos left behind. When people have cleared garbage trucks are called to remove these things, wiping away the history of those who once passed through.
Przemysl, Poland, February 2022- An international student that was studying in Ukraine cries along the border as his friend recalls their journey into Poland fleeing from the fighting.
Przemysl, Poland, February 2022- The shops along the border and recent refugees who have just crossed over into Poland.
Przemysl, Poland, February 2022- Free food passed out to refugees on the border.
Przemysl, Poland, February 2022- Morning light of a hotel window where Anna, the owner, helps to house refugees when she can.
In July 2021, Emma documented the realities for injured Afghan civilians at a hospital run by the Italian NGO, EMERGENCY in Kabul. This project shows difficulties faced as they recover from war-related injuries, with a focus on the stories of women and children who are often overlooked. Patients are frequently forced to travel for days to be treated and are left alone by family members, and when they return home, the stigma of disability and injury can mean they are unable to work or marry.
Pictures of explosions and blood are frequently used to depict war dramatically, but the calm moments inside hospitals, as patients start to heal, best convey how horrifying war is. She wanted to illustrate how long, lonely, and routine the recovery process is. Emma determined that in order to approach this project differently from other work she’d done in the past, she needed to employ a totally different medium. Emma was able to take slower, more reflective photos with 35mm film to show a side the news often leaves out.
The fear of the Taliban gaining control was palpable within the hospital walls. But it was never a realistic possibility that the Taliban would quickly take over the entire nation a month later. While a lot has changed, including the loss of independence and rights for the female nurses she photographed, the situation for Afghanistan's injured civilians has not changed. EMERGENCY continues its work in Kabul and the wards remain crowded with women and children seeking to rebuild their lives.
As time passed and she saw tragic footage of people trying to flee fill the airport, and now, a year later, the Taliban is still in power, this project has acquired a new significance. The project now includes a timeline of the month before the Taliban took power in addition to its original focus.
Please consider donating to Emergency hospital as their services are relied on by so many.
This story was in collaboration with the ngo legacy of war and exhibited in rome.
This story was published on the legacy of war website here
and on the photographic journal here
July 2021- Dr. Spagnolello holds her hands behind her back while her and other doctors discuss if the 12 year old patient, Khalid, should be taken off life support. Kabul, Afghanistan.
July 2021- Noorallah (16) poses for a portrait outside the children's ward. Noorallah came from the city Jalalablad near the Pakistan border and was transferred to Kabul hospital due to a bullet injury. Kabul, Afghanistan.
July 2021- Kabul streets. Kabul, Afghanistan.
July 2021- Hospital workers move a patient from the ICU to a different ward. Kabul, Afghanistan.
July 2021- A young man with a bullet injury lays on a stretcher while nurses attempt to stop the bleeding. Kabul, Afghanistan.
July 2021- A nurse sits on a hospital bed after stabilizing a patient at EMERGENCY Hospital. Kabul, Afghanistan.
July 2021- A doctor checks Nafisa's (60) injured fingers. Nafisa was on the second floor when a rocket hit her home and injured her. Kabul, Afghanistan.
July 2021- A nurse brings Elyas (10) outside to lay under the trees on his hospital bed. Kabul, Afghanistan.
July 2021- Nurse Arezoo (18) puts on protective gear before bathing a child infected with chicken pox in EMERGENCY Hospital. Kabul, Afghanistan.
July 2021- Nurse Arezoo (18) bathes a child in the children's ward of EMERGENCY Hospital. Kabul, Afghanistan.
July 2021- Basgul (22) is from Ghazni Provence, about a 5 hour drive from Kabul. Fighting had intensified near her home and Taliban fighters had warned her to leave her house. As her and her mother did, a rocket landed and exploded in front of them. They both sustained injuries and had to be transported to a hospital by car an hour away due to heavy fighting. Basgul was stabilized and brought to the EMERGENCY Hospital in Kabul for further treatment. Kabul, Afghanistan.
July 2021- Zenat (3) is one of the many children effected by cerebral palsy. Cerebral palsy is a motor disorder caused by brain damage resulting from prolonged or difficult labour, diabetes in the mother, a brain haemorrhage, or lack of oxygen during birth. Zenat runs for the doctors at the ICRC clinic to check the flatness of her feet. Kabul, Afghanistan.
July 2021- Elyas (left, 10) and his friend Sharam (7) talk outside the children's ward of EMERGENCY Hospital. Kabul, Afghanistan.
July 2021- Surgeons perform surgey on a patient. Kabul, Afghanistan.
July 2021- A young patient awaits surgery as the anesthesiologist continues to medicate him. Kabul, Afghanistan.
July 2021- Three nurses wait outside the kitchen of the hospital for lunch. Kabul, Afghanistan.
July 2021- Dr. Spagnolello checks the pulse of Khalid (12) after pinching him to see if he reacts. Khalid's brain damage from a rocket shrapnel is so severe he will only be able to live if he is on life support. Kabul, Afghanistan.
July 2021- After the doctors made the decision to take Khalid (12) off life support, they moniter him as his oxygen levels drop. Kabul, Afghanistan.
July 2021- Khalid (12) was taken off life support after his uncle said his goodbyes. The mortician wraps his body to be prepped for the funeral. Kabul, Afghanistan.
July 2021- An employee at EMERGENCY Hospital cleans the sub ICU windows. Kabul, Afghanistan.
July 2021- A doctor picks up broken prosthetic legs at the ICRC clinic. Kabul, Afghanistan.
July 2021- A patient at the ICRC clinic walks past a prosthetic leg being molded. Kabul, Afghanistan.
July 2021- Shadows refelcted on the hospital walls. Kabul, Afghanistan.
July 2021- Nematullah (68) often takes walks around the garden at night. Kabul, Afghanistan.
July 2021- Abdullah (7) scratches his head in the garden of EMERGENCY Hospital. Kabul, Afghanistan.
July 2021- Abdullah (7) plays in the garden of EMERGENCY Hospital while a military helicopter flies above him. Kabul, Afghanistan.
The ongoing insurgency by Boko Haram has been underreported, and when stories do reach Western media, they are often told through the myopic lens of insurgent violence; the stories of those impacted go untold. This has led to a misunderstood and underrepresented crisis.
“Boko 𝘢𝘴 Haram- Recollections & Recovery: Life Lived Under the Insurgency” aims to humanize the conflict by following the journey of one family enduring generations of hardship due to the impact of Boko Haram. This long-term mixed-media project combines photography, written pieces, collages, and painting. Traditional documentary imagery is mixed with artifacts, archival newspaper cuttings, testimonies, and artworks using local materials such as fabric and Nigerian straw pens.
Collaborative in nature, over numerous visits with the focal family, previous images and writing are shared, and new stories and directions are approached with their guidance. In the middle of a regional crisis, their story remains central.
This project is more than just a visual experience; it is a catalyst for introspection and connection. The title itself, "Boko 𝘢𝘴 Haram" serves as the initial query. While the term "Boko Haram" may be familiar to most, the title of the project is intended to question our assumed knowledge. People need to comprehend the true meaning of the terrorist group's name, laying the foundation for a more informed and localized understanding. By questioning our awareness of the name, it asks us to rethink our unconscious biases and assumptions, enabling us to look at the project from a fresh perspective.
As Nigeria initiates various programs for recovery from the insurgency, this project stands as a testament to the importance of documenting the stories of those who have endured, survived, and persevered. Through these visuals, the project advocates for future change, urging society to confront the realities faced by individuals and communities affected by Boko Haram.
August 2023, Maiduguri, Nigeria- Although most Westerners know the terrorist group's name, “Boko Haram,” few understand its meaning. Before exploring this project, viewers must understand the meaning of these words. “Boko” is a term in Hausa, one of Nigeria's three main languages. "Boko" is any non-Islamic reading or education. The word "Haram" stems from Arabic, and typically means "forbidden." The terrorist group believes Boko was founded to establish British colonial rule over Nigeria through Christianity. They consider Boko as haram for these reasons.
August 2023, Maiduguri, Nigeria- Aisha (17) and her sister Ummi (4) walk to see the view of the river. Aisha grew up during the height of the insurgency, her grandfather was kidnapped by Boko Haram and her other grandfather beheaded. Ummi, although born more recently, is part of a generation that will suffer deeply due to the trauma caused by Boko Haram in her community and family.
August 2023, Maiduguri, Nigeria- Zanna Bukar poses for a portrait outside his home. Bukar was one of the men who negotiated the majority of the Chibok girls' release after the 2014 kidnapping that put Boko Haram on international news.
August 2023, Maiduguri, Nigeria- The last standing ruins of Mohammed Yusuf's mosque, where he started Boko Haram by conducting sermons denouncing Western education after prayers.
2023- Ibrahim (name changed for security purposes) poses for a portrait. Ibrahim was a prominent Boko Haram commander for 19 years. In 2014, when Boko Haram abducted over 200 girls from Chibok, Nigeria, Ibrahim was being held by the Nigerian military. He was one of the members given back to Boko Haram in exchange for Chibok girls as hostages. Three years ago, Ibrahim surrendered and gave up arms to be rehabilitated back into society. He received treatment at the Bulumukuttu Center in Maiduguri for six months before being released.
August 2023, Maiduguri, Nigeria- Abba Aji poses for a portrait. He was a commander of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) and was on duty when Ibrahim (previous portrait) conducted an attack on the inside of the city. Aji remembers chasing after Ibrahim, but he escaped. A few years later, he saw Ibrahim in the Bulumukuttu Rehabilitation Center and made a personal vow to keep an eye on him since he knew it wouldn't be long before Ibrahim was released back into the community. The phrase "Kato Da Gora" translates from Hausa to English, meaning "big men with big sticks." A term that Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau used to call the CJTF.
August 2023, Maiduguri, Nigeria- The sunset from the family's garden.
August 2023, Maiduguri, Nigeria- A random form of a child who was processed for treatment at the Bulumkuttu Center. In order to make personalized therapy plans for the children, an initial assessment is given where they ask what the child has been through during their time being held by Boko Haram. Here, the box "child marriage" has been checked. They begin asking girls this question at age 9.
August 2023, Maiduguri, Nigeria- Children, women, and traditionally low-risk men who are claimed to have been affiliated with Boko Haram are taken in by the Bulumkutu Center in Maiduguri, which is administered by the Borno State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development with financial and technical help from UNICEF. Some people arrive at the Center right after turning themselves into the Nigerian military. While they wait to be relocated or reunited with their family, residents at the Center receive a support package that includes medical and psychosocial care, education, and/or training in livelihood skills.
August 2023, Maiduguri, Nigeria- Artillery holes from fire fights with the military when Boko Haram heavily occupied this area. Even the walls in which people live hold trauma.
August 2023, Maiduguri, Nigeria- Ummi (4) playing in the family's garden.
August 2023, Maiduguri, Nigeria- Mustapha (8) playing on the porch of his house.
August 2023, Maiduguri, Nigeria- August 2023, Maiduguri, Nigeria- Fatima (18) tries to catch a butterfly in the garden of her home. Fatima is the eldest of five children and tells the story of when Boko Haram tried to enter Maiduguri.
August 7, 2023, Maiduguri, Nigeria- At the height of the insurgency, Hussaina's husband was a victim of a random gun attack at his shop where he died. Due to the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), she was chosen to receive funds to start her tailoring business. She now successfully supports her six children through school. This UNDP program aims to support two members of the community for every ex-Boko Haram member reintegrated back into the community. This helps victims of the insurgency not feel forgotten as the country tries to progress forward. Here Hussaina poses for a portrait in her living room.
August 9, 2023, Bama, Nigeria- A football match between local youths, repentant Boko Haram members, and former IDPs in Maiduguri is arranged to promote peace and encourage community bonds.
On October 1, 2019, protests erupted across Iraq calling out government officials for their corruption. The movement has attracted the younger generation of Iraqis desperate for a change after the American invasion in 2003. The protests also highlighted unemployment rates, inefficient public services, and Iranian/ foreign influences in Iraq. As tensions began to escalate, protestors demanded the resignation of all government officials. Since October, the Iraqi War Crimes Documentation Center has counted more than 600 deaths and over 25,000 injuries.
This story was chosen for projection at the international photo festival, visa pour l’image 2020. “reclaiming iraq” begins at 32:44 in the video.
January 20, 2020, Baghdad, Iraq- Three protestors load tires on a tuk tuk, a three wheeled taxi, to bring to the frontlines.
January 20, 2020, Baghdad, Iraq- A protestor suffers from asphyxiation due to tear gas.
January 18, 2020- A young man sits on the top of the 14 story building which was nicknamed the “Turkish Restaurant.” To the left of Al-Jumhuriya Bridge you can see a barricade that separates the protestors from the anti-riot forces on the right.
January 22, 2020, Baghdad, Iraq- Protestors march through Tahrir Square demanding that anti-riot forces release their friends after recent arrests had been made.
January 20, 2020, Baghdad, Iraq- Black smoke from burning tires rises at the frontlines of protests on Al-Qasim Express Highway.
January 16, 2020, Baghdad, Iraq- A protestor holds out a tear gas canister that he took from a security force personnel.
January 21, 2020, Baghdad, Iraq- A Red Crescent volunteer carries a man with broken ribs to a tuk tuk. Due to heavy traffic, the ambulance couldn't drive to the hospital, so he was put in a tuk tuk and the driver was given instructions to take him to the hospital.
January 15, 2020, Baghdad, Iraq- A small shrine set up for those who have lost their lives during the protests.
January 20, 2020, Baghdad, Iraq- A protestor receives treatment for an infected bullet wound he suffered from during clashes with security forces.
January 22, 2020, Baghdad, Iraq- A blocked road occupied with ashes, projectiles, and tear gas cannisters from previous clashes between security forces and protestors.
January 23, 2020, Baghdad, Iraq- Protestors line up in Tahrir Square to receive dinner.
January 22, 2020, Baghdad, Iraq- Men stir large pots of rice in Tahrir Square to serve to protestors.
January 22, 2020, Baghdad, Iraq- Three Iraqi policemen keep warm by a small fire during their shift. Behind them are the cement walls used to secure the protest area where pat downs and bag checks take place before entering.
January 16, 2020, Baghdad, Iraq- The Turkish Restaurant.
January 18, 2020, Baghdad, Iraq- Protestors walk in and out of the stairway in the Turkish Restaurant.
January 18, 2020, Baghdad, Iraq- A protestor stands inside the Turkish Restaurant after his temporary home caught fire. Pictured is his face covered with burn cream while behind him sits the structure he used to fall asleep in every night.
January 16, 2020, Baghdad, Iraq- A protestor sits among the mattress pads him and his friends sleep on.
January 18, 2020, Baghdad, Iraq- A protestor who lived in the Turkish Restaurant holds together a Christian cross that used to hang outside, symbolizing that both Muslims and Christians were welcome in the restaurant.
January 18, 2020, Baghdad, Iraq- A woman on the top floor of the Turkish Restaurant walks past a pile of bricks. These bricks used to resemble an extension of the building, but was torn down for protestors to use the bricks for projectiles to launch at security forces via a homemade slingshot.
January 15, 2020, Baghdad, Iraq- The view of the security forces from the protestors side on Al-Jumhuriya Bridge.
January 25, 2020, Baghdad, Iraq- A protestor loads his pockets up with molotov cocktails to throw at anti-riot forces.
January 21, 2020, Baghdad, Iraq- Protestors gather and protest along one of the main highways leading to the frontlines.
January 21, 2020, Baghdad, Iraq- Protestors gather and protest along one of the main highways leading to the frontlines.
January 21, 2020, Baghdad, Iraq- Protestors block and occupy main roads to cause traffic issues. Their end goal is to send a message to the government, hoping they'll compromise with the protestors demands and in return they will unblock the main roads.
January 25, 2020, Baghdad, Iraq- A protestor receives treatment for asphyxiation during clashes with security forces.
January 25, 2020, Baghdad, Iraq- A man holds out a bullet that was reportedly shot at protestors by security forces.
January 21, 2020, Baghdad, Iraq- Protestors carry a prop coffin symbolizing their friend who died during clashes that day with security forces.
January 16, 2020, Baghdad, Iraq- Protesters take a free class from the Red Crescent about how to give basic medical assistance.
January 21, 2020, Baghdad, Iraq- A man suffering from broken ribs is helped onto a stretcher to be taken to the hospital.
January 23, 2020, Baghdad, Iraq- Three protestors hang outside their shelter at Tahrir Square while a fire burns inside.
January 16, 2020, Baghdad, Iraq- Two men lay down a blanket to sit on overlooking the Tigris River. On the left is Al Jumariyah bridge where security forces are camped out.
January 16, 2020, Baghdad, Iraq- A little girl who lives in Tahrir Square with her family plays with her friends on a homemade swing.
January 20, 2020, Baghdad, Iraq- The protests have attracted the public who are curious to know what is happening. Often gathering on a bridge, families watch the frontlines from afar.
January 20, 2020, Baghdad, Iraq- People gather at a small bridge to watch the frontlines of the protests about 100 meters away.
During the 2019 presidential elections, I worked with an NGO founded in Nigeria, ifollowthemoney, and its sister organization, CODE. We visited extremely rural communities in five different states that relied on their support for new hospitals and schools. Documenting their work, I witnessed firsthand the detrimental effects of Boko Haram on local communities. These effects are not limited to the obvious tragedies of violence and kidnappings reported in the media; Boko Haram's presence impacts health care access, food distribution, education, women's rights, and displacement. This project provides a perspective beyond the elections, highlighting some of Nigeria’s systemic issues that are often overlooked in the face of Boko Haram’s long-reigning insurgency.
Abuja, Nigeria, February 16, 2019- Numa (34), dances in her sister's home to praise the elections have postponed and that today is violence free.
Maiduguri, Nigeria, February 23, 2019- Voters line up at their polling station to vote.
Maiduguri, Nigeria, February 22, 2019- Security patrols the streets. Tensions grew in the north east the night before elections. Boko Haram always makes their presence known and takes advantage of Nigeria's political unrest.
Epe, Lagos, Nigeria, February 20, 2019 - A woman holds a sign protesting violent elections and government corruption within the 2019 presidential elections. The postponement led to rising tensions within Nigeria, as many theories circulated about the INEC being biased and favoring the All Progressive's Congress (APC) over the People's Democratic Party (PDP).
Maiduguri, Nigeria, February 22, 2019 - On February 16, 2019 three Boko Haram members entered this mosque with one man strapped with an IED, accompanied by two gunmen leaving nine killed and 15 injured as a scare tactic against voters on election day.
Maiduguri, Nigeria, February 24, 2019- Two women hurry into their home to make curfew.
Tsanyawa Kano State, Nigeria, February 26, 2019- Two new mothers wait for their turn to vaccinate their babies.
Tsanyawa Kano State, Nigeria, February 26, 2019- A scatter of medical supplies in the hospital. This medical center is a rare sight, sitting at 184 km from the city and is in need of an upgrade due to the influx of patients in the recents years.
Tsanyawa Kano State, Nigeria, February 26, 2019-A 40-year-old woman infected with AIDS sleeps in her hospital bed on IV while her sister visits her. Nigeria is under-resourced in children's care, sexual and reproductive health and emergency care facilities due to Boko Haram's disruption.
Tsanyawa Kano State, Nigeria, February 26, 2019- Family members sit next to a patient while the doctor tends to her. According to Reuters, 35% of hospitals have been destroyed in the ten-year-long insurgency leaving rural hospitals with minimal resources.
Tsanyawa Kano State, Nigeria, February 26, 2019- Hauwa (23) is a volunteer medic at the hospital.
Tsanyawa Kano State, Nigeria, February 26, 2019- A woman weighs her newborn baby in a hospital.
Epe, Lagos, Nigeria, February 20, 2019 - The community leader drinks water from the watering hole for the community. They use this water for drinking, bathing, washing clothes, and washing dishes. There have been many waterborne diseases because of its multiple uses. As conflict increases so does displacement, which results in depleted resources for communities.
Maiduguri, Nigeria, February 22, 2019- Kids play football outside a mosque the day before elections will commence.
Maiduguri, Nigeria, February 22, 2019- Three 18-year-old women travel back to their villages to cast their votes in the 2019 presidential elections. However, traveling to the rural villages is a security challenge because of boko haram threat of kidnapping and ied’s (improvised explosive devices) on the roads. Nigerians have to travel in large trucks or crowded vans with a military escort the whole way.
Maiduguri, Nigeria, February 24, 2019- Aisa Mallam Madu poses for a portrait in her home, constructed of old sacks and a small concrete room. After Boko Haram took over her village, Baga, they executed her stepson and then took her daughter. Aisa hid her grandchildren and trekked 196 kilometers from Baga to Maiduguri, where she now takes care of all her grandchildren.
Maiduguri, Nigeria, February 25, 2019 - From left to right, Aisha (13), Umar (12), and Muhammed (7) (names changed to protect identity) escaped from Boko Haram in December 2018 after being held captive for five years. They were used as human shields during firefights with the military. Aisha and Muhammed escaped together while gathering food, eventually finding soldiers on the side of the road. Umar escaped by himself; after walking, he found an abandoned gas station filled with other children who had escaped. When soldiers found them, he was the only one who did not die from starvation or dehydration. He was reunited with his brother and sister after their escape two weeks earlier.
Maiduguri, Nigeria, February 22, 2019- An empty road past curfew the night before the presidential elections.
Abuja, Nigeria, February 16, 2019- At Mother Theresa's Orphanage, a care taker feeds a baby. After the postponement of the Presidential elections, CODE had prepared food to sustain employees while they waited for the results. Since the pushback of elections, the food was distributed to a nearby orphanage.
Epe, Lagos, Nigeria, February 20, 2019- A man takes part in protest for free and fair elections.
Maiduguri, Nigeria, February 23, 2019- Two young women walking to their polling station at an IDP camp. Nearly three million people have been displaced because of Boko Haram.
Epe, Lagos State, Nigeria, February 20, 2019- Mary (11) poses for a portrait in her classroom. For most of her schooling, there were no toilets for her and her classmates, which caused many sanitary issues and health problems. ifollowthemoney built their school several years ago and has recently updated it with running water and toilets.
Maiduguri, Nigeria, February 22, 2019- Men praying on the side of the road.
Maiduguri, Nigeria, February 24, 2019- A woman and her granddaughter watch TV anxiously, waiting for the presidential election results.
Maiduguri, Nigeria, February 25, 2019-On February 1, 2019, Hajjalima (95), escaped with others from the village in the middle of the night after Boko Haram took over Baga. They put the elderly in carts, usually used to haul water cans, and the younger villagers would push them to Maiduguri.
Jataka, Kano State, Nigeria, February 26, 2019- Kids walking in their village to the construction site of their new medical center.
Maiduguri, Nigeria, February 24, 2019- Ekene (25) (name changed) holds her baby in the IDP camp while she waits for her friends to vote in the presidential elections. Ekene gave birth the day Boko Haram attacked her village and left with nothing but the clothes on her back, her baby never spent a night under a roof.
Maiduguri, Nigeria, February 24, 2019- A man waiting for his friend the night after the presidential elections.
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (unifil) is tucked away in the remote south-western lebanese town of Naqoura, not far from the closest israeli town. It was founded in 1978 with the intention of reestablishing world peace and security, certifying the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanon, and assisting in the preservation of local authority. Thousands of people have since joined to uphold and promote peace, but when you add up the current numbers of both military and civilian peacekeepers, you find that only 6.7% of them are women.
This project challenges the perception that peacekeeping is solely a male-dominated field and highlights how women in UNIFIL can successfully embrace both feminine and masculine roles. It sheds light on the significant contributions and achievements of women within the peacekeeping mission by showcasing their roles, responsibilities, and experiences.
this story was exhibited at xposure photography festival (2021).
read the blog post here.
May 2, 2018, Naqoura, Lebanon- Fake flowers on a table at the Ghana base camp describing it as a small way of adding “feminine touches.”
May 3, 2018, Naqoura, Lebanon- Barracks at the Irish base camp.
May 5, 2018, Naqoura, Lebanon- Second SGT. Devla on a training for patrol of the blue line, a border demarcation between Lebanon and Israel.
May 2, 2018, Naqoura, Lebanon-Beatrice (33), a Ghanaian peacekeeper with UNIFIL, poses for a portrait.
May 4, 2018, Naqoura, Lebanon- Three Indonesian women put on their prayer clothes over their military uniforms in the makeshift mosque at their base.
May 4, 2018, Naqoura, Lebanon- Two Indonesian women put on their uniforms to carry out a patrol along the Blue Line.
May 3, 2018, Naqoura, Lebanon- Elma (53), a Filipino pediatric surgeon serving UNIFIL. She cries as she tells the story of a nine year old boy dying during surgery in one of her past experiences serving in the UN.
May 6 2018, Naqoura, Lebanon- Captain and Dr. Kamala (33), performs a checkup on a Lebanese girl. Free healthcare is provided inside the UN base five times a week by the Nepalese camp.
May 3, 2018, Naqoura, Lebanon- Tikoiwayevo (21), the youngest women in the Fijian UNIFIL camp, poses for a portrait.
May 4, 2018, Naqoura, Lebanon- Flowers outside the Indonesian bunkers.
May 4, 2018, Naqoura, Lebanon- SFC Ariska (24), puts her hijab on before the day begins in her bunker.
May 5, 2018, Naqoura, Lebanon- Second SGT. Venny Greace on patrol of the Blue Line with her unit.
The Dakota Access Pipeline was an underground oil pipeline originally planned to span over 1,000 miles. Finished construction was planned for 2017, but the route was planned for only half a mile away from the Standing Rock Reservation, which if there was a spill would lead to detrimental damage to the water source the reservation relied on. The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe was also concerned with the construction running through sacred burial grounds.
On April 1, 2016, LaDonna Brave Bull Allard, Standing Rock's Historic Preservation Officer, registered the Sacred Stone Camp as a place to protest the oil pipeline. Soon, others gathered, and shortly after, over 300 official Native American tribes were there with thousands of other protestors. The camp was active for at least 10 months and was the largest gathering of Native Americans in over 100 years. Throughout the months that the camp was active, protestors faced many violent clashes with police officers, where tear gas and water canons were used.
Eventually, Sacred Stone Camp was evacuated in February 2017. In his first week in office, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to expedite the construction of the pipeline. The tribe successfully contested the permits. The Army Corps of Engineers was instructed to redo its environmental analysis, which it did without taking into account expert analysis or tribal concerns. Oil was still being transported through the pipeline from North Dakota to Illinois.
On May 3, 2021, the corps announced that it would maintain the pipeline's operational status while preparing a court-ordered environmental impact statement (EIS), despite strong opposition from tribes and environmental organizations. Now, spring 2023 is the anticipated release date for the draft EIS.
October 5, 2016, Standing Rock, ND, USA-Police officers monitor protestors.
October 5, 2016, Standing Rock, ND, USA- Native Americans burn sage during a protest. The smoke of dried sage clears negative energy and restores harmony, a tradition taught by native elders.
September 27, 2016, Standing Rock, ND, USA- A police helicopter flies over the protest site.
September 30, 2016, Standing Rock, ND, USA- A sign hung outside one of the many medical tents inside the reservation where medicine and assistance is free.
September 25, 2016, Standing Rock, ND, USA- Two people run to warn other protesters that police have showed up with riot bats and water cannons.
September 27, 2016, Standing Rock, ND, USA- A Native American man on his horse divides police officers and protesters in order to try and maintain peace.
September 24, 2016, Standing Rock, ND, USA- A family get their dad's horse ready for a patrol around the reservation.
September 25, 2016, Standing Rock, ND, USA- A Native American woman raises her fist as a crowd of protesters chant.
September 28, 2016, Standing Rock, ND, USA- The morning light of the camp.
September 24, 2016, Standing Rock, ND, USA- A girl rides in the back of truck after a nights swim in the Cannon Ball River with her friends where she nearly drowned. Most times, kids are unsupervised when wandering around the camp.
September 24, 2016, Standing Rock, ND, USA- A Native American boy plays in the Cannon Ball river with his brothers and sister at sunset. There is no running water within 30 miles of the camp so the Cannon Ball river is often used for bathing and washing dishes.
September 27, 2016, Standing Rock, ND, USA- Native American men ride their horses on a group patrol of the camp before night falls.
September 30, 2016, Standing Rock, ND, USA- Hunter (31) walks to finish his daily activities of chopping firewood in the camp. One of the main rules of the reservation is that everything should be free. Meals are cooked and supplied, clothing, medical assistance, and more. Everyone has a role to play in order to keep the camp functioning.
September 27, 2016, Standing Rock, ND, USA- A man rides on his horse with a friend during a protest.
September 24, 2016, Standing Rock, ND, USA- A Native American boy tries to warm up by the fire at night after his friend almost drowned in the river an hour before.
September 24, 2016, Standing Rock, ND, USA- Young men stand in the Cannon Ball River as the sun sets.
September 27, 2016, Standing Rock, ND, USA- A protester rides his horse next to the construction of the oil pipeline.
September 27, 2016, Standing Rock, ND, USA- Men talk to police officers during a protest.
September 27, 2016, Standing Rock, ND, USA- Native American men ride their horses on a group patrol of the camp before night falls.
October 1, 2016, Standing Rock, ND, USA- A group of Native American children ran from Pine Ridge, South Dakota to Standing Rock to show solidarity with other tribes at the camp. They were escorted by a long line of cars with police at the front.
On 15 April 2019, a structure fire broke out beneath the roof of Notre-Dame cathedral in Paris.
April 15, 2019, Paris, France- Onlookers watch as the Notre Dame Church burns.
April 15, 2019, Paris, France- The Notre Dame Church catches fire.
April 15, 2019, Paris, France- Police keeping the public from the fire of the Notre Dame church.
April 15, 2019, Paris, France- Firefighters help put out the Notre Dame Church fire.
April 15, 2019, Paris, France- The Notre Dame Church on fire.
On March 10th, 2018, Ethiopian troops mistakenly killed 13 civilians during a raid on opposition areas, thousands of refugees fled to Kenya for fear of their village being attacked. In August of 2017, Ethiopia lifted a 10-month state of emergency. Since the Prime Minister, Hailemariam Desalegn, stepped down from his position in February of this year, Ethiopia has reclaimed a state of emergency.
Most families came with nothing but the clothes on their backs, sometimes walking for days without food or water until they reached the border town of Moyale, Kenya. Locals in villages took the first refugees in, aiding them in any way they could. The Kenyan Red Cross, @refugees , and @unicef were immediately notified and took action. Providing refugees with shelters, basic food, blankets, and water. Soon, 500 refugees grew to thousands and more NGO’s were getting involved. Since this, Ethiopia has appointed a new prime minister in hopes of resurrecting peace within the country. Refugees are expected to stay in Kenya for another two months or even some are planning on staying.
this story was published on diplomatic courier.
April 2, 2018, Dambala Fachana, Kenya- Two refugee women carry water in gerry cans from a nearby resevoir back to the camp.
April 1, 2018, Dambala Fachana, Kenya- Ethiopian refugees prove their identification in order to receive rations of food.
April 1, 2018, Dambala Fachana, Kenya- Ethiopian refugee women wait in line to receive food and water rations for the next two weeks.
April 1, 2018, Dambala Fachana, Kenya- Water cans for refugees to collect. One gerry can is allocated to each family. Often times it's not enough so they refill it at a nearby lake.
April 1, 2018, Dambala Fachana, Kenya- A refugee man hauling a bag of grain for women to collect their rations.
April 1, 2018, Dambala Fachana, Kenya- A volunteer medic replaces an IV drip for a patient suffering from dehydration.
April 1, 2018, Dambala Fachana, Kenya- The most common medical problem within the camp is dehydration. A woman is hooked up to an IV as her relative waits for her recovery.
April 1, 2018, Dambala Fachana, Kenya- A woman refugee resting as she recovers from dehydration in the medical center.
April 1, 2018, Dambala Fachana, Kenya- A young refugee girl, one and a half years old, is held by her father as she gets the bandage of her boil taken off. Due to limited medical supplies and only one treatment center, small injuries can often turn into bigger problems.
April 1, 2018, Dambala Fachana, Kenya- A small reservoir where refugee families go to gather water for bathing and drinking.
April 2, 2018, Dambala Fachana, Kenya- Teenage refugees hang out during sunset in the camp.
April 2, 2018, Dambala Fachana, Kenya- A man who had just arrived at the camp that morning, washes his face after the 12 hour trek.
April 2, 2018, Dambala Fachana, Kenya- Kashu Molu (10), sits for a portrait as she is about to go back into her shelter to find cooking supplies.
April 2, 2018, Dambala Fachana, Kenya- Kashu Molu (10), starts a fire to prepare morning tea and breakfast for her family.
April 1, 2018, Dambala Fachana, Kenya- A typical fire pit in the camp used to cook and brew tea.
“Olly Hicks and George Bullard, two modern-day adventurers, embarking upon a journey that takes them from Greenland to Scotland in a sea kayak in the Wake of the Finnmen. They will cover 1,200 miles in 6 weeks, spending 12 nights at sea paddling by the light of the midnight sun.” -Words by olly hicks
emma documented the greenland to scotland challenge for one month, sailing from iceland to greenland spending four nights at sea, and then travelled around the country of iceland, camping as olly & george continued their expedition. this project was the start of emma’s photography career and successfully shows the struggles and and joys of two adventurers as they make history.
her photos from this expedition can be seen on virgin, redbull, and the guardian.
July 4, 2016, Iceland- Two British Adventurers, Olly Hicks and George Bullard, paddle in front of one of Europe's largest cliff. They were the first to paddle from Greenland to Scotland.
Entering the bay at sunset.
home is an ongoing project documenting emma’s upbringing in rural oregon. As time moves forward and you become an adult, it's often hard to grapple with what remains of your childhood. With this comes a sense of nostalgia and loss for what was. Emma found that grieving the loss of your childhood is seldom talked about, so she decided to photograph it. This project reflects feelings, memories, and scenes from her childhood from a now-adult perspective. only after living in france for five years and buying a house of her own, did she realize just how unique her hometown was. She moved to a small, rural village in France, much like her hometown, and quickly found the similarities between the two places. She wanted to document the process of integration into a new community, her new home, the isolation that comes from choosing a life abroad, and the new characters that are now a part of her daily life.
The photographs of both places are intermixed and not captioned to represent the inconsistency of memories in life.
