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Bali Spirit Festival Preview…

Something a little different today.  On Saturday I was shooting at the Bali Spirit Festival Preview, at Antida Arts in Denpasar – a great venue and a fantastic evening.  I am steadily broadening the range of subjects and events that I cover here in Bali and will be shooting a lot more live music in the future – more news on this to follow in the next few weeks!

Most of these images were shot at 3200ISO and I did quite a bit of experimenting with the exposure to keep the noise down – some shots worked, others didn't.  If I get another opportunity to shoot there I will ask if I can put up a couple of speedlights in the scaffold either side of the stage and rent some pockets wizards.  I certainly could have done with some extra light throughout the evening.  I hope you enjoy the images and if you are here at the end of March, the Bali Spirit Festival has got an interesting lineup of events and bands – take a look here.

Edit – I have started up a new facebook page for my other photography projects.  Please take a look at 'Bali Commercial Photography' and give me a like!

Mar 19, 2012 | Categories: Photography | Tags: , , , | Leave A Comment »

Human trafficking in Indonesia…

I have been working on a completely different project over the weekend, producing some campaign images for the Sacred Childhoods Foundation. As well as working at the 'Trash Mountain' in Makassar, Sacred Childhoods Foundation also works on a number of other projects, including one concerning the issues of human trafficking and the exploitation of children. The below is from the Sacred Childhoods Foundation website:

According to research, human trafficking is the world’s 3rd most profitable illicit market worth around 32 billion USD each year; only illegal drugs and arms trafficking earn more money for organised criminals.  There are now more human slaves than ever before in history; it is estimated that between 10-30 million people are currently enslaved.  Reports suggest that 50% of people trafficked across boarders are children.

In Indonesia an estimated 100,000 children are thought to be trafficked each year, although the realistic figure might be much higher.  These children are forced into child labour, child prostitution, held in exploitative orphanages, or sold through phoney adoption agencies. Some are trafficked in-country, usually from the poorer islands to the larger cities such as Surabaya or Jakarta.  Others are sent to ‘buyer’ countries which include Japan, Malaysia and Saudi Arabia.  Many trafficked children are held as child prostitutes for domestic markets whilst others are destined for the sex tourism industry.  Most research studies agree that around 30% of all prostitutes in Indonesia are children. 

If and when child victims are identified by the police there are very few refuges to send the children to where they will be safe and receive appropriate therapeutic support, instead most are sent to orphanages which are ill equipped to support their complex needs or challenging behaviours.  

Sacred Childhoods is joining a new coalition designed to bring together a wide range of individuals and agencies who are in a position to combat child trafficking, child prostitution, and child sex tourism specifically.

Sacred Childhoods also plans to start a prevention program in 2012 which will work to raise awareness on the islands most targeted by human traffickers. But it is also vital that a safe and therapeutic refuge is created so that children who have been rescued have somewhere to go where they can recover from their traumatic experiences.

So Sacred Childhoods is creating ‘The Sanctuary’, a small eco village in a remote area of Bali. The eco village (built from recycled wood, bamboo and other environmentally friendly materials) will include 5-6 traditional wooden houses for the children to live in, 3 small staff houses, a school, a therapy studio, a workshop, a medical clinic, a large communal living room and kitchen, and extensive gardens incorporating organic vegetable plots, wild flower and herbal gardens, space for mediation, and play areas.

I was asked by the organisation to produce a number of images for their new campaign highlighting the issues of human trafficking and the exploitation of children, with the brief of shooting portraits of children holding a sign saying, 'I am not for sale'.  All of the children featured in these images are models – none have been involved in trafficking in any way. However, because of the sensitive nature of this subject, I have been asked to conceal their identity – hence the black bar.  The campaign will use the images without the bar.

I hope to produce some further images over the next month or so but in the meantime, if you would like to learn more about what the Sacred Childhoods Foundation are doing about these problems, please visit their site at www.sacredchildhoods.org.  Or you can download a flyer for 'Project COCAC' here.

Human trafficking, Indonesia. (Matthew Oldfield)

Human trafficking, Indonesia. (Matthew Oldfield)

Human trafficking, Indonesia. (Matthew Oldfield)

Human trafficking, Indonesia. (Matthew Oldfield)

Human trafficking, Indonesia. (Matthew Oldfield)

Human trafficking, Indonesia. (Matthew Oldfield)

Human trafficking, Indonesia. (Matthew Oldfield)

Human trafficking, Indonesia. (Matthew Oldfield)

Mar 05, 2012 | Categories: Photography | Tags: , , , , | Leave A Comment »

Jongaya leprosy settlement, Makassar, Sulawesi

I am now back in Bali, catching up with life and emails, editing images from the trip to Makassar and filming some interviews for another project – life is always varied here!  The trip to Makassar was fantastic and whilst I didn't quite achieve all that I hoped, I still consider it a success.  And as always, I learnt a great deal…

I made a number of visits to the Jongaya leprosy settlement over the course of a week and spent a lot of time talking to people and shooting a number of portraits.  In the end my work at the site reached a natural conclusion I felt – I could have happily spent more time there but would probably not have accomplished a great deal beyond what I had already shot.  I'd set myself a target of shooting between 15-20 strong portraits of people from the settlement for use by Permata (the group working with and supporting leprosy sufferers from the settlement) and hopefully, managed to achieve what I set out to do.  I will let my visitors here and Permata be the judges of that!

The stigma of leprosy is still very real in Makassar and further afield in Indonesia.  Jongaya itself is a friendly, open place and the residents have some sense of security and belonging within the settlement.  But many of the people we spoke to brought up the subject of discrimination and inferred that, as leprosy sufferers, they were not treated in the same manner as people from outside the settlement.  For example, we met several people that ran small businesses selling food who said that they could not sell elsewhere as customers would not buy from them if they found out they had had leprosy – now, or in the past.  We also tried to shoot at a carwash owned by someone from Jongaya who refused to let us shoot on the basis that, once again, customers would not come if they discovered the business was run by people with leprosy.

Surprisingly, we also discovered that even within the community at Jongaya, there still remains some shame associated with the disease.  We met a couple of people, born in the settlement, who had contracted the disease when young but had not received any treatment for several years.  Their families knew of the disease and recognised the symptoms, but decided not to take their children to the clinic because they were ashamed.  Even though other family members had suffered from leprosy in the past.  It seems that leprosy sufferers are still perceived as being people who have to be shunned or isolated and having a son or daughter with the disease brings shame to the whole family.

My hope is that the images I have produced can be now used by Permata to try and tackle this deeply ingrained discrimination and stigma.  I will be keeping in touch with the guys at Permata and post any updates here.

The images from Jongaya are now online – take a look at the gallery here.  Currently there are several dupes of images and the final selection still needs to be 'boiled down'.  I will be asking my contributors to help me edit down the images and so the gallery will change over the next week or so.  Again, I will let you know of any updates.  Below I have posted a few of my favourite images from Jongaya – I hope you enjoy them…

Bapak Abustan with a class of children studying the Quran at the Jongaya leprosy settlement, Makassar, Sulawesi, Indonesia. Bapak Abustan, 54, is an Imam who teaches the children of Jongaya the Quran. He is originally from Wajo, Sulawesi, but moved to the settlement 19 years ago. He first discovered he had leprosy in 1975 and was treated for the disease two years later at a local health clinic. However, he suspects he had leprosy before this but his family were too scared and ashamed to seek treatment for him. He met his wife in Jongaya 15 years ago and now has 3 children, all girls. His wife and children are all free from leprosy. (Matthew Oldfield)Bapak Abustan with a class of children studying the Quran at the Jongaya leprosy settlement, Makassar, Sulawesi, Indonesia. Bapak Abustan, 54, is an Imam who teaches the children of Jongaya the Quran. He is originally from Wajo, Sulawesi, but moved to the settlement 19 years ago. He first discovered he had leprosy in 1975 and was treated for the disease two years later at a local health clinic. However, he suspects he had leprosy before this but his family were too scared and ashamed to seek treatment for him. He met his wife in Jongaya 15 years ago and now has 3 children, all girls. His wife and children are all free from leprosy.

Ibu Nuria, Jongaya leprosy settlement, Makassar, Sulawesi, Indonesia. Ibu Nuria was born in Sumbawa, Nusa Tenggara Timor, in 1933. She lived through WWII and was in Class 3 when the Japanese invaded. She contracted leprosy in 1962 and after losing her foot, she moved to Jongaya in Makassar. She now lives in a shelter for older people at the settlement. Ibu Nuria volunteers for Permata and helps out at the weekly self-help group. (Matthew Oldfield)Ibu Nuria, Jongaya leprosy settlement, Makassar, Sulawesi, Indonesia. Ibu Nuria was born in Sumbawa, Nusa Tenggara Timor, in 1933. She lived through WWII and was in Class 3 when the Japanese invaded. She contracted leprosy in 1962 and after losing her foot, she moved to Jongaya in Makassar. She now lives in a shelter for older people at the settlement. Ibu Nuria volunteers for Permata and helps out at the weekly self-help group.

Ibu Hamriani inside her small kiosk at the Jongaya leprosy settlement, Makassar, Sulawesi, Indonesia. Ibu Hamriani, 39, moved to the Jongaya leprosy settlement 13 years ago. She discovered she had leprosy much earlier but left the infection untreated until too late and now has problems with her toes and fingers. She is married to Bapak Agus, 43, and they have one daughter together, Nurlina, 11, who was born in the house where she now runs a small kiosk selling general goods. (Matthew Oldfield)Ibu Hamriani inside her small kiosk at the Jongaya leprosy settlement, Makassar, Sulawesi, Indonesia. Ibu Hamriani, 39, moved to the Jongaya leprosy settlement 13 years ago. She discovered she had leprosy much earlier but left the infection untreated until too late and now has problems with her toes and fingers. She is married to Bapak Agus, 43, and they have one daughter together, Nurlina, 11, who was born in the house where she now runs a small kiosk selling general goods.

Bapak Alimuddin at his recycling business outside Jongaya leprosy settlment, Makassar, Sulawesi, Indonesia. Bapak Alimuddin, 47, is a Bugis, originally from Bone, Sulawesi. He found out that he was infected with leprosy at the age of 12 and moved to Jongaya leprosy settlement in 1980. He is married with four children - none of whom have leprosy. He used to work as a parking attendant in Makassar but with recent increases in taxes, could no longer support his family and so set up his own recycling business using seed money from Permata. The business has been running for just two weeks. (Matthew Oldfield)Bapak Alimuddin at his recycling business outside Jongaya leprosy settlment, Makassar, Sulawesi, Indonesia. Bapak Alimuddin, 47, is a Bugis, originally from Bone, Sulawesi. He found out that he was infected with leprosy at the age of 12 and moved to Jongaya leprosy settlement in 1980. He is married with four children – none of whom have leprosy. He used to work as a parking attendant in Makassar but with recent increases in taxes, could no longer support his family and so set up his own recycling business using seed money from Permata. The business has been running for just two weeks.

Bapak Nurdin with his wife Ibu Fatma, adotped daughter Ratma and granddaughter Ningsi at the Jongaya leprosy settlement, Makassar, Sulawesi, Indonesia. Bapak Nurdin, 52, discovered he had leprosy at the age of 12 and moved to Jongaya leprosy settlement in 1969. He met his wife - who also has leprosy - at the settlement after she moved there in 1980. They have 4 children and several grandchildren, including Ratma who they adopted after her parents died. Bapak Nurdin supports his family by working as a carpenter. As a Bugis from Makassar, he started work as a boat builder, but started his own business making furniture in 1970. He now makes wooden puzzles which he exports to Holland. (Matthew Oldfield)Bapak Nurdin with his wife Ibu Fatma, adotped daughter Ratma and granddaughter Ningsi at the Jongaya leprosy settlement, Makassar, Sulawesi, Indonesia. Bapak Nurdin, 52, discovered he had leprosy at the age of 12 and moved to Jongaya leprosy settlement in 1969. He met his wife – who also has leprosy – at the settlement after she moved there in 1980. They have 4 children and several grandchildren, including Ratma who they adopted after her parents died. Bapak Nurdin supports his family by working as a carpenter. As a Bugis from Makassar, he started work as a boat builder, but started his own business making furniture in 1970. He now makes wooden puzzles which he exports to Holland.

Bapak Sibali with his becak sepeda at the Jongaya leprosy settlement, Makassar, Sulawesi, Indonesia. Bapak Sibali, 49, is originally from Takalar, Sulawesi. He found out he had leprosy in 1972 but stayed with his family until 1978, when he moved to Jongaya. He met his wife, who also has leprosy, at the settlement. They have one child who is 5 years old. Since 1999 he has worked as a tukang becak sepeda, pedalling customers all over Makassar. (Matthew Oldfield)Bapak Sibali with his becak sepeda at the Jongaya leprosy settlement, Makassar, Sulawesi, Indonesia. Bapak Sibali, 49, is originally from Takalar, Sulawesi. He found out he had leprosy in 1972 but stayed with his family until 1978, when he moved to Jongaya. He met his wife, who also has leprosy, at the settlement. They have one child who is 5 years old. Since 1999 he has worked as a tukang becak sepeda, pedalling customers all over Makassar.

Ibu Roseliana (l) at the recycling business owned by her parents just outside the Jongaya leprosy settlement, Makassar, Sulawesi, Indonesia. Ibu Roseliana, 43, was born in Jongaya. She does not have leprosy, nor do her 3 children and 2 grandchildren, but her parents, Sehu Daeng Pali and Fatimah, both have the disease. Sehu Daeng Pali moved to Jongaya in the '60's looking for medical treatment and shortly after met and married his wife in the settlement. They set up a recycling business just outside Jongaya in 1982 where Ibu Roseliana now works. The business now employs people who have been infected with leprosy and those that are free from the disease. (Matthew Oldfield)Ibu Roseliana (l) at the recycling business owned by her parents just outside the Jongaya leprosy settlement, Makassar, Sulawesi, Indonesia. Ibu Roseliana, 43, was born in Jongaya. She does not have leprosy, nor do her 3 children and 2 grandchildren, but her parents, Sehu Daeng Pali and Fatimah, both have the disease. Sehu Daeng Pali moved to Jongaya in the '60's looking for medical treatment and shortly after met and married his wife in the settlement. They set up a recycling business just outside Jongaya in 1982 where Ibu Roseliana now works. The business now employs people who have been infected with leprosy and those that are free from the disease.

Bapak Mursalim at his home in the Jongaya leprosy settlement, Makassar, Sulawesi, Indonesia. Bapak Mursalim, 41, discovered he had leprosy when he was still in elementary school and has lived in Jongaya leprosy settlement since 1997. He met his wife Ibu Intan, 43, at the Daya leprosy hospital whilst they were both receiving treatment for the disease and they married in 1998. Bapak Mursalim works as an ojek motorbike taxi driver, but also runs a small computer and photocopy business from his home. He volunteers with Permata and runs the organisation's facebook page and website. (Matthew Oldfield)Bapak Mursalim at his home in the Jongaya leprosy settlement, Makassar, Sulawesi, Indonesia. Bapak Mursalim, 41, discovered he had leprosy when he was still in elementary school and has lived in Jongaya leprosy settlement since 1997. He met his wife Ibu Intan, 43, at the Daya leprosy hospital whilst they were both receiving treatment for the disease and they married in 1998. Bapak Mursalim works as an ojek motorbike taxi driver, but also runs a small computer and photocopy business from his home. He volunteers with Permata and runs the organisation's facebook page and website.

Buyung in Jongaya leprosy settlement, Makassar, Sulawesi, Indonesia. Buyung, 29, is single and has lived in Jongaya with his family since he was 3. His parents moved to the settlement from Gowa, Sulawesi, after his father discovered he had leprosy. Buyung himself found out he was infected with the disease when he was 10 but received prompt medical treatment and has no after effects from the infection. He now runs a small motorbike repair business in Jongaya and also volunteers for Permata. (Matthew Oldfield)Buyung in Jongaya leprosy settlement, Makassar, Sulawesi, Indonesia. Buyung, 29, is single and has lived in Jongaya with his family since he was 3. His parents moved to the settlement from Gowa, Sulawesi, after his father discovered he had leprosy. Buyung himself found out he was infected with the disease when he was 10 but received prompt medical treatment and has no after effects from the infection. He now runs a small motorbike repair business in Jongaya and also volunteers for Permata.

Ibu Buhariah preparing food for sale at the Jongaya leprosy settlement, Makassar, Sulawesi, Indonesia. Ibu Buhariah, 39, is originally from Panglep, Sulawesi. She discovered she was infected with leprosy at the age of 7 and received treatment at home and at the Daya leprosy hospital before moving to Jongaya when she was 16. She married in the settlement in 1998 but has no children. She runs a small business selling prepared food such as fish, tempe and vegetable dishes. Up until a year ago, Ibu Buhariah would sell from the side of the road outside her house, but she has now bought a mobile kiosk using a loan from Permata. (Matthew Oldfield)Ibu Buhariah preparing food for sale at the Jongaya leprosy settlement, Makassar, Sulawesi, Indonesia. Ibu Buhariah, 39, is originally from Panglep, Sulawesi. She discovered she was infected with leprosy at the age of 7 and received treatment at home and at the Daya leprosy hospital before moving to Jongaya when she was 16. She married in the settlement in 1998 but has no children. She runs a small business selling prepared food such as fish, tempe and vegetable dishes. Up until a year ago, Ibu Buhariah would sell from the side of the road outside her house, but she has now bought a mobile kiosk using a loan from Permata.

Feb 24, 2012 | Categories: Photography, Travel | Tags: , , , | 2 Comments »