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photojournalism

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Thar Desert, Indo-Pakistani border Armee Nationale Sihanoukienne forces, Dangrek Range, Cambodia Against the advice of other journalists, NGOs, and the UN, this photojournalist accompanied a group of FDLR (Forces Democratiques de Liberation du Rwanda) guerillas into the jungle with no security. As the FDLR have been demonized by Kinshasa and Kigali over their role in the Rwandan genocide of 1994, I thought that in order to be a 'responsible' photojournalist that it was important to interact and observe them directly myself. The majority of guerillas that I encountered were far too young to have participated in the genocide. Not surprisingly, US media outlets had no interest whatsoever in such a story as Africa remains of virtually no importance to the news media in the United States. The reality that I encountered was far different than from what one might otherwise have expected. Green Line, Beirut, Lebanon On assignment with BANBAT III near Kabona in Ituri District, DRC. Sitting atop BTR-80 (Russian armored personnel carrier)
Imbaba camel market, Cairo brother & sister, Samrong, Cambodia A military observer (MILOB) from the People's Republic of China photographs at T-55 tank at the port of Kinshasa. During a joint verification meeting earlier in the day (set up in the aftermath of the fighting that followed the first round of the Congolese elections) generals loyal to VP and then opposition candidate Jean-Pierre Bemba accused President Kabila of violating the arms embargo in effect during the electoral period in the DRC. Nine T-55 tanks were identified and photographed. Jokong Temple, Lhasa, Tibet Lenin's Tomb, Moscow
Despite the degradation of living in an IDP camp, Acholi children play a game called Lawala which traditionally helped develop their warrior skills as they seek to throw sticks through a rapidly thrown hoop. Madi Opei, Kitgum District. Uganda Patola, Lhasa, Tibet Violent rape victim who requested that I photograph her face to 'show the people in the United States the depth of her suffering' after fistula surgery in South Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo Congolese man abducted with wife by Rastas, a group of sadistic and brutal thugs, who released him after cutting him about the head and giving him 72 hours to come up with US $700.00 in exchange for his wife's life. Unable to realistically even raise 70 cents the man begs for help in Kalango, South Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo In October 2006 I traveled to Nyunzu, Katanga to meet with what turned out to be a drunken Major Mundusi (in grey suit and hat) and between 750 and 1,000 of his Mayi-Mayi. I was accompanied only by two unarmed UN military observers and their Congolese translator. The Mayi-Mayi commander was furious at delays in the disarmament process brought about by CONADER (National Commission on Demobilization and Reintegration) and threatened me with cannibalism. After taking but a handful of images and with only one very courageous Pakistani officer at my side we made our way through the hostile crowd to our vehicle and were able to get away. As much as I enjoy a good meal, I do not particularly care to be part of one.
Group of 'night commuters' perform on 'Gulu Day' in Gulu, Uganda. Canadian activists organized a series of global activities as a way to draw international attention to the plight of children from northern Uganda who must walk up to 10 kilometers nightly in order to escape abduction. Mayi-Mayi child soldiers in Buniakeri, South Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo. In Central Africa children start fires to help catch rats to eat as a food source. Many of these fires get out of hand and not only destroy valuable grasses used for building homes but significantly impact air quality. Many children are also seriously injured from getting caught up in the subsequent infernos. Since 2004, Congolese FARDC troops supported by United Nations peacekeepers have conducted military operations against militia groups in Ituri that have refused disarmament and integration into the national army. The largest of these has been the Patriotic Resistance Force of Ituri (Forces de Résistance Patriotique d'Ituri, or FRPI). I actually had an opportunity to spend time with FRPI troops in the field (a quarter of whom were child soldiers) and accompanied a large number as they surrendered in Aveba. This image shows militia Commander Cobra Mahtata standing between his Intelligence chief (right) and FARDC 6th Brigade Commander Colonel Anthony Kagaba (left) awaiting the arrival by helicopter of FARDC Brigadier General Mayala on December 14, 2006 - the day of his official surrender. Tianamen Square sunset, Beijing

  • Willing to travel anywhere under any conditions and circumstances to photograph and/or write about current events, nature, adventure travel, documentation
  • Considerable experience embedding with numerous militaries and 'Special Forces' from Asia, the Middle East, Latin America and Africa
  • Can travel upon 24 hour advance notification - depending on availability and visa requirements
  • Can shoot in digital and/or 35 mm format


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copyright © 2005 by Keith Philip Lepor. All rights reserved.