Barry
Born in Rotterdam in 1973, I left for the countryside when I was about 2 years old. I returned to the area of Rotterdam around the age of 9 where I enjoyed my education until I went to study at the Haarlem Business School in 1989.The passion for photography struck me during a 3-month internship in 1994 at Plan International, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania. Learning Swahili and getting to know the locals with the help of Buana Tom, and going on safari was a true eye-opener.
Coming back home, I had only one mission: purchase some proper photo equipment and a one-way ticket to return to Africa. One thing to sort out first: finish my university. I studied Business Management in Haarlem and graduated in 1995. Looking back this kept me in the Netherlands longer than expected.
After graduating, I started working in my home country and my last position was manager of the Professional Imaging Department at the European headquarters of Canon. During my career, I had the chance to go back to Africa several times. 2x for the launch of new digital SLR cameras and 4 times on holiday, being a sort of compensation for not buying that one-way ticket in 1994 that I had in mind.
The dream of going back to Africa was still there, so we decided that we would finally live it.
Since my first encounter with Africa, I have been fascinated with the people and wildlife of that continent. This time I would have the chance to be there for longer than just a holiday and literally experience the continent through all seasons and many cultures. I cannot wait to return and feel "home" again.
We have made some collections of images of previous trips. See the portfolio section for the people we met, the landscapes and the wildlife we encountered. During our overland trip we will update each section and write a blog to share the experiences.
Best advise I can give you if you are curious to see what Africa is like is to start in, for example, South Africa (not when the Football World Cup takes place in 2010!) and to rent your own jeep to drive through the Western cape and possibly Namibia (don't forget to go shark diving in Gansbaai close to Cape Town). If you do like your first visit, you will be as hooked as I am and find yourself planning your next trip already during your flight back home.
Valerie
Traveling runs in the family. Back in 1975, at about 5-months old, I was in a truck with my parents driving through Europe. Later, Fred, my younger brother arrived, and mum decided to stay home. Although, she’d often pick us up from school and unexpectedly take us for a trip to Spain, or elsewhere.The rest of my life is without surprise stretched along with travel and discovery. I have to wait till 18 to finish high school and to leave my hometown Perpignan, South of France. The first moves aren’t too adventurous and remain in France, going through Toulouse for my university studies, then Lille for my Master in geopolitics. Right after graduating in 1999, the revelation comes while working for the festival Visa pour l’Image (international festival of photojournalism, Perpignan). With this experience, I discover the world of photojournalism. Eye-opener. This is what I want to dedicate my life to.
Then it takes several routes - from PR for photo activities (and still for Visa pour l’Image obviously) in Paris, to photographer’ assistant in the Middle East, and other experiences before being photo industry specialist at Canon Europe for the past 5 years in Amsterdam, Netherlands. With only one motive all those years: promote photojournalism, help the photographers to do their work better in order to inform a wider public on the issues of our world. Along the way, some incredible trips to African countries help me to appreciate other disciplines in photography as well. Photography is a formidable medium, which somehow gives a voice to people.
But the search for something else never stops. Don’t you ever have this little voice in the back of your head telling you ‘it is not there yet, keep moving, keep looking’? But looking for what exactly? Are human beings the same everywhere? Do we all share the same humanity? Tempted to say yes, but I need to see it. I need to understand other cultures, their terms in sociology, economy, history. Traveling in Northern Ethiopia three years ago, I received the warmest and purest welcome from a family living in an extreme modest way. Why was I surprised by their candid and generous attitude? Why do I still see that sincere, open smile on the face of that little Ethiopian girl? Understanding our world became a quest.
Somehow, we are all tied up with Africa. It’s the obvious way to go.
If you would like to get in touch, please send an email to: info@africaminded.com