
Joakim Eskildsen’s book, The Roma Journeys, brings to us a portion of the visible Romani people of Hungary, India, Greece, Romania, France, Russia and Finland. Eskildsen spent many months at each place over the course of six years living as a guest in Roma family homes. The extended period of time he spent gives his photographs an honest and unexploited view of their culture and way of life.
Eskildsen’s photographs are nothing short of impeccable. His awareness of the natural light is just as obvious as his connection and closeness to the subjects he is documenting. The photographs do not scream for attention nor show an intense poverty that makes the viewer feel sorry for the subjects but rather a quite subtle calling for attention. This attention does not show a want for change or help but to simply show the truth. They reflect the people and their connection with each other and the land.

Many documentaries of poverty stricken parts of the world just show the pain, grief and intense poverty while overlook the happy and normal part of life. The normal part is exactly what Eskildsen shows. Every person and culture on earth has plenty of pain and grief; for a photographer to just focus on that aspect gives a skewed view of reality. Eskildsen’s photographs seem to represent so accurately and truthfully the Roma people it is difficult to believe they were taken by an outsider.
In a world filled with technologies and convinces that are supposed to make our lives better and richer these photographs are yet another reminder that this may not necessarily be the case.






Comments, Comment or Ping
Jacob Rodgers
I think I saw the second photo in PDN magazine recently … good stuff.
Sep 21st, 2008
Leslie Hicks
I find the composition of your photographs superbly done, they are very beautiful and inspiring.
Sep 24th, 2008
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