stefano giovannini’s journals

East Flatbush, Brooklyn, NY

April 25, 2009

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Busy weekend shooting events in Prospect park. back on the bike for a long ride. On Nostrand ave @ Clarendon I run into Toto. his friend goes and brings a drum imported from Haiti. It is made of cow skin. They talk about the cracks. People stop by to look at it.

Brother high practice in a basement a few blocks away. Young mothers bring their kids in the rehearsal room.

La Font, Haiti

September 16, 2008

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People kept telling me they were hungry. I was in La Font , an hamlet up on the hills a few kilometers outside Jacmel.

The river had flooded and the hurricanes destroyed most of the banana crops.

The day had started early in Jacmel. 7 am coffee from the lady outside with my host Dodo and his friends. The judge from across the street wanted to take my picture. Photography was his hobby and had a few old computer in his house. Due to the state semi permanent blackout he could only use a few hours every few days.

A guy was wearing a “No Wave – Lower East Side” T shirt from the 80s. He could not understand why I wanted to take that photo. In Haiti I saw the most amazing T Shirts that probably here would be sold as vintage at Urban Outfitters.

So I took a moto taxi to La Font. 10 minutes of bumpy ride on uphill dirt roads.

The Haitian Red Cross was unloading big heavy bags of soy, a gift from Canada,  to distribute to the hungry rural people of the area.

As I had press credential they told me at some point I could not shoot the operation.

I walked around, hungry people telling their story, willing to be photographed with a proud look on their face.

A family down the street had a small convenience store business. I liked their home painted light blue with white dots with the family tomb/mausoleum beside.

The daughter made some really good spaghetti for me. Al dente and spicy.

A local amateur soccer team stopped by. They mentioned Maradona’s ” Hand of God” referring to that goal he infamously scored at the World Cup in Mexico back years ago.

Their dream was to have a uniform for their team.  Everyone at the moment could wear all different jerseys.

Easter Sunday Prospect Park. First Rara.

April 12, 2009

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Prospect Park, sunset on Easter Sunday.

Ocean ave, Brooklyn NY. March 29

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Haitian Party in apartment on Ocean ave that hosts the independent Radio Nago. Traditional Ra Ra band Dja Ra Ra played some tunes. It was the 3rd event or assignment I had to shoot that day. Earlier I was in Red Hook documenting some ar bar move 5 blocks up the street and on Atlantic ave to shoot mayor Bloomberg doing some campaign speech at his new Brooklyn office.
The party in Flatbush was was fun. To have enjoyed it more I wish I had no deadlines nor have to drive to get back home.

Anyway I shot with 2 flashes – sometimes just using one to trigger the off camera one. I liked the results especially for close up – even if sometimes it is hard to focus and direct the light beam.

Jacmel, Haiti. Sept. 2008

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After an ocean swim I went to the school R.Delmas converted into a shelter. 600 people that lost their homes after the hurricanes were housed in the here. 2 people in their 20s, Edwidge and Eliscan ran it facing shortage of food and medicines . They asked me with which organization I was and were hesitant about letting me in. I was alone and showed up with fins and snorkel in my canvas bag.

A group of UN soldiers delivered some potable water.

So many children showed signs of malnutrition.

I had to ask the VP to close the door behind as every kid was pulling my arm to be photographed -

i could not take pictures surrounded by a mob.

It made them happy and excited to see themselves in the LCD of the camera. I thought if i had a way to give prints it would not solve their problems still would give them joy.

When I left it was dark. The noise of a generator and a light. I walked outside in the dark square. the usual blackout. I bought some frittaille for these kids from a street vendor. I had to put them in a line to make sure everyone would get their ration.

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