Brutal DIY Weapons of the Ukrainian Revolution
Photos by Tom Jamieson
Ukraine has been in a state of political unrest for quite some time now, from protests, to the situation with Russia in Crimea. Meanwhile, photojournalists have been on the scene giving the world a glimpse of what's going on, and most of what we find are powerful images from the frontline. However, photographer Tom Jamieson went a different approach, instead of going after the frontline of battles that ensued, he became intrigued with what civilians were using. It was their homemade weapons that became subject to a series of portraits by Jamieson to show how determined these protesters were. Whether to fight or defend against government security forces, some fought with little more than sticks, bats and sledgehammers, and others were a bit more creative with their weaponry.
As Jamieson got a closer look, he noticed that some of these weapons were marked with names of home towns, messages for their intended targets, and some were decorated with religious symbols, or political cartoons. Each of these personalized tools of revolution were made with what he describes as a "DIY nature" that held a sense of pride among their owners, and each were detailed to tell its own story. In design, each were made with a specific and brutal purpose: "clubs and maces for bashing, slingshots and stones for hurling, and forked pikes for ripping the shields out of the hands of police."
In this photo series, the weapons are shown in the hands of their owners against a black backdrop, but far from a photo studio. Along with his assistant, Jamieson carried a black background cloth with them and they would set up outside in the square, in occupied buildings, or near the protesters’ tents, when they found a protester carrying an unique-looking weapon. Another interesting point of this series is that had to be shot specifically in the early morning or twilight hours to keep lighting consistent from one subject to the next.
Check out the following photos of the extraordinary weaponry found, and be sure to keep tabs on more of his work, as he sets out to visit Crimea, and separate trips to Eastern and Western Ukraine to shoot much more than weaponry.
[Via Wired]
Photographer Covers the Russian Army in Crimea
Photos by Sergey Ponomarev
On an assignment by The New York Times to cover the unrest in Ukraine, Moscow based photographer Sergey Ponomarev, found himself covering more than he expected. Within just a few days of arriving to Crimea, a very military based city, Ponomarev has been witnessing a rising number of Russian troops surrounding the area. In an exclusive interview with New York Times writer James Estrin, the photographer elaborates on the current unpredictable state of the situation, as tensions continue to grow.
However, in recent reports, 16,000 Russian troops have been deployed in the Crimea region from the neighboring territory of the Russian Federation. While provoking war and threatening to take control of the entire Ukrainian border, troops have already seized a major checkpoint. As new developments continue to update by the hour, the United Nations held an emergency meeting to find justification for Russia’s military intervention in Ukraine. In this meeting the Russian ambassador reported that the ousted Ukrainian president had asked Russia to use troops in aid of supposed open acts of terrorism that are occurring in the southeast part in Crimea, due to pro-westernized ties. Following the meeting, and just a day after calling off trade talks, the Obama administration suspended military ties to Russia, including exercises, port visits and planning meetings. Other country officials are said to follow.
While reports continue to pour in, photographer Sergey Ponomarev continues to cover all that unfolds. If this article can't explain the severity of the situation, his photographs sure will. Check out the following photos and be sure to follow his Instagram, where he shares daily photos.
[Via The New York Times]
Powerful Images from Ukraine Protests
Photos by Darko Vojinovic
In the midst of protest and political chaos in Ukraine emerges powerful images for the world to see. From what started in November 2013 after government officials opted to oppose a trade deal with the European Union, deepening their ties with Russia, demonstrators around the country began to protest this political decision. As I write these very words, thousands of protestors are battling riot police and fighting to seize municipal buildings, leaving the country in a pending state of emergency.
As news continues to spread on the ordeal, the images shot by Photojournalist Darko Vojinovic are some of which that stuck out the most to me. Take a look at the these powerful photos shot within the last couple of months as demonstrations continue to increasingly spur. For more of Vojinovic's work, click here.
[Via Washington Times]
