In the Russian East #2

August 27, 2015

On my way back from China to Moscow I stopped a couple of days in Chita (Russia) and around. I dedicated the day before my flight to Moscow to continue my project " In the Russian Est", a specular homage to "In the America West" by master of photography and portraiture Richard Avedon.

A few days ago, a new media report was released, claiming that the President of Chechnya Ramzan Kadyrov’s health is rapidly deteriorating. The news of Kadyrov’s terminal illness could be a serious source of concern for the Kremlin as Putin needs to consolidate Russian influence and control in Chechnya in the coming years, just as he has been doing for decades. The Chechen leader has long been known for his loyalty to Moscow. While Putin has long supported him to preserve the region’s stability, Kadyrov, in return, has sent thousands of Chechen paramilitaries to support Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Also, Putin’s past operations in Chechnya have drawn strong comparisons to the strategy they are now using in Ukraine. These news are of particular significance to me because I have spent quite a long time visually documenting the situation in those areas. The result of that work was published as a book: “Spasibo”, in 2013, and my photographic essay has gained relevant recognition over the years. Today I want to share with you a few shots taken 11 years ago, while I was in Grozny to document the celebrations for the 10th anniversary of the Constitution Day. In the carousel above, you will see Chechnya’s President Ramzan Kadyrov attending the ceremony, along with back-then political representatives. You can also spot an image of a car showing the code “KPA” (KRA) on its plate. This signature stands for Kadyrov Ramzan Akhamdovich. Cars like this were a gift from Kadyrov to affiliates of his family, his close circle, and friends and are part of the extravaganza he surrounded himself with, including a car collection, horses, a private zoo, and celebrities as guests for his parties. For more info about this and other stories, please visit my website at the link in bio. . . . . #davidemonteleonestudio #documentary #photography #photojournalist #photojournalism #fineartphotography #documentaryphotography #reportage #photodocumentary #sonyalpha #sonyimagingambassadors #sony #sonyapha #alphauniversebysonyeu

Reflecting on our impact this #EarthDay. The stark contrast between Chuquicamata’s ghostly remnants and the thriving industry that once was reminds us that progress comes at a cost. Chile is home to some of the world’s largest, better-known copper mines, and the industry has been one of the main drivers in the rapid development of the country’s economy. This region of the world has been exploited for its natural resources for centuries, and the result is a large field of abandoned sites from where local communities have been displaced over the years, leaving behind a series of ghost towns, dry fields, and industrial waste. The real struggle, from now on, will be to sort out a way to keep pace with green policies while confronting the ever-increasing demand for critical materials, which are undoubtedly necessary for the upcoming energy transition that will make an overall move away from fossil fuels possible. It’s time to innovate for a greener future without leaving scars on our planet. Picture from my latest project “Critical Minerals - Geography of Energy”, ongoing. . . . . #davidemonteleonestudio #documentary #photography #photojournalist #photojournalism #fineartphotography #documentaryphotography #reportage #photodocumentary #sonyalpha #sonyimagingambassadors #sony #sonyapha #alphauniversebysonyeu #natgeo #theclimatepledge

Don’t miss the @worldphotoorg exhibition opening this week at @somersethouse. ⁠ Amongst the many stunning projects and images from all over the world shortlisted for the 2024 Sony World Photography Awards, you will find a selection of my latest series about the cobalt mining industry in the DRC. ⁠ More info at the link in bio.⁠ ⁠ This work would never have seen the light without the precious support of @theclimatepledge @insidenatgeo @sony.italia @sonyalpha @alphauniversebysony.eu @heillandifund @galleriavaleriabella and my team @manuel__montesano @samantha_azzani .⁠ .⁠ .⁠ .⁠ #davidemonteleonestudio #documentary #photography #photojournalist #photojournalism #fineartphotography #documentaryphotography #reportage #photodocumentary #sonyalpha #sonyimagingambassadors #sony #sonyapha #alphauniversebysonyeu #natgeo #theclimatepledge #swpa

On this World Water Day, we reflect on the delicate balance of progress and conservation. This striking view of the Atacama Desert is a reminder of our planet's natural wonders and the urgent need to safeguard its resources as we harness the power of renewable energies for a greener future. The Atacama region, which is also home to vast copper mines, supplies nearly one-quarter of the globe’s lithium.⁠ As we tap into lithium and other critical minerals to fuel our eco-friendly aspirations, we must not overlook the vital importance of water to local ecosystems and communities.⁠ Chile is the second global producer of lithium, essential in the upcoming energy switch for its utilization in the production of technologies helping the world transition away from fossil fuels. The metal is extracted through the evaporation of brines found beneath salt flats, a water-intensive method that drains already scarce water resources, damages wetlands, and harms communities. The displacement of villagers, forced to leave due to lack of water resources or construction sites, has also caused the disappearance of many ancient cultures and traditions of a population used to live by following the natural cycles.⁠ .⁠ .⁠ .⁠ .⁠ #davidemonteleonestudio #davidemon #documentary #photography #photojournalist #photojournalism #fineartphotography #documentaryphotography #reportage #photodocumentary #sonyalpha #sonyimagingambassadors #sony #alphauniversebysonyeu #natgeo #WorldWaterDay #SustainableMining #AtacamaDesert

#Lithium series, 2023/2024. Soon at @artefiera_bologna See you Feb2-4. #lithium #criticalminerals #criticalthinking #greenrevolution? @insidenatgeo #landscape #landscapephotography #chile🇨🇱 #atacama

Today marks the 100th anniversary of the death of Vladimir Ilyich Lenin, leader of the Russian Revolution.⁠ In 2017, on the occasion of the centennial of Lenin’s April Theses publication, I took a real, re-invented trip that followed Lenin’s ghostly footsteps, reenacting his way back to his homeland from a period of political exile. ⁠ With the help of archival documents, historical books, some props, and a bit of digital retouching, I physically stepped into the shoes of Lenin to recreate his long journey on a train across Germany, Sweden, and Finland to reach St. Petersburg and take the wheel of the Soviet party. ⁠ To know more about “The April Theses” project, please visit the link in bio. ⁠ ⁠ .⁠ .⁠ .⁠ #davidemonteleonestudio #davidemon #documentary #photography #photojournalist #photojournalism #fineartphotography #documentaryphotography #reportage #photodocumentary #sonyalpha #sonyimagingambassadors #sony #alphauniversebysonyeu

It is with extreme sadness and sorrow that I share this news. With the passing of Kai not only has the photography community lost a champion, but I have also lost a generous and extraordinary friend with whom, over the years, I shared mountain walks, chess games, chats about bikes and motorbikes, the housing market, stock market trends, international politics and the right time of day to have a cappuccino! Kai was shy and modest ( a rare quality in this industry) although his work was extraordinary. His heart was always on the right side, and his work (especially the decades dedicated to Palestine) should be remembered even more fondly today. I will miss you. Remembering Kai Wiedenhöfer (1966 - 2024) It is with great sadness that we announce that the photojournalist Kai Wiedenhöfer has passed away at the age of 57. As a photo student he photographed the fall of the Berlin Wall. Deeply moved by his experience of witnessing history unfold he dedicated his life to peace, working consistently in conflict zones. Wiedenhöfer focussed his camera on those most in need, tirelessly developing new ways of photographing the consequences of war and conflict. This made him one of the most important documentary photographers of his generation. This email is sent by a small group of Kai’s close friends in Berlin on behalf of his family. For any immediate enquiries, please contact: kaiwiedenhoeferestate@gmail.com #kaiwiedenhoeferestate @newshatavakolian @paolopellegrin @hammond_robin @prixcarmignac @eugenesmithfund @peterunterthurner http://kaiwiedenhoefer.com/

The third leg of the ‘Critical Minerals’ project took me to the Democratic Republic of Congo to document the condition and impact of the mining of Copper and Cobalt, essential for the green energy transition. The environmental and human conditions of mining have been widely reported, and the mainstream narrative faithfully describes the devastating working conditions, the quasi-slave-like exploitation and the problematic health, environmental and economic conditions that men, women, and often children are subjected to, directly or indirectly involved in mining. Besides the industrialised mines, more than 200,000 creuseurs (diggers) excavate the rich subsoil of Upper Katanga at the limit of legality or organised in cooperatives. With only the strength of their arms and rudimentary hammers and chisels, they plunge, at the risk of their lives and for a few dollars, into kilometres of tunnels little more than a metre wide and up to 60 metres deep. The view is reminiscent of apocalyptic or biblical scenes. For several years, I have limited representation of people in my photos. Equally, I rarely accept work in places I know little about and where it is challenging to work independently. This is also why the “Critical Minerals” project is always, and at each stage, the result of a collaboration with a local photographer or storyteller who contributes his or her narrative to the collective project. In the case of this trip, how could I carefully begin to represent the human condition, which is the story’s central theme? Better still, how could I do it while avoiding the stereotypes and tropes of suffering, the preconceptions of the colonial image, and the gaze on the ‘other’? #criticalminerals #cobalt #documentary #storytelling @alphauniversebysony.eu @sony.italia @guerchomndebo @manuel__montesano @samantha_azzani @insidenatgeo

800+ journalists and media workers demand an end to the killing of journalists in Gaza and the wider region. For more information on how to sign on and get involved, see the link in my bio. #thismuststop @forourcolleagues