Field Photography Collective
A photography community by peace, security, and development professionals that bring you closer to the field
The Board of Directors
The FPC Board is the central hub of the organisation. A small team of people that all make our activities and ideas a reality. As of February 2020 FPC was registered as a non-for profit organisation in Stockholm, Sweden. FPC holds the following org. number: 802529-4185.
The FPC Team
Photo by Miguel Herranz
Sofia Zitouni
When I grew up I was driven by a dream. A dream to make a difference. I wanted to work for the UN. I grew up in a suburb in the outskirts of Stockholm where there were not many prospects for dreaming but I knew I wanted more. When I was 19 years old I went to Egypt against all odds. I fell in love and stayed for 3 years. Little did I know this was the beginning of my long journey living and working abroad getting to meet fantastic people and leaving parts of my heart around the world. Since then I have lived and worked in Palestine, Sudan, Sri Lanka, Egypt and Bosnia. Mainly with development aid. I early on loved taking pictures. I wanted to tell a story of the people I saw. Many like me feel a bit lost when returning back "home" with lots of stories to tell. I wanted to create a forum where we can inspire each other to do so through our passion for photos and the work we do. When living abroad especially in conflict zones it is difficult talk about what you experience and I believe that pictures can tell more than a million words which helps when there are no words just emotions which is difficult for others to understand. I have taken most of my photos with my iPhone which I think has become a more acceptable tool to use. I try to take pictures that convey a positive message in a difficult environment or a situation.
Sofia Zitouni - Chair
Fallckolm Cuenca
Since 2003, when I bought my first Digital SLR, I have worked for the UN, EU and various NGOs. My work has taken me to the Middle East, Latin America, Central and Eastern Asia, Western Africa as well as the Caucasus. The camera has not only been a creative outlet but also an increasingly important companion in a perceived need to keep the world close. Most importantly, photography has become an excellent vehicle for documenting the things I feel strongly about - my development and humanitarian work.
Fallckolm Cuenca - Deputy Chair
Photo by Erin Floyd
Love Calissendorff
I've been interested in photography since I was 15 years old and took a course in analogue photography in my small hometown in Sweden. This love for old-fashioned photography carried over into my work in the peacebuilding sector and the years I've spent living and travelling in the Middle East, South Asia, and sub-Saharan Africa - in fact, in the years that followed, my only digital camera has been my phone! I have to say that I still prefer large-format cameras that make a profound sound when a moment is captured. Though I am trying my best to slowly transition into utilising modern technology, while at the same time keeping the edits to a bare minimum to preserve the moment as it was.
Love Calissendorff - Board Member
Linda Säll
Linda Säll has for the past eight years worked for the Kvinna till Kvinna foundation that is working to promote women’s rights in conflict affected areas as a Head of the Middle East and North Africa Region and now as a Deputy head of communication. She has lived and worked for the rights of children, youth and women with various NGOs and UNICEF in Palestine, Jordan, Angola, Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka.
“To work with structural change is draining but behind the large structures there is always a story about a human being, and to keep the focus on how to make life better for that person is where I get comfort and energy”. And it is my love for stories and friendship that has insipried me to get involved in this collective.
Linda Säll - Board Member
Join the FPC the Community
FPC is a community of likeminded professionals. Passionate about your work, interested in photography and want to showcase the stories you feel strongly about? Sounds like you should join. We welcome and encourage professionals working in peace, security, and development to create and share photo essays from the field.
Community Criteria
In order for FPC to be able to publish your work on the FPC website all photos must be taken by you. You must also ensure that you have the right to publish the content you provide to FPC. Please note that by submitting content, you allow FPC to potentially publish and disseminate the material.
FPC reserves the right to review and edit all submitted content. Content of pornographic or defamatory nature will not be considered. FPC further reserves the right to erase any content on our website or flag content on social media outlets if deemed inappropriate. We currently run the platform on a voluntary basis. Hence, there are no costs involved.
Submissions
Want to contribute to the FPC Platform? There are two steps (1) submit a photo essay for the FPC website and (2) do an Instagram “takeover” for a week. For “takeovers” please see separate instructions.
Photo essays are accepted on a rolling basis. We welcome and encourage applications from all countries and contexts. We accept content from people with (1) experience from working in peace, security, and development; (2) a sincere interest in documenting their work as aspiring photographers; and (3) have a desire to show their work and inspire others.
Submit a Photo Essay
If you wish to submit a photo essay for the FPC website, please provide us with the following:
For the purpose of the Photo Essay:
- No more than ten (10) photos in .jpeg format (width 1200 px, 300 ppi). Number the photos so that we can match your explanatory texts. Please send us the pictures via WeTransfer, Sprend or Dropbox.
- A narrative for the photo essay. No more than 1000 characters.
- Short explanatory text to each photo (also useful for the Instagram takeover)
For the purpose of your bio:
- Short resume of previous work in peace, security, development or related field. Between 500-1000 characters. Preferably in a word document.
- A black and white profile photo of your choice. Preferably square 1:1 ratio.
Instagram Takeover
A “takeover” entails daily submissions on the FPC Instagram account. The duration of the “takeover is for a week only - one photo per day with a short explanatory text. The images for the “takeover” should be the same and reflect the narrative of the photo essay. For more information about the takeovers please see separate instructions.
Benefits
FPC does not automatically represent the contributors. All contributors will be informed of and asked if they want to participate in any FPC related activities.
As a contributing photographer you get the following:
- The possibility to regularly publish photo essays from the field on the FPC website.
- An electronic venue to showcase your photography and professional profile.
- The possibility to participate with your work FPC exhibitions and events.
- The possibility to print your work at favorable prices.
- Access to the FPC closed forum.
- The possibility to grow as a photographer with the support of a collective.
Terminating your visibility on the FPC website
Your visibility on the FPC website can be terminated or suspended at any time by sending us an e-mail. This implies that your profile will be removed from the website. Please note that content on social media may remain. Former contributors are welcome to re-join the FPC at any time. However, previously published content will not be re-considered for publication.
FPC reserves the right to terminate or suspend a membership at any point in time.
Field Photography Collective
Curators & Friends
Contact
Website & graphic profile by fallckolm.com
Jessica Rothman
I'm a story maker and a story teller. I've always been a teller of stories, ever since I lost my two front teeth. But it was only when I discovered the combination of communicating both visually and verbally that I felt complete in my art form. Photography has since become a passion.
And what greater stories are there than from the field, from those shared by people I meet and those observed? I have worked with aid, development and peace making in many countries since my youth and I want to communicate what I see and hear in a way that stimulates reflections on what life is like in the field.
Issraa El-Kogali Häggström
I went from travel and documentary photography to experimenting with mixed media on photographs in the span of 6 years in Sudan. Having started out exploring the capital, Khartoum, with the perspective of a newly returned daughter, clunky Canon A1 camera in hand, pocket full of film rolls and a white school girl scarf wrapped clumsily around my head; I sought positive affirmations. Knowing where I was and who I was, came about through this exploration of the country and its people. I travelled beyond the capital in all directions with field work and personal projects including work for United Nations agencies.
After four collections and several solo exhibitions and contributions to photo books, paired with solid experience in documentary photography for the development and humanitarian aid sectors, I dusted off my khakis and put away my sandals. I set my sights on the global north. In the spring of 2013 I completed a guest student year at the Royal Institute of Art in Stockholm, Sweden. I applied to the college after a surprise interview with Sweden’s public TV channel SVT. My photography and film work has been shown in over 14 countries since 2007. I am currently pursuing project work in Stockholm’s culture sector and raising my two children.