Estan Cabigas

While browsing Slightly Lucid, one entry just got me curious: JOAKIM ESKILDSEN – THE ROMA JOURNEYS. Maybe it was the subject, the color, the image or Aislinn’s post itself that got to me that I evidently checked this photographer’s portfolio site.

And I wasn’t disappointed.

I only have a slight knowledge of the Roma, or as we know them, gypsies, courtesy of films and stories and also via Carlo Gianferro who won in the Portaits category, 1st Prize, in the World Press Photo 2009, which was exhibited here in the Philippines. It was for his work on affluent Romas in Romania and Moldova, a series of environmental portraits taken inside the boldly colored and richly decorated interiors of these people’s houses. An interesting body of work.

Joakim’s The Roma Journeys on the other hand is expansive, taken for six years covering India, Russia and five countries in Europe with a writer. This is testament to this widely dispersed people who are minorities in these places.

The images are something that you can’t just forget. It grabs you, makes you look at it longer. Just like Gianferro, Joakim takes advantage of natural light. It is moodily saturated. There’s a hint of mystery but at the same time, deeply personal.

This is one work that I would want to see face to face one day and own the book.