Photography & Photojournalism In Vietnam By Aaron Joel Santos Now On Gaia Photos

Farmer Nguyen Van Duoc pauses to look out over his farmlands in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Photo © Aaron Joel Santos All Rights Reserved  Follow Me On Twitter

Vietnam: Urban Farmers In Hanoi is a new photo story now appearing on Gaia Photos. As photojournalist Aaron Joel Santos explains,

"Vietnam’s capital is at a critical junction, balanced precariously between its past and present, trying to maintain a certain sense of culture and identity while integrating further into the global economy. Rice fields and farmlands are being overtaken by new highways, skyscrapers and industrial areas. The lakes and rivers for which the city was once known are drying up and suffering from increased levels of pollution. And urban farmers who have relied on their families’ lands for generations are being slowly edged off their fields in the name of progress."

Please view the entire story about urban farmers coping with modernity in Vietnam on Gaia Photos.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Aaron Joel Santos grew up in New Orleans, Louisiana and graduated from schools in San Francisco and Boston before moving to Vietnam in 2007. These days, Aaron is an editorial and documentary photographer based out of Hanoi and working for clients across Southeast Asia. He is represented by Wonderful Machine in the United States & Invision Images across Europe and Japan. Aaron's work has been shown in a number of international magazines and publications, including The Wall Street Journal and Travel + Leisure Southeast Asia, as well as in galleries in the US, Malaysia and Vietnam. He's a fan of warm weather, cheap beer and friendly people.

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DOCUMENTARY PHOTOGRAPHY: Portugal's Vanishing Salt Production Industry By Joao Pedro Marnoto At GAIA PHOTOS

Still using traditional baskets known as "canastras", the Marnoto collect salt. Requiring great physical effort to carry, when completely filled, canastras weigh between 50 and 70kgs.

Photo © Joao Pedro Marnoto All Rights Reserved - Follow Me On Twitter

Documentary photographer Joao Pedro Marnoto explains, "I start by emphasizing that this work on the Marnoto salt extraction has a deep personal resonance since it portrays an activity that most likely my ancestors had."

Joao Pedro Marnoto continues, "An ancient activity that was once of great economic and social importance, the last several decades have left less room for the economic survival of the Marnoto as expansion of global markets have led to greater competition in the salt industry. Soon this way of life will only appear in the social and cultural documentary records, and part of our collective memory."

Please continue learning about Portugal: Marnoto, from Sun to Salt, now appearing on Gaia Photos. Comprised of 52 photojournalists from around the globe, each photographer shares Gaia's united mission of promoting quality and diversity in documentary photography worldwide.

Please Visit Us and visit Joao Pedro Marnoto's website.

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Photography Guest Of The Week Graeme Williams - South Africa

Republic of Congo, 29 May 2009. Impfondo town. The Baku people sell what produce they can at local markets and generally buy basics such as salt, soap and clothes.

Photo © Graeme Williams All Rights Reserved - Follow Me On Twitter

Congo: Baka Indigenous People Fighting For Survival

"The Republic of Congo’s indigenous people, the country’s first inhabitants, are under threat. The Baka, one of 15 ethnic groups who have traditionally lived as hunters and gathers in the forest of central Africa, confront two grave dangers. Their traditional habitat is under threat from commercial logging and they're often left landless, impoverished and exploited after leaving the forest."

That account by Shantha Bloemen sets the stage for Congo: Baka Indigenous People Fighting For Survival, a photo reportage now appearing on Gaia Photos by photojournalist Graeme Williams. Comprised of 52 photojournalists from around the globe, each Gaia photographer shares a united mission of promoting quality and diversity in documentary photography worldwide.

Shantha Bloemen continues, "The “Pygmy” became well known in the 19th century colonial imagination as “short, subhuman and backward”. Those deep seated attitudes sadly continue into the 21st century. Today, it is the country’s majority population, known as the Bantu, that benefit from their ongoing economic and social exclusion."

ABOUT GRAEME WILLIAMS

Graeme Williams began taking photographs as a teenager as a hobby but after earning Bachelor of Science degrees in Geology and Statistics at the University of Cape Town, he realized photography was to become his profession.

After a short stint as a photographer in London, Graeme returned to South Africa and in 1989 he began working for Reuters. In 1991 he started contributing to Afrapix, the South African documentary collective, and later went on to become a founder, member and manager of the South Photographs Agency.

His photography assignments have taken him to 38 countries and Graeme's photography has been published in major publications worldwide, including National Geographic Magazine, Time, Newsweek, The New York Times Magazine and Photography Magazine (UK).

He has produced two books: The Floor, documenting the last year of open outcry trading on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, and The Inner City, an exploration of isolation captured through images of Johannesburg as it struggled to adjust to the changing social and political climate.

Further, he's staged 12 solo exhibitions and contributed to 30 group shows.

Graeme Williams lives and works in South Africa.

Please Visit Us and visit Graeme's website.

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CORPORATE GREED: Canadian Battles Corporate Giant Monsanto And Wins

A cornfield is cultivated near the Mekong River in Northern Thailand.

Photo © John Brown All Rights Reserved

If you are a regular reader here, you know by now that I'm fond of the "little people" on our planet. And why not, since the old saw, "It takes one to know one" proves I fit right in.

Here is a little story that appeared online on July 3, 2008 on the Global Research website about a "little guy" living in Canada named Percy Schmeiser.

It begins, "On 19 March 2008 Monsanto accepted their responsibility for the genetic contamination of Schmeiser’s canola fields in an out of court settlement between Percy Schmeiser and Monsanto."

Apparently, a morally corrupt corporate giant, Monsanto, contaminated his field with their genetically modified seeds and then decided not to pay Schmeiser the $660 it cost him to remove the mature plants from his property!

Why didn't a wealthy multi-national corporation fork over $660 bucks?

According to the story, "Monsanto would have paid for the contamination damage, but only under the condition that Schmeiser signed a “gag agreement”, i.e. he would agree not to talk about the damage case, which would have deprived him and/or his wife of the right for the remainder of their lives to ever speak about the case publicly or to ever again sue Monsanto for contaminating their harvest in future before any court."

Schmeiser rejected being silenced by the firm's corporate lawyer, Richard W. Danyliuk, by saying, "The demands raised by Monsanto were totally immoral."

The story concludes by pointing out, "The acceptance of responsibility by Monsanto as the owner of the patented Transgene for the contamination of neighboring fields opens the path for all farmers in the world to demand compensation by Monsanto."

The genetically modified (GM) food story is becoming bigger each year in Asia as food prices rise, population grows and agri-businesses move in.

Nevertheless, we have to stick to our guns folks, just ask Percy Schmeiser!

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Marijuana Growing & Drug Addiction In India: New Documentary Photography By Malaysia's Rahman Roslan Now On Gaia Photos

Photo © Rahman Roslan All Rights Reserved

India: Dark Drug Secret

"Manali, a once pristine valley up in the Indian Himalayas kept a secret well underneath her belt. A haven for adventure tourists, honeymooners and backpackers that frequent the small town every year, Manali harbors a dark secret that is rarely seen. Referred to as The Valley of the Gods, western intervention has transformed this Garden of Eden into a sinister hub of crime and debauchery."

That portrayal of the northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh was rendered by Malaysian photojournalist Rahman Roslan and his photo reportage India: Dark Drug Secret is now appearing on Gaia Photos, a new international photography source comprised of 49 photojournalists from around the world whose mission is to promote quality and diversity in documentary photography.

Roslan continues, "One plant in particular, thrives in this weather, the climate and soil here is perfect for its opportunistic nature….the plant is called cannabis sativa, better known as Marijuana."

Further, he says, "It's estimated that 80% of the local community rely on the Marijuana trade as a means of sustenance. To boot, the Charas originating from this region is of the highest quality. The coveted ‘Manali Cream’ continues to win awards in Amsterdam and reaps millions of dollars each year."

Please learn more about India's Marijuana Growing Industry and view Rahman Roslan's powerful photo story on Gaia Photos.

You can also visit us and see other photo stories by Rahman Roslan on Gaia Photos.

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Photography Guest Of The Week Mark Spowart - Canada

Each spring and planting season hold the promise of a good year.

Photo © Mark Spowart All Rights Reserved

Canada: Family Farms - Living On An Endangered List

"The Canadian Family Farm has been a way of life for as long as Canada has been a nation. It has fed a country and the world through a variety of international relief agencies. Yet this longstanding noble profession is too facing an uncertain future. If the farmer is able to beat mother nature, raise the right crop and sell at the peak time, he will hopefully make enough to cover his costs."

So stated photojournalist Mark Spowart, who visited Canadian farming communities to see how this invaluable industry was faring in his photo essay Canada: Family Farms - Living On An Endangered List, now appearing on Gaia Photos, a new international photography source comprised of 41 photojournalists from around the world whose mission is to promote quality and diversity in documentary photography.

Mark Spowart is a freelance photojournalist whose photography has appeared in national and international publications.Mark's main interest is documentary photography and he spends extended lengths documenting stories. In 2007 he participated in PhotoSensitive's National project documenting individuals living with Cancer.

Born in England and raised in Canada, Spowart still holds his British citizenship, and is planning to set up a second office in England.In addition to his several long-term projects, Mark does editorial work.

He is member of the Canadian Association of Journalists, and the Eastern Canadian News Photographers Association. Mark Spowart lives in London, Ontario, Canada and is available for assignments.

Please Visit Us and search for assignment photographers at Gaia Photos, a place to explore and discover the issues facing the diverse population and locations of our world, both near and far.

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Photography Guest Of The Week Petrut Calinescu - Romania

Photo © Petrut Calinescu All Rights Reserved

Romania: Transylvania’s Last Peasants

"It's estimated that 4 million Romanians (20% of the population) have left the country to work abroad, especially those from rural areas. "The Great Romanian Exodus" began on January 1, 2002 and today, most villages in Transylvania resemble retirement homes occupied by people with traditional interests."

"As many European citizens were swept away by the wave of globalization long ago, those that remain in rural Romania are the last peasants of Europe, clinging to long-established customs and a society that will soon seemingly disappear."

Photography showing this fading way of life, Romania: Transylvania’s Last Peasants, as described by photojournalist Petrut Calinescu in his remarks above, is now appearing on Gaia Photos, a new international photography source comprised of 41 photojournalists from around the world whose mission is to promote quality and diversity in documentary photography.

Freelance photojournalist Petrut Calinescu, born 1976, has been a contributor for National Geographic, Esquire, The New York Times, Courrier International, The Times, Business Week, Paris Match, and many other international magazines and newspapers.

Petrut was twice awarded the title of Best Romanian Photojournalist and in 2007 received an Award from Picture of the Year International (POYi) for Excellence of a sport feature.

Petrut Calinescu is based in Bucharest, Romania where he covers social issues and does documentary work. He is represented by Panos Pictures.

Please Visit Us and visit Petrut Calinescu's website.

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Photography Guest Of The Week Justin Mott - Vietnam

Truong Thi Nha, 51, stands in her cornfield in the village of Xuan Canh, near Hanoi, Vietnam. Standing just 4 1/2 feet tall, she explained that her growth was stunted by childhood hunger and malnutrition.

Photo © Justin Mott All Rights Reserved

International: Food Production

"Images in this collection are part of a 2008 series titled “The Food Chain” that I took while on assignment for The New York Times. In depth studies of assorted food production issues in 3 countries included palm oil shortages in Malaysia, inflated fertilizer prices in Vietnam, and the effect of drought on Australia’s livestock and rice production."

Those remarks by Justin Mott set the stage for his photo reportage, International: Food Production, now appearing on Gaia Photos, a new international photography source comprised of 41 photojournalists from around the world whose mission is to promote quality and diversity in documentary photography.

Presently a documentary, editorial and commercial photographer, Justin Mott was born in Rhode Island, USA. In 2008, his photographs of orphans living with the after-effects of the toxic chemical jungle defoliant commonly referred to as "Agent Orange" were recognized in the Photo District News (PDN) Annual, and he was awarded the Morty Forscher Fellowship for humanistic photography by New York's prestigious Parson’s School of Design.

Justin Mott lives in Hanoi, Vietnam and works throughout SE Asia on personal projects and assignments.

Please Visit Us and view more of Justin Mott's photography.

You can also search for assignment photographers at Gaia Photos, a place to explore and discover the issues facing the diverse population and locations of our world, both near and far.

Please subscribe to our new features page to keep track of new stories too!

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Photography Guest Of The Week Joao Pedro Marnoto - Portugal

A man at a local bar in Portugal enjoys the late afternoon.

Photo © Joao Pedro Marnoto All Rights Reserved

Portugal: Nine Winter Months and Three of Hell

"The national and global economic, political and social changes of the last few decades impacted local communities. While many of the younger generation left these locales in search of better opportunities their homes could no longer provide, most older residents resisted the appeal of the big city. Today, many of these areas have few citizens and elders comprise the majority of the inhabitants along with the occasional sprinkling of younger faces."

Such are the observations of Joao Pedro Marnoto that accompany his photo essay, Portugal: Nine Winter Months and Three of Hell now appearing on Gaia Photos. The photo documentary observes the lives of the people who have remained in the agrarian regions of Douro and Trás-os-Montes in northern Portugal, one of Western Europe’s poorest areas.

Gaia Photos is a new international photography source with 41 photojournalists from around the world involved with promoting quality and diversity in documentary photography.

Born in 1975 in Porto, Portugal, Joao Pedro Marnoto had a passion for photography at an early age, taking his first basic photography course at when he was just 14.

After completing his degree in Photography in the United Kingdom, he returned to Portugal full of ideas and desires. While working on a freelance basis he gradually turned his attention to photo documentary work. In 2007 Joao Pedro Marnoto's first book was released about the Douro region in Portugal.

During that time he also did some teaching, experimented with video and exhibited works throughout Portugal after receiving a grant from the Portuguese Center of Photography.

Presently, he is finishing his first video documentary, working to release a new book and launching a project in collaboration with “Doctors of the World”.

Please Visit Us and view more of Joao Pedro Marnoto's photography.

You can also search for assignment photographers at Gaia Photos, a place to explore and discover the issues facing the diverse population and locations of our world, both near and far.

Please subscribe to our new features page to keep track of new stories too!

John Brown Photojournalist On LIGHTSTALKERS
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