I arrive early. I’ve hitched a ride with two young recruits who will be trained here. I have no idea where we are, other than that we are at the beach somewhere, several hours away from Tokyo. We park the car and head on to the compound. It’s a regular little seaside town, and the place we’re staying in is a traditional Japanese guest house. We walk up to the late Miyamoto-san, who is in charge of the annual organization, and greet him. He’s going over the daily routine together... Read the Rest →
The covert training camp lies somewhere along the shores of southern Japan. I have no idea where i am, after being driven here for several hours, together with young Yakuza recruits who will be trained here. Greeting Nakata-sensei, master swordsman, I realize very quickly that i am extremely lucky to be able to witness and photograph this… — Most of the images are under embargo right now, but i hope to be able to release them over the next few weeks and tell the story… but I didn’t want to... Read the Rest →
Thanks to my dear friend Angelo Guarracino and Giovanna Lalatta from SPAZIOFARINI6 gallery in Milan, 6 large high quality prints from “sugar” are featured in the Milan Photofestival VIII. Needless to say, i am very proud to be part of this event… the opening is March 15th, the festival runs till April 15th… Go ahead, jump in the car and be there, take a look in person, soak it in, and support me by buying a limited edition print! oh and… you can view a pdf of the leaflet. cheers,... Read the Rest →
hey folks… proud to tell you that “sugar” is being featured over at burn magazine, an evolving journal for emerging photographers…. burn is curated by magnum photographer and dear friend david alan harvey… Tweet
hello.The story "sugar" will be featured on slideluck potshow DC III this weekend (saturday nov 15th, 7.00pm EST). They teamed up with Fotoweek/DC. i feel greatly honored to be included... so please go and check it out...
"Sugar" is a story about Birgit, a six year old sweet kiddo. She’s been diagnosed with diabetes about a year ago. Incurable. This story is about how, through her, I myself am being confronted with the fact that her illness is much more of an issue to me than it is to her. She taught me a lesson there... The things that are on top of a kid’s list, should in fact be on top of anyone’s list:Life is about playing with friends and family and having fun as much as you possibly can.These intimate, close images, are freeze-frames out of her daily life. Random. Lots of different moments. Almost no visual context. Bare essentials. More about feeling the moment than looking at the moment.There is no beginning and no end. A collection without order. You will recognise inside, outside, darkness, light, a bike, a bed or even a beach. But they are all irrelevant...Just try to hear the laughter, hear the playing... Remember your own childhood... Feel like you’re there up close with her, her brother and her sister. Sometimes she will notice you and say hi. Sometimes she will play and laugh with you until her stomach aches. Sometimes you feel like you need to let her be, dreaming.She stares into the sea.
