Achalay

Inspiration

September 5, 2012UncategorizedAchalay, Clean, Floor, Girl, Leaves, Nature, Orangechassoto View all 2 comments

In Perpignan, admiring the work of some of the best photographers. Thousands and thousands of pictures, teasing me, pushing me, inspiring me and forcing me to do better and to re-question my vision of photography and of the world.

And a book, particularly stunning: Bosnia 1992 – 1995 with an amazing selection of fantastic photographers including James Nachtway, Gary Knight, Ron Haviv, Eric Bouvet and many others. Just watch the video and you’ll certainly understand what I meant. My love for books is not going to die now…

20 Aout 2012. Girl cleaning the floor, in San Andres, North of Lima, Peru. It’s one of the last pictures I took in Achalay and in Peru. [Click on the picture to enlarge it].

Last Days

August 19, 2012UncategorizedAchalay, book, Calendar, children, Girls, Peru, San Andres, Sleep, Sportchassoto Leave a comment

I just finished the calendar 2013 of the Fundation Achalay (fundation for who I’m working) and almost finalized their book. Finishing a publication is always painful. The last pictures are always the worst and I frequently realize that there is one picture/idea that I would have liked to see, etc… I suppose it’s normal but still wonder if James Nachtway, Paolo Pellegrin or any other top photographer face the same problem or if their experience helps them to deal with the last shots more easily.

June 2012: Daily life in the Achalay association in San Andres, Peru. [Click on the picture to enlarge it].

New Life

August 14, 2012UncategorizedAchalay, Lima, Locksmith, Peru, Portraitchassoto Leave a comment

Back to work and new series of portraits, while finalizing my book. This time, I did not work with children members of the association Achalay but with a former member. Nice to see that solidarity sometimes really works and can positively influence and change someone’s life.

13 August 2012, Lima, Peru: Teodora with her two children. Despite her handicap and a difficult beginning in life, she managed, after a few years with Achalay, to find a job and now works as a locksmith. She is married, has two children and named her first daughter Fernanda, like the founder of Achalay. [Click on the picture to enlarge it].

Looking back (at yourself)

June 23, 2012UncategorizedAchalay, Association, child, Lima, Mirror, Peru, Portrait, Shavechassoto Leave a comment

Some pictures haunt you. You get an idea and try to realize it. Most of the time, it doesn’t work. But sometimes, you finally manage to get something. It’s never really what you were looking for, but it still remains a nice feeling.

22 June 2012: Jose, part-time employee and previously children at the Achalay foyer-farm. [Click on the picture to enlarge it].

Portraits in a children’s world

June 16, 2012UncategorizedAchalay, children, Fondation, Lima, Peru, Portraitchassoto Leave a comment

After a bit more than a week shooting, I’m back to Lima for a quiet weekend. Steak, view on the pacific and drinks, before restarting working on a new photo book for the Fundation Achalay. And in ten days, I should start traveling a bit more around the region.

June 2012: Children in San Andres, North of Lima, Peru, at the Achalay Center. [Click on the picture to enlarge it].

Rucksack and camera: The Return

June 10, 2012UncategorizedAchalay, Association, children, Latin America, Peru, photography, TV, watchchassoto One comment

After a few years dreaming of it, I am finally in Latin America (Peru). Wondering where to travel, I decided to work for 2-3 weeks for an association, before hitting the road. With simple living conditions, isolated in a small village, it sometimes reminds me field trips in Darfur. But for once, I speak the language and communication is therefore easier (not to mention the absence of national security).

I hope to keep improving my Spanish skills and really look forward to taking pictures, hopefully depicting interesting situations. More to come… inch’allah.

07 June 2012: Children watching a movie in San Andres village, Peru. [Click on the picture to enlarge it].

Olivier Chassot

Photography