A photo book by Chris Marker called “La Jetée” – is my earlier memory of photography. A friend gave it to me when I was a teenager.
I taught myself how to take photographs – I would walk the streets or travel overseas, experimenting with different methods.
My first assignment was in Egypt in 2013 - I worked on a story about the thousands of families in Cairo who live in cemeteries because of overcrowding in the capital. In hindsight, I didn’t immerse myself in the story. When I work on stories now I really try to get to know the subjects in question.
An assignment in eastern DR Congo left the biggest mark on me - In 2016, I arrived in a village just after 17 people had been killed in a machete massacre. Most of the victims were children and pregnant women. I spent time with the local villagers, who told me their stories.
The stories which excite me the most are ones about social injustice – I enjoy giving a voice to the people who are not represented. Getting to know them and helping them tell their stories to the world.
I never think about an audience when I take pictures - A picture is for anyone who looks at it.
I respect the Czech photographer Josef Koudelka - I enjoyed his series about the Roma people in Western Europe. I also have a lot of respect for those courageous photographers who take pictures in the most hostile environments.
