Photography students wanting to “give something back”

Posted on March 17, 2011 by Kathryn Burrington

Having worked for The Gambia Experience for over five years now I have noticed how the country really gets under peoples’ skin and inspires many visitors to want to give something back. Lorena Balbinot and Marina Codara, photography students in London, recently spent 10 days in The Gambia and have put together a book of their photographs. All profits (£10 from each sale) will be donated to Hart House, a school for children with learning difficulties – the only one of its kind in The Gambia. Here’s a sneak peak at a couple of Lorena’s photos. More can be seen on her blogsite and you can preview or purchase their book here.

“Gambia is a great place to visit: the sea is beautiful, there is plenty of wildlife, the river is amazing, a fervent local life, but what really made it special has been the spirit of the people! They are caring, willing to help, to share, to ensure you have a nice experience there. They are proud of their given attribute, which stand for ’The smiling Coast’ and they really make sure everyone gets it!” Lorena Balbinot

Jason Florio discusses The Gambia on Real Exposures

Posted on February 16, 2011 by Matt Smith

An in-depth interview with Jason Florio, discussing his affinity with The Gambia and how he came to photograph various of the country’s village chiefs and ultimately spend 2 months walking 930km around the entire country.

More Jason Florio on The Gambia Blog:
An interview with Jason and Helen Jones before they set off on their long walk.
Jason’s Gambia photographs.

Oscar May’s Gambia photography

Posted on January 27, 2011 by Matt Smith

Gambian children. Image by {link:http://oscarmay.com/#portfolio}Oscar May{/link}

Oscar May is a photographer from the Isle of Wight, now relocated to London. Last year he attended a wedding at the Ocean Bay Hotel in The Gambia and during his stay was able to get out and visit some local communities in Serrekunda, Talingding and Old Yumdum. Whilst he was there he took some incredible images, a few of which he’s kindly agreed to let us display here. Oscar is heading back to the Gambia in February as he says, ‘to give something back to The Gambia’ we’re hoping to be able to feature some of what he captures in the next edition of our Your Experience magazine.

For now, enjoy his work on our blog and visit Oscar’s website to see more of his great photographs.

Image by {link:http://oscarmay.com/#portfolio}Oscar May{/link}

A hyena at Abuko

Posted on October 19, 2010 by Matt Smith

Hyena at Abuko

Sally Bowe has added a wonderful new set of images to the Gambia Experience Flickr pool, including this gorgeous young hyena from the Abuko Nature Reserve. As Sally rightly says, the guys at Abuko are doing a great job with very minimal funds. Big cats and mammals in general aren’t a huge feature of The Gambia as there simply isn’t the space for them to roam freely; but at places like Abuko animals are rescued and safely reared and often released into the wild in neighbouring Senegal. All power to them and the excellent work they do.

To see more of Sally’s photography, please visit her Flickr page.

A morning’s bird watching at Abuko with Chris Packham.

Jason Florio – People Photographer of the year!

Posted on September 8, 2010 by Matt Smith

Silafando - a gift to you on behalf of my journey

We’d like to pass on our congratulations to Jason Florio who has won yet another award for his fabulous imagery from The Gambia! This time he’s the overall winner in the ‘People Photographer of the Year‘ section of the International Photography Awards for a set of images he took whilst on his epic 700mile walk around The Gambia – carried out late last year with Helen Jones (and their awesome support team, of course!).

These particular images were taken as a kind of update of an ancient tradition, in which the traveller passes on a gift as a token of thanks for safe passage through a village or settlement. In this case the image seems to take on a double meaning – it is both a gift and a living record of an ancient transaction, and seems to stand as a perfect emblem for the 700miles project as a whole: it captures that simultaneous urge to pass through without leaving too heavy a footprint and yet document a culture that is slowly being eroded.

You can see more of Jason’s work on his website, and on the expedition Flickr page. And keep an eye out for the forthcoming 700miles book!