UPDATE: I HAVE MOVED!

Inside Mile 2 Prison, Gambia, West Africa – images © Jason Florio

A prisoner shouts through the window from his cell, Mile 2 prison, The Gambia, West Africa © Jason Florio – All rights reserved

 

Exclusive images from inside ousted ex-president, Yahya Jammeh’s, ‘my 5 Star Hotel’ (as he frequently called it) – the notorious Mile 2 Prison, the Gambia, West Africa, Nov 2017. Taken whilst making the ‘We Never Gave Up – Stories of Courage in Gambia’ documentary for Amnesty International.

All images © Jason Florio – All rights reserved.  Please use contact page for image licensing requests

 

A prisoner sits looking out of the window of his cell – Mile 2 Prison, The Gambia, West Africa © Jason Florio

 

These, plus more exclusive images from Mile 2 are available for licensing

please contact Jason Florio

 

‘Chop’ time at Mile 2 Prison, The Gambia – food prepared in the prison kitchen, ready to be distributed to prisoners in the remand centre block – image © Jason Florio. All rights reserved

A photographer’s take: in conversation with a humanitarian storyteller – Jason Florio

Photographer, Jason Florio, in an interview with NGO, United Purpose. Jason has a long history of working with NGO’s, particularly UP (formally, Concern Universal). Florio talks with them about this work, other photography assignments, and what drives his passion for photography…

 

“The power of photography can never be underestimated. An image’s ability to deeply affect people, and inspire them to take action for positive change, are some of the many driving factors that help keep me going… ” Read more: Jason Florio

 

Unaccompanied Eritrean minor, Henock, onboard rescue ship, leads refugees in a song of thanks. ©Jason Florio

 

UP: Do you have a favourite photograph?

“It’s a bit like asking someone trying to choose their favourite child (and feeling pangs of guilt!). But I love this image of Henok (pictured above), a 14-year-old boy from Eritrea who was rescued in the Mediterranean. During the voyage on the NGO rescue ship, he led other Eritrean refugees in songs of thanks for being saved.” READ MORE ON THE UNITED PURPOSE BLOG

 

 

Photographer, Jason Florio, The Gambia, West Africa – image credit Lamin Ndong

Lensculture – Exposure Awards: Winners, Finalists & Jurors’ Picks

 

A very nice surprise to hear my images from the migration crisis in the Mediterranean is a Jurors’ Pick in the LensCulture ExposureAwards2018– Many thanks to Mazie Harris at the Department of Photographs Getty Museum for selecting my work, and many thanks to Jim and Millie Casper and the LensCulture team – and big congrats to all the all the other photographers! Jason Florio

The work will be exhibited at Somerset House during Photo London May 17-20, 2018

Jurors’ Picks/Lensculture Exposure Awards – Image © Jason Florio: Gambian and other West African migrants just rescued from a packed rubber boat off the coast of Libya huddle on the deck of Migrant Offshore Aid Station’s ship. In the background, their rubber boat is set ablaze to prevent smugglers, who were circling during the rescue, from taking the engine and boat back to Libya to use again

 

Jurors’ Picks – Each of the eight jury members selected one photographer to be awarded special distinction…with a brief quote from each juror explaining what they especially appreciate about these photographers and their work.

Mazie Harris – Assistant Curator of the Department of Photographs Getty Museum

‘Amidst ongoing debates over immigration and refugees, I found myself returning repeatedly to Jason Florio’s portfolio. Through thoughtful compositional choices, a careful selection… ‘read more on the Lensculture Exposure Awards – Winners & Finalists page

 

Jurors Picks/Lensculture Exposure Awards – Image © Jason Florio: Bangladeshi and Pakistani migrants wait to be evacuated from the fetid hold of a smuggler’s boat off the coast of Libya. Photojournalism Series Winner, Magnum Photography Awards 2017.

 

Huge congratulations to all the ‘Winners, Finalists and Jurors Picks’, including Eddo Hartmann (Netherlands), Giulio Di Sturco (UK), César Dezfuli (Spain) – check them all out at Lensculture.

_________________

Related Posts on migrant/refugee rescues:

The Guardian: Photojournalism series winner – Destination Europe
British photographer Jason Florio’s picture shows Gambian and other West African migrants lying exhausted on the deck of a rescue ship after being saved from a packed rubber boat that was starting to sink off the coast of Libya

Share this:

 

Newsletter: Shooting drones, dictators, and megafauna – Jason Florio

Media: The Initium (Hong Kong) – Rescues at sea. Images ©Jason Florio

Men from Bangladesh and Pakistan have been in the cabin of a ship carrying 414 immigrants for about 12 hours. Image ©Jason Florio – featured in Media: The Initium (Hong Kong).

 

When the disaster comes, human nature and wonderful photos, which one would you choose?

For the photographer Jason Florio, the choice is obvious.

“You can accomplish yourself or save countless lives in a single thought …I’m not just a journalist or photographer on board. I have no personal judgment in an emergency.”

 

Migrants and refugees waiting to be rescued, Mediterranean Sea ©Jason Florio – featured in The Initium (Hong Kong)

 

“(I will) Always remember that picture, sunny to a cloudless sky, blue to the calm sea, a central rubber boat, 480 people on board silent, showing the whole piece perfect silence. To me, all very strange, from a photographic point of view…” Read more/see more at The Initium  – interview with Jason Florio by Chen Ying (Alicia Chen)

 

View Florio’s Magnum Photography Awards 2017 – Photojournalism – ‘Destination Europe’  + more images from rescues in the Aegean Sea and the Mediterranean on his website

Follow on Instagram @jasonflorio

Jason Florio – Multimedia Photographer: new website

 

Jason Florio Multimedia Photographer 

HUMANITARIAN

MIGRATION

Food Security. PepsiCo – Global Responsibility. Image ©Jason Florio

 

FOOD SECURITY

PORTRAITS

 

 

DOCUMENTARY

MOTION

 

PRINT SALES

 

 

TRAVEL

 

Press: IRIN News – One year on, victims of Jammeh demand justice, The Gambia

A man in the solitary confinement unit, inside the notorious Mile 2 prison, Banjul, The Gambia ©Jason Florio (more images available to license, on request)

 

‘Since Jammeh was forced into exile in Equatorial Guinea a year ago, the victims of his brutal rule have been driving the demand for justice.’ IRIN News – words by Louise Hunt / Images © Jason Florio

 

Sister of murdered journalist, Chief Ebrima Manneh, in the family compound, Lamin, The Gambia, West Africa © Jason Florio

 

Read more at IRIN News

 

‘We Never Gave up – Stories of Courage in Gambia’ – trailer

#GAMBIAHASDECIDED ©Jason Florio – still from ‘We never Gave up – Stories of Courage in Gambia’ – a production by Jason Florio / Louise Hunt for Amnesty International

Instagram @jasonflorio / @floriotravels

NGO work in West Africa – images by Jason Florio

Meet Sawadatou, Senegal, West Africa ©Jason Florio     

 

‘Sawadatou is a refugee who fled from conflict in the Central African Republic and sought refuge in the Casamance region of Senegal. Her journey to Senegal was a treacherous one, which sadly claimed the life of one of her six children. Upon arrival in Senegal, Sawadatou had nothing’ Village Aid, NGO

 

Ghana, West Africa – image © Jason Florio for Village Aid

 

Portrait of a shop owner, Ghana, © Jason Florio for United Purpose

 

Ghana has made considerable progress in reducing poverty. Despite this, there is growing inequality as the gap between the rich and poor widens. United Purpose has worked in Ghana since 1999. We work in the northern enclave- specifically the Upper West region (still the poorest in Ghana), Northern Brong Ahafo, Northern Volta Regions as well as Kwahu North District. United Purpose

Portrait of a farmer, West Africa, © Jason Florio for United Purpose, Senegal

 

Instagram – @jasonflorio

Website –  floriophoto.com

Exhibition – Magnum Photography Awards Winners 2017, The Photographers Gallery, London

David Hurn (Magnum Photos), Jim Casper (LensCulture), Jason Florio – Photojournalism Series Winner – Magnum Photography Awards, 2017 ©Helen Jones-Florio – Exhibition private view at The Photographers Gallery, London 

 

Jason Florio, Magnum Photography Award 2017, Photojournalism Series Winner, with David Hurn (Magnum Photos), Jim and Millie Casper (LensCulture) ©Helen Jones-Florio – Exhibition private view at The Photographers Gallery, London 

 

Oct 2017: Jason Florio – currently in West Africa on a documentary assignment. Follow on Instagram for regular updates @jasonflorio / @floriotravels

‘Destination Europe‘ © Jason Florio – The Photographers Gallery, London, UK ©Helen Jones-Florio