IN MY BAG: RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR 2023

I returned to Ukraine for the 3rd time in the late spring and worked into the summer of 2023. The war had been going on for a year and much of the fighting had shifted to the south and to the east. Kyiv and other cities in the north and west that had seen fighting in 2022 had returned to a quasi normal state despite there still being missile and drone attacks on a regular basis. I and my colleagues Seth Herald and Daniel Hudd worked in Kyiv and Dnipro covering daily life through the trip, however we also went south to the city of Kherson where heavy fighting was continuing daily, and to the Donbas region around Slavyansk, Kramatorsk, and Izyum which were along the frontlines.

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT TOP TO BOTTOM

1. CAT Tourniquet (this one was worn on my vest daily in the field or carried in my pocket, however I always had this with me wherever I was, I carried 2 others in my med kit as well)

2. Crush resistent fingerless gloves

3. Passport

4. Moleskin journal for notes

5. Ukrainian phrase book and dictionary and flashcards (I had been studying Ukrainian for a while, however the phrase book and flash cards were still frequently used)

6. Fujinon 18mm f2

7. Fujinon 23mm f2

8. Fujinon 50mm f2

9. Fujinoon 90mm f2

10. Nikkor 24-70mm f2.8 ED

11. Nikon D4s

12. Ballistics helmet

13. Air blower tool to remove dust from equipment

14. Anker charging block with iPhone cord

15. iPhone charging block and adapter for European outlets

16. Nikon SC-17 tether cable for off camera flash

17. Nikon SB-910 Flash

18. Fujifilm X-PRO1

19. Fujifilm X-H1

20. Bullet proof vest with velcro PRESS patch

21. Newswear waist pack

22. Medical Kit (contents of my medical kit will be posted in a later post)

23. Saramonic XLR shotgun mic

24. Canon XA-10 camcorder with handle and XLR inputs

25. Compas

26. Physical press credential from agency (as in 2022 access to the frontlines and other areas required a govt issued Press ID that was kept on my phone)

27. The TechDeck mini skateboard I carried in 2022 and 2019

I didn’t include several items such as the LED light for my camcorder, my Iphone (I was on the phone while taking this picture) my batteries, my SD cards, and some other odds and ends.

For this trip I was beginning my switch back to Nikon from Fujifilm. I enjoyed using Fuji very much, however my X-PRO2 broke before I left, and I was growing increasingly frustrated with the low light capabilities, the battery life, and the cropped sensors on the Fujis. Most of the stills I took, about 80%, were shot with my Nikon D4s and 24-70mm, the very same D4s I used while covering the Donbas War in 2019.

I also bought a professional camcorder for this trip, and actually ended up shooting alot of video for the agencies I was working for. The camcorder was quite old, thats all I could afford, it was released in 2011 however it worked beautifully in the field and with 2 spare batteries I could shoot for several hours straight. It was very portable as the lens hood and carrying handle could quickly be removed making the camcorder almost the size of my X-PRO1.

This trip was quite different. Much of the focus was on how the war affected and changed daily life in Ukraine one year after the war. I spent time revisiting places around Kyiv that one year earlier were battlefields but had since been rebuilt, I also spent time in a prosthetics clinic and with mine removal crews. I didn’t cover much frontline areas or combat during this trip, however, we did travel to the south to cover the fighting in Kherson and the subsequent flooding from the Kharkovka Dam destruction. While we were there we photographed rescue efforts and came under shelling as Russian forces attempted to kill rescue crews.

While there I witnessed multiple missile and drone attacks in nearly every city I traveled to. In Kyiv for the first half of the trip drone and missile attacks on the city were a nightly occurrence, and in Dnipro multiple s-300 ballistic missiles struck clinics and residential areas, one missile flew right over the apartment we were staying in and hit a nearby clinic killing several people.

Working was easier this time around, there were still restrictions on press, but for the most part if you spoke the language and knew the people to reach out to you were mostly able to get access, however getting to areas like Bakhmut or Chasiv Yar was extremely difficult unless you directly knew the press officers or went in with an aid group.

I will likely not be able to return to Ukraine until 2025, as I recently moved to Philadelphia and am having to start up my freelance business in a new region of the US, but I am already planning to return, with each trip my Ukrainian is better and my hope is I will be able to communicate without a translator when I return.

BELOW ARE IMAGES MADE THS TRIP

In My Bag: Russian Invasion of Ukraine 2022

On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of its’ neighbor, Ukraine. The invasion came as a shock to the world, it was the largest invasion in Europe since the Second World War, and the war itself would come to draw many similarities to it. I and my colleague Seth Herald departed quickly to get on the ground and cover the rapidly developing conflict that would come to be defined by brutal pitched battles, civilian casualties, massacres, and unyielding artillery bombardments and drone strikes across the country. Above is the equipment I usually took into the field with me to cover the war. This kit was what I took with me during the Battle of Kyiv, unlike my previous trip covering the Donbas War in 2019 I typically tried to travel light and not take my backpack or laptop equipment, instead I often would file from where I was staying in Kyiv. Most days consisted of waking up early in the morning and checking the news, eating breakfast, then meeting our driver/fixer or my local colleague and heading out to wherever the story was that day.

FROM TOP TO BOTTOM, LEFT TO RIGHT:

1. Anker Power Bank and iPhone cord

2. Fujifilm X-PRO2

3. Fujifilm X-PRO1 (often kept at home for backup)

4. Medical Kit (See an upcoming post for what is included in my med kit)

5. CAT Tourniquet (Along with several in my medical bag, I kept one attached to my vest at all times)

6. Crush-resistant hardened knuckle cut-off gloves

7. Nikon F3 35mm film camera

8. Fujifilm X-H1

9. Gas Mask and Filter (carried with me for the first few weeks as there were numerous threats of chemical attacks)

10. SD Card Holder with a mixture of 32gb and 64gb SanDisk Extreme Pro cards

11. Fujinon 90mm f2

12. Nikkor 35mm manual focus lens

13. Fujinon 18mm f2

14. Fujinon 50mm f2

15. Fujinon 23mm f2

16. Ballistics vest with 2 Level IV Ceramic Plates and velcro Press Patch

17. Press Credentials (Physical agency credential, journalists working in the combat zones are also required to obtain a credential from the Ukrainian Defense Ministry which was electronic and stored on your phone)

18. Compass

19. Tech Deck mini skateboard (I originally had several that I would give to children, the one pictured is also a good luck charm, weird I know)

20. Ballistics Helmet

21. Mini voice recorder for interviews and B roll sound

22. Burner iPhone

23. Moleskin Journal for notes

24. Newswear waist pack with 3 main pockets, 3 additional smaller pockets

25. Ukrainian phrasebook and dictionary (I had begun studying Ukrainian before the invasion, however was still very much a beginner in the language)

26. Main iPhone (used for videos, storing my Defense Ministry credentials)

27. Passport

There are a few items missing and some I didn’t include. I was still a smoker during the invasion so I always had several packs of cigarettes and lighters, I also carried 2 bracelets with my blood type and medical information, as well as a pack of batteries and a headlamp.

I enjoyed using the Fuji cameras as main bodies during the invasion, they were small, lightweight, pretty inconspicuous, and easy to hide and the X-H1 did 4k video, however, I’ve since switched back to Nikon as the lowlight capabilities, battery life, and sensor size were some big drawbacks for me.

Covering the invasion was extremely difficult. Shortly after the initial days of the invasion, the Ukrainian government cracked down on reporting and restricted access to many aspects of the war. Photographing checkpoints, soldiers, military positions, and military vehicles was restricted and at one point could result in arrest. Lockdowns were frequent and could sometimes last for days. Finding accommodation and transportation was very difficult as well, most hotels cost around $400 a night, and many fixers and drivers were charging around the same for a day rate. I was lucky to have a group of colleagues and we split much of the cost between us, and later I was able to stay in a friend’s apartment and share his vehicle. It was also extremely dangerous, especially in Kyiv in March as Russian forces were attempting to encircle the city and most train lines ceased operating during the Battle of Kyiv. It remains a challenge to report from Ukraine even now, however, restrictions have lessened, and if you know the language and know some people it is much easier to get to places you wouldn’t be able to get to in 2022.

I am planning to resume making these IN MY BAG posts and start an Instagram page in which I showcase other photographers’ equipment they use. I find it very interesting to see what photographers use on assignments, some people have kits that are made up of the newest state-of-the-art gear, and others have kits that are minimalistic and older equipment, but each kit is unique to that photographer and no matter what equipment is used, it’s the eye that’s behind the lens that makes a good picture or not. So stay tuned for more posts! And if you would like to showcase your kit once I start the Instagram account please reach out!

Below are some of the images I made with the kit while covering the Invasion

In My Bag: Street photography at Qalandia Checkpoint

Second post of the In My Bag project I am doing. 

This week I am showcasing the gear I take with me while photographing around the Qalandia Checkpoint in the West Bank. The checkpoint connects the West Bank and Jerusalem and is on the outskirts of Ramallah. Anyone crossing from the WB to Israel must show their passport and have the correct credentials to gain access. This makes the checkpoint extremely busy and on a bad day the checkpoint can become impassable with traffic jams lasting up to 4 or more hours. I have photographed at the location multiple times since being in country and always choose the gear I take carefully.

Since the checkpoint is busy and there is little shade packing lightly is essential, no one wants to carry a 3 plus pound camera and lens around with them all day, and the small tight quarters of the area make the need for something compact and sleek very real.

Here is my kit:

1. Fujifilm X-T1

2. Fujifilm X100s (with 23mm f2.0 lens)

3. Passport

4. Fujinon X-Mount 18mm f2.0

5. Tobacco/papers/filters

6. Audio recorder

7. Back up batteries for each camera

8. Lighter

I thoroughly enjoy the freedom of movement and weight that using mirrorless systems allows me, and these cameras are incredibly light and powerful. Not included are water, gum, and whatever else is in my pocket like change etc.

Below are some images made at Qalandia Checkpoint with this set up.

Hope these posts are informative and interesting. Stay tuned for the next post sometime next week.

In my bag: Clashes in the West Bank

I have always been interested in seeing what photographers carry in their bag while on different assignments, thus I have decided to start doing my own weekly posts documenting what gear I take with me on specific assignments. The posts will show the gear I used, a list of the equipment, and some sample images that I took on that particular day/job.

This is the equipment I take with me while covering clashes between Palestinian protesters and Israeli troops in the West Bank.

1. Ballistics helmet

2. Newswear vest with velcro PRESS sign

3. Gas Mask

4. Nikon 70-200mm f2.8 ED

5. Nikon D700

6. Fujifilm XT-1

7. Nikon D4S

8. Loose change (for cab fare and a snack)

9. Nikon 24-70mm f2.8 G

10. Baby Doll head (found on the street, it has become a joke among me and my colleagues to put the dolls head in each others equipment bags to find while working)

11. Nikon 24mm f2.8 D

12. Fujinon 18mm f2

13. Audio recorder

14. Passport

15. Iphone

16. Tobacco/rolling papers/filters

17. Wallet

This is my typical loadout when covering high intensity situations abroad. The helmet, 24mm lens, and newswear vest are my girlfriend's equipment, however when she is not using them or covering clashes I use them. My own personal head protection is actually a construction helmet.

Here are some images from covering clashes that I have made using this equipment.

Hope this post is informative and enjoyable, stay tuned for another gear post next week.

Looking on through

Skeletal half finished and still in progress buildings tower over the suburban areas of Ramallah. Like gravestones of unfinished dreams, of halted progress, these monolithic spectres watch the daily routines of Palestinians as they go about their day. Some of the buildings are half finished, with the top or bottom floors well lived in by families, while the rest of the buildign remains in a continual state of development. 

The corridors, empty of life aside from dust covered tools and rickety scaffolding, howl loudly with the summer breeze as if crying out for attention. Much like the land in which they reside they are destined to remain half finished, remainders of a broken promise somewhere in their past.

Walking inside of them is much like walking in a cemetery. The air is cool and the stone doorways thick with wanting and a reminder of the possibilities and inevitabilities of life. Being inside and looking out gives a strange sense of shelter and comfort. Where the silence is heavy like the stone slabs used for the stairs and the shadows are deep and dark like twilight in the valley.

During rainfall passerbys and stray animals take refuge from the driving rain in the bellies of the towering beasts, and during the heat of the day their shade provides comfort for an afternoon smoke and a nap. In a sense they are still fulfilling the general purpose of a building, but it is impossible to ignore the deeper wanting to complete a destiny that these structures harbor. They were built for man to start life in, to live in, to be more than shelter, to be a home. 

As time drags on many of these half built structures will remain forgotten. The money to complete them dries up, the permits to continue construction are not issued, or simply they are abandoned doomed to an existence as a reminder of man's flaw of not being able to follow through. Like the lonely sentinels they are though, they will continue to keep watch, as life continues on the streets below.

On the Streets of Columbus Pt. 1

Street photography is a discipline that at first glance seems easy enough, in theory what could be easier than snapping candids of passerbys in the city? The reality though is that street photography is incredibly difficult and challenging. There are many off days, I've spent countless hours wandering through city scapes and suburbs with no results, only with hopes that the next morning or evening will be better. That is, for me, where the real reward for street photography lies. When everything lines up just right, and you snap that shot and know you got gold. I've been doing street photography for about 8 years now, and over the past year have really dedicated myself to the art. Every weekday morning and many evenings I take a 2-3 hour walk around Columbus with whichever cameras and lenses suit me for that day. 

There are no specific tools, no you don't need a leica and a 50mm lens, no you don't need black and white film, no you don't need a moleskin diary or slacks and dress shoes. The only thing you really do need is patience, and of course a camera. There's been mornings and evenings where I sit in one specific spot for hours and waited out a moment. Sometimes it happens, other times the light changes and the moment never comes. That is the fun in it though, and over the years I have come to learn alot about people, weather, luck, and light while walking around with cameras dangling from my shoulders. 

Here are the images I am most proud of, the little golden gems I elated over and wanted to rush home right away to edit and post.

Red White and Boom on West Broad Street, Downtown Columbus, Ohio. July 4, 2017.

East Broad Street, Downtown Columbus, Ohio. May 14, 2016.

State Street, Downtown Columbus, Ohio. March 13, 2016.

Barber Shop on Gay Street, Downtown Columbus, Ohio. June 8, 2017.

Broad Street and North High Street, Downtown Columbus, Ohio. November 28, 2016.

North High Street, Downtown Columbus, Ohio. November 5, 2016.

Towne Street, Downtown Columbus, Ohio. October 20, 2016.

Broad Street, Downtown Columbus, Ohio February 25, 2016.

East Broad Street, Downtown Columbus, Ohio. December 20, 2012.

East Town Street, Downtown Columbus, Ohio. December 13, 2013.

Lisle Alley, Columbus, Ohio. December 15, 2010.

Nationwide Boulevard, Downtown Columbus, Ohio. August 8, 2016.

East Long Street, Downtown Columbus, Ohio. August 14, 2016.

4th Street, Downtown Columbus, Ohio. February 25, 2016.

North High Street, Short North Columbus, Ohio. June 17, 2017.

Oak Street, Olde Towne East Columbus, Ohio. June 26, 2016.

Upper Cup Coffee Shop, Parsons Avenue, Columbus, Ohio. May 7, 2016.

Little Palace, 4th Street, Downtown Columbus, January 24, 2017.

Krogers, Front Street, German Village, Columbus, Ohio. May 1, 2016.

Self Portrait, Cleveland Avenue, Columbus, Ohio. May 7, 2016.

North High Street, Downtown Columbus, Ohio. July 4, 2017.

State House, Downtown Columbus, Ohio. June 20, 2017.