Topic: The DR Congo at 50. Pictures by Stephen Vanfleteren

[Mike (happyforest)]

Came across this set of excellent photo's on the BBC website today.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/10431994.stm


I've no idea who Stephen Vanfletern is but no doubt somebody here will enlinghten me if I don't find out via other means.

If you think the police are over zealous with the photographers today just be glad that your don't have to go to the lengths that the subject of image number 16 appears to have too, to take pictures.

Regards

Mike

[Minutefilm]

Hi
I have not seen the DR Congo pictures but I have come across Stephen Vanfleteren.  About three years ago there was an exhibition in London of pictures he had taken of cyclists at the Ronde Van Vlaanderen (Tour of Flanders). A bike race in Belgium.
The photos were stunning, grainy black and white. I wish I had bought the book!
I tried to contact him then but without success....
I will check out the BBC site for these pictures.

Ben

[Minutefilm]

The DR Congo pictures are great, took a few false starts to find them. Here is the link: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/10431994.stm

ben

[Mike (happyforest)]

Ben

Apologies I meant to post the link as well.

They are also available here as well.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/gallery/2010/jun/12/photography-congo-stephan-vanfleteren?lightbox=1

I have also managed to find his web site

http://www.stephanvanfleteren.com/index.htm

He has some fantastic images here as well, but not the Congo ones.

Regards

Mike

[Phil Bebbington]

The Congo images are just wonderful.

[Miles]

I think he's in the British Journal of Photography this or last month.

The hobo section here is great, especially the Train shots.

http://www.stephanvanfleteren.com/gallery_hobo/index.html

[Ed Wenn]

Thanks for the link. Sounds fascinating. Whilst on the subject of the DRC, I can most heartily recommend the book, "Blood River" by Tim Butcher. Seriously...it's amazing.

[calbisu]

Wow! Amazing protraits from Congo RDC and also fant. shots from the Train.. inspiring.
I was in Congo DRC in 2006 working as electoral observer; It was my first time in Subsaharian Africa for the presidential elections and the experience was quite a thing... At that time I was not yet too much into photography but I shot a few with Dig. Camera. The one below shows some electoral local staff which had brought the ballots sacks to the polling center to be counted. They had to travel few days with bycicles (not being able to ride them as the ballots sacks were on them). Still so much to settle down on that country.

[Sorry, image deleted during forum software upgrade. Please re-upload if so inclined.]

[Ed Wenn]

Great story, Carlos. I'd love to hear more about your time in the DRC....shame you don't live in the UK or we could have a drink and you could tell me all about it. Maybe next time I'm in Spain?
 

[Ailsa]

We featured Stefan Vanfleteren in one of the very early editions of Black & White Photography. It's still one of my favourite stories. He and a friend, Robert Huber - also a photographer - decided to travel across the USA, both dressed as Elvis, and document the experience. The results could have been just a novelty, but the photographs were fantastic in their own right.

[calbisu]

Ed, sure! Would love to meet with another filmwaster   (I am not sure there is another filmwaster in Spain...).

[Andrea.]

We featured Stefan Vanfleteren in one of the very early editions of Black & White Photography. It's still one of my favourite stories. He and a friend, Robert Huber - also a photographer - decided to travel across the USA, both dressed as Elvis, and document the experience. The results could have been just a novelty, but the photographs were fantastic in their own right.

Gosh I remember that article and the photos. Twas good too