The Worldwide Photography Gala Awards in Malaga

September 19, 2014 in Art, Children & The Art of Eight Limbs, Exhibition, Photography, Photojournalism, Social Documentary, Spain, Thailand

I arrived in Malaga yesterday to attend the opening night of The Worldwide Photography Gala Awards. One of my photographs, 'In The Corner' from the series of work 'Children & The Art of Eight Limbs' was an award winner in the Pollux Awards earlier this year, and was selected to be included in this exhibition. With 54 photographers from 17 countries attending the opening night, it was a huge event, with some incredible talent. I would like to thank the Museo del Patrimonio Municipal for hosting this event, and all of the organizers from WPGA who did such a fantastic job in making this exhibition possible, with special thanks to Julio Hardy.

Housing evictions in Spain

June 06, 2014 in Homeless, Humanitarian, Leica, Photography, Photojournalism, Social Documentary, Spain

Every day hundreds of families in Spain are evicted from their homes. Today I visited the homes of three families where the police came to evict them from their homes. At all three homes, there were members of Platforma de Afectados pro la Hipoteca (PAH) - Platform for People Affected by Mortgages to help and support the families. In all three cases, the evictions have been postponed with assistance of the 'Stop evictions' campaigners, who stood around each home to stop the judicial team and police from evicting them.

All images © Anna Fawcus 2014

WPGA Award Winning Photo

March 05, 2014 in Black & White, Children & The Art of Eight Limbs, Exhibition, Photography, Photojournalism, Social Documentary, Thailand

I received notification from the Worldwide Photography Gala Awards (WPGA) yesterday to let me know that one of my images had won an award in the Pollux Awards. The photograph, from the 'Children & The Art of Eight Limbs' series, has been selected to be exhibited in the 3rd International Biennial of Fine Art and Documentary Photography which will open in Malaga, Spain, on September 18th at the Municipal Heritage Museum of Malaga.

This image won second prize in the category of photographs of Children:

'In The Corner'

from the series 'Children & The Art of Eight Limbs'

Barr Foundation: From Local to Global Publication

February 12, 2014 in Haiti, Humanitarian, NGO Photography, Oxfam, Oxfam America, Photography, Photojournalism, Social Documentary

A couple of photos from my recent trip to Haiti with Oxfam were published in the Barr Foundation Publication: From Local to Global recently.

2013: My year in photos

January 06, 2014 in Art, Leica, NGO Photography, Photography, Photojournalism, Social Documentary

2013 was a busy year for me. I was based in New York City for the year, with photographic assignments and travel taking me to Thailand, India, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, Haiti, UK, Australia & New Zealand. I was involved in many exhibitions; with solo shows in New York City and Australia, and group shows at various galleries in New York, and at Art Basel in Miami. I would like to share a few shots from the year:

'In the Corner', Rawai, Thailand, 2013

Con Artist, LES, New York, USA 2013

Artibonite, Haiti, 2013

Zimbabwe, 2013

Cock Fight, Rawai, Thailand, 2013

Chiang Mai, Thailand, 2013

Afar region, Ethiopia, 2013

Afar, Ethiopia, 2013

For me, 2014 has begun in New Zealand, with plans to visit Vanuatu next week, before returning to New York. I then plan to move to Madrid, and be based there for the year. Thanks for your support in 2013 and I look forward to sharing photos and stories with you over the coming year.

The Voiceless Majority: Teresa Goutierez De Garcia

June 08, 2011 in Black & White, GFI, Guatemala, Humanitarian, Latin America, Photography, Photojournalism, Social Documentary, The Voiceless Majority

The Voiceless Majority

Teresa Goutierez de Garcia

Guatemala City, Guatemala

Teresa Goutierez de Garcia is 65 years old. She works in the streets of Guatemala City selling various produce, including cilantro, other herbs and limes. She starts working at 5am in the morning, and continues until the produce is sold. She has been working selling produce in the street for 18 years, since her husband died. She works every day of the week. If she gets sick, she can’t afford to get medical treatment, as it is too expensive. She earns around 15Q a day (US$2). She is lucky that her son owns the house she lives in, so she only needs to earn enough to pay for the bills, such as water, electicity and rubbish removal. If her son did not provide her with a house to live in, she could not afford to survive on what she earns. She lives alone.

All images are © Anna Fawcus 2011 and are part of The Voiceless Majority

The Voiceless Majority: Alberto Antonio Caj Chun

June 03, 2011 in Black & White, GFI, Guatemala, Humanitarian, Latin America, Photography, Photojournalism, Social Documentary, The Voiceless Majority

The Voiceless Majority

Alberto Antonio Caj Chun

Villa Nueva, Guatemala

Alberto Antonio Caj Chun is 81 years old. He in employed to work in a shop, fixing televisions, and other electronic devices. He works 6 days a week, from Monday to Saturday, 8am until 6pm at night. When asked if he enjoys his work, he replies that it is necessary. He earns Q200 a month (approx US24 a month). He has five children. He will continue working for as long as he is physically able to. He is very worried about when he will no longer be able to work, for as small as the paycheck is, it is very important for him and his wife. There is no social security to provide a pension or retirement plan for people like Antonio. Because he has worked all of his life in the informal sector, he has no potential of receiving income from any source to enable him to stop working. He and his family depend on the small income that he currently earns.

All images are © Anna Fawcus 2011 and are part of The Voiceless Majority

The Voiceless Majority: Umberto Gladius Algeta

May 31, 2011 in Black & White, GFI, Guatemala, Humanitarian, Latin America, Photography, Photojournalism, Social Documentary, The Voiceless Majority

The Voiceless Majority

Umberto Gladius Algeta

Villa Nueva, Guatemala

Umberto Gladius Algeta is 38 years old. He works selling various small products that he can carry such as sweets and sometimes phone cards. He works between 5-7 days a week, only taking days off for vital medical treatments. Umberto starts at 8am in the morning and works until around 1pm. He has to have a rest in the middle of the day, but then works again from 4pm until 9pm. Umberto earns between Q15-Q30 a day (US$2-$3.50). He has done this work for 1 year. It was 2 years ago that he had his accident. The first year he spent in bed in recovery and the last year he has spent working from his wheelchair. It is very difficult for Umberto when he is unable to work, as this means that he is earning no money, and can not afford to pay for medicines that he needs. Umberto has had an interesting life. He is one of the few informal workers who has had the chance to leave Guatemala and live in America. Prior to his accident, many years ago, he was earning more money, working on a farm. He was able to save enough to pay someone on the black market to transport him across Mexico to America, where he lived for 3 years before being deported. He is very lucky to have lived in America, as it was during this time that he made some friends, who sometimes help him by sending a little money. Without this help, he literally could not survive or afford medical treatment. Umberto has two daughters, who are 2 1/2 and 8 years old. When he had his accident, his wife left him for another man. She took the children with her and he has not seen them since. He doesn’t know where they are, and with his condition it would be nearly impossible to find them. Even i f he could go searching physically, it would be financially impossible with the travel costs. His dreams are to be able to walk again, and to one day see his children again.

All images are © Anna Fawcus 2011 and are part of The Voiceless Majority

The Voiceless Majority: Victor Manuel

May 25, 2011 in Black & White, GFI, Guatemala, Humanitarian, Latin America, Photography, Photojournalism, Social Documentary, The Voiceless Majority

The Voiceless Majority

Victor Manuel

Villa Nueva, Guatemala

Victor Manuel is 13 years old. He works in the bakery, where he has worked for 6 months. Before he worked at the bakery he went to school during the week. He now works 7 days a week, starting at 7am and finishing at 3pm in the afternoon. He still studies at school on weekends for 3 hours each day. Victor earns Q400 a month (approx US$50) which he gives to his mother, who then gives him an allowance for lunch. He helps in the house with cooking and other chores after he finishes work for up to 3 hours. He has one sister, who is 15, she also works in the bakery, in the shop from 3pm when they open every day. He does not have a father, only a mother, who has had some problems with drinking. When asked what his dreams in life are, his only dream or aspiration is to work in the bakery. For Victor, this is a very good job and an opportunity to learn a trade. He enjoys his work very much. The opportunity arose for him to work here when the other boy who worked in the bakery got badly burnt and could no longer continue working. In the informal sector, there is no system in place for an employer to assist with medical costs if injured on the job.

All images are © Anna Fawcus 2011 and are part of The Voiceless Majority

The Voiceless Majority: Sebastiana Ixchel Suy Morales

May 20, 2011 in Black & White, GFI, Guatemala, Humanitarian, Latin America, Photography, Photojournalism, Social Documentary, The Voiceless Majority

The Voiceless Majority

Sebastiana Ixchel Suy Morales

Villa Nuevo, Guatemala

Sebastiana is 14 years old. She has been working in her father’s shop for the past 2 years. She works behind the thick bars and padlocks, which are necessary for security. Sebastiana works 7 days a week. She starts work at 7am and finishes at 9:30pm. From Monday to Friday, she leaves work at 12 midday to attend school, and returns to the shop at 6pm when school finishes. When Sebastiana gets home from a very long day of work and study, she spends 1-2 hours helping in the home with chores, such as cooking, and washing clothes. Sebastiana hopes to one day become a lawyer. By working in the shop to help her family, it may be possible for her family to one day afford to help with her eduction to realize this dream.

All images are © Anna Fawcus 2011 and are part of The Voiceless Majority

The Voiceless Majority: Marcaria Velasques

May 15, 2011 in Black & White, GFI, Guatemala, Humanitarian, Latin America, Photography, Photojournalism, Social Documentary, The Voiceless Majority

The Voiceless Majority

Marcaria Velasques

Villa Nuevo, Guatemala

Marcaria Velasques is 68 years old. She lives in a small village on the outskirts of Guatemala City. In the morning, she wakes up at 4am to go to the market in Guatemala City by bus. This is the closest local market that she can buy produce from and be able to re-sell it with some kind of a profit. She mostly buys mangoes and plantain chips, which she sells for Q2 and Q1 respectively. On a good day, she earns a total of Q20 (US$2.50). Marcaria lives in a very modest home at the bottom of the town. When she returns from market, she loads up her wheelbar row, and pushes it 10 blocks to where she sells, near the local school. The wheelbarrow is very heavy, it would be heavy for a strong fit person, let alone an elderly woman, yet still every day, she sweats in the heat of the sun to get to where she is able to sell her goods. Marcaria lives alone, as her husband died many many years ago. When she talked about how lonely she is, we had to stop the voice recording as she was crying so much. She works 7 days a week, returning home when the sun goes down to spend several hours on chores in the home.

The Voiceless Majority: José Enrique Choc Xicay

May 14, 2011 in Black & White, GFI, Guatemala, Humanitarian, Latin America, Photography, Photojournalism, Social Documentary, The Voiceless Majority

The Voiceless Majority

José Enrique Choc Xicay

Chimaltenango, Guatemala

José Enrique Choc Xicay is 40 years old. He has a successful small business in Chimaltenango, which he runs from a room in the back of his house. His business is in making clothing, wedding gowns and accessories, karate uniforms, and anything else that can be made with a sewing machine and fabric. He employs 4 staff members, and pays them very well, plus bonuses when selling is good. José previously worked as a traveling salesman, moving to a different place every day to sell his goods. One day he was robbed, and lost everything. This marked the end of this business. With a little help from his uncle, he managed to get a sewing machine, and started with a small business in sewing, which continues to grow. His business is now very successful and he does very well. José works 7 days a week, only taking 3 days off each year. He very much enjoys his work, and is very proud of what he has created. His dream is to one day buy a farm for his family to enjoy growing their own produce and riding horses.

The Voiceless Majority: Blas Calan Tuye

May 07, 2011 in Black & White, GFI, Guatemala, Humanitarian, Latin America, Photography, Photojournalism, Social Documentary, The Voiceless Majority

The Voiceless Majority

Blas Calan Tuye

Chimaltenango, Guatemala

Blas is a 64 year old farmer who lives in Chimaltenango. He starts work at 5am in the morning. Blas does not have his own land, and so he works for other people when they need him. This means that his work is not regular, nor is his income. His wife also works selling bread in the markets. When Blas does not have work on the farms, his wife works as a cleaner or maid in other people’s homes when she can, to earn extra income for the family. Blas and his wife have two children, who are 12 and 14 years old. They are lucky enough to be able to go to school. When Blas has a lot of work on the farms, and needs help, his wife and children will go to the fields with him to work. Blas said that his dream would be to have his own land, to be able to grow his own crops and tend to them. Blas earns 50Q (approx US$6) a day when he is working, this is enough to support his family and send his children to school.

The Voiceless Majority: Victoria Caal

April 25, 2011 in Black & White, GFI, Guatemala, Humanitarian, Latin America, Photography, Photojournalism, Social Documentary, The Voiceless Majority

The Voiceless Majority

Victoria Caal

Coban, Alta Verapaz, Guatemala

Victoria Caal lives in San Juan Chmelco, Alta Verapaz. She is 50 years old, and has worked as a street vendor in Coban for the past 42 years, since she was 8 years old. She works 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Victoria starts work at 7am every day and finishes at 6pm. Before work, she goes to the markets to buy produce, making her working day a total of more than 12 hours. Victoria has 12 children, 3 of whom live with her in the single room that she rents on the outskirts of Coban. Her children's names are: Victor Haroldo, Maria Rumalda and Angela Victoria. Angela Victoria goes to school in the mornings, and helps her mother out in the afternoons. She is 7 years old. Victoria Caal is married to an alcoholic, who doesn't live with her or the children, so is solely responsible for raising and supporting her children. At their home, the only access to water is a 20 minute walk away, so every morning, Victoria wakes up at 4am to collect water before her working day begins. Her children help with chores at home, including collecting fire wood, cooking, cleaning and laundry. They often are at home alone. Victoria can not afford to ever take a day off work. If she is sick, she may go to the hospital or doctor before or after work if she can afford to. On a good day, selling produce on the streets Victoria will earn Q25, the equivalent of US$3 a day. When asked what her dreams were, she replied “to one day own a small piece of land so I know that my children will always have somewhere to live... and I would love to have a real shop one day if I could ever afford it.”

The Voiceless Majority: Ernesto Alfredo

April 20, 2011 in Black & White, GFI, Guatemala, Humanitarian, Latin America, Photography, Photojournalism, Social Documentary, The Voiceless Majority

The Voiceless Majority

Ernesto Alfredo

San Pedro, Lake Atitlan, Guatemala

Ernesto Alfredo i s 11 years old. Ernesto lives in San Marcos, Lake Atitlan. He travels across the water by a small boat each day to work as a ‘shoe- shine’ boy in San Pedro. Ernesto used to go to school, but six months ago his father got sick. Once his father became ill, the family could no longer afford to send Ernesto to school. In fact, his family could no longer continue to survive without the extra income generated from Ernesto starting to work. Ernesto began to work shining shoes on the streets to help his family. Erneesto works every day of the week, walking the streets alone, asking people i f he can shine their shoes. He charges Q2 for a shoe- shine (approx US$0.25). He works every day of the week, and earns around Q25 on a good day (approx US$3 a day). The money that Ernesto earns on the streets of San Pedro he gives to his parents each evening when he returns home. When asked what his dreams are, Ernesto thought for several minutes, as if he had never considered the possibility of dreams. He eventually answered that one day he hopes to become a driver, a chauffeur.

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