together in limbo

I recently finished my magazine project at the Danish School of Media and Journalism. The magazine was a collective work of 10 individual stories under the theme "Europe's New Challenges." Each photographer was responsible for the photo story, text and layout design.

I photographed Lucina, a woman who escaped Russia and is now living in Denmark's largest asylum seeker camp. While in Russia Lucina lost her mother to murder and was raped on the same night. When she arrived to Denmark that she was three months pregnant. She lives with her now 2-year-old son David in the camp and is still waiting to find out of she will be approved for refugee status in Denmark.

Working on this project was challenging for me as far as access, language barriers, gaining trust of the asylum seekers but most of all emotionally. I met Lucina through the help of local residents, people who used to live in Sandholm and people who currently live there.

The photo story and text can be viewed on pages 62-69 here:

together in limbo

Past 24:00

A mix of film and digital.

Barbie Girl, Real World

Lene Darlie Pedersen has dolls. Over 3000 of them. She has been collecting Barbies that date as far back as 1959 when the first versions were produced in Germany. Her personal collection with her husband in her home extends to vintage drawings, sewing figurines and doll houses. 

Day in the life: Dating in Denmark

For our day in the life assignment I photographed Lesley Peel. Peel has lived internationally but settled in Denmark in 2005 with her former husband and three children. Peel and her husband split recently and since she has become a member of the exclusive online dating website Elite Daters. However, Peel has found it difficult to connect on dates through the language barrier and struggles to make the decision to stay in Denmark and find a partner, move abroad or return to the UK with her 11-year-old daughter.

Peel stands in the doorway of her classroom where she teaches at Rygaards International School in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Peel holds her 11-year-old daughters book bag while she puts on her coat after school.

Peel washes dishes and prepares dinner in her apartment in Copenhagen, Denmark. Peel was living in a home owned by her husband's company but when they separated she moved into a smaller apartment with her children.

Peel stands alone in her kitchen in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Peel goes on a date with a man she met on the Elite Daters website. 

Peel walks her dog Daisy in her new neighborhood in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Sea Dog

This is my happy place.

Portrait Exploration

I have been playing with portraits a little lately and experimenting with some different lighting techniques. Here is a collection of some recent portraits of old friends, new friends and strangers. 

Utopia

We were ambushed with another assignment when we walked into class on Monday morning. We were told we were no longer students but employees of the "Utopia" newspaper. Everyone in the class was assigned to shoot three assignments on deadline including a prearranged local artist portrait where we would have 20 min to shoot, a winter break feature at the Steno childrens Museum and a creative image about public transportation. Below are the results of my day!

Postal Code: Hasle

For our first assignment at the Danish School of Media and Journalism we were given a map. On the map was outlined the postal code of Hasle, a primarily residential area outside of Aarhus, where we were sent to find a story. I met 19-year-old Mads Jeppesen at the Citykirken Pentecostal Church near the center of the town. 

 Christianity is the national religion of Denmark but the majority of the Danish population (over 80%) is religiously secular. Mads Jeppesen and his family have been members of the Pentecostal church for his entire life. Jeppeson attends church every Sunday and integrates faith into his daily life through worship, youth group and personal prayer. 

As Jeppesen grew older he began to live his life differently than the teenagers around him. He refrains from drinking, drugs and sex before marriage to live a Christian life. As Christianity became a bigger part of his life he searched for friends to support his beliefs and his lifestyle choices.

Mads Jeppesen clutches his shoulders while speaking in tongues during prayer at the Citykirken Pentecostal church in Aarhus, Denmark. He has been a member of the Pentecostal church his entire life.

Jeppesen rests his hand on his chest while singing along to a video game in the teen activity room at the Citykirken Pentecostal church in Aarhus, Denmark. Jeppesen volunteers in the LOUD program at the church as a mentor for young teens. 

Jeppesen lays on his bed after school with his two stuffed alligators in his room at his parents home. 

The Jeppesen family says grace at their kitchen table on Sunday after attending church.

Jeppesen rides the bus home alone after school. "When I am going to school I pray to god to help me and support me because sometimes I feel really depressed and I felt really stressed because of my work so all the burdens of that I kind of put onto God." Jeppesen said.

Jeppesen and his mother discuss who will get to use the car later that evening.

Jeppeson holds Kasper Leibeck Olesen, 15, shoulder as he prays for him during the LOUD teen service at Citykirken church. “Loud is so much more that just God. Teens have so many problems so it's much more about letting then know about God. It’s about talking to them and listening to them.” Jeppesen said.

Jeppesen and makes nachos with Marcus Boje at Citykirken church on Friday evening. “Alcohol sex and drugs are much more a part of the Danish culture today, Every time I go to a party with my classmates all of them are drunk. It's really good to have friends in the church.” Jeppesen said.

Jeppesen smokes flavored tobacco at a waterpipe café with fellow Citykirken chuch member David Boje. Jeppesen meets Boje often to talk and ask for advice when he is going through a difficult time.

Jeppesen drives his car home. "It has really helped me all my life to know God because I've always had someone to help me when I was really sad or I didn’t know what to do" Jeppesen said."