Check it out @ http://www.lostateminor.com/2010/07/06/michael-trenerry/

I am back in Helsinki but I imagine not for too long before I kick-off to some stories I have in mind. I can say for sure that Nairobi was a Rollercoaster ride but in many ways, like anywhere, it depends very much on your surroundings! In the last few days, I actually had a ball so thank you to those that I was around for the fresh vision that Nairobi ain’t all that bad after all.

What I did find when there is that its not easy to plan things due to shitty internet and shitty reception on your mobile… So I figured due to my heightened blood pressure (at least I felt myself on the verge of hitting someone) that I would come back for some fresh air and relaxation to sort my head.

So now I am planning my next moves. Thanks to a few very helpful people in my last few days, I have made infinite connections in Eastern Congo in & around Goma so I am now in the process of planning this trip in detail. At this stage I am thinking about a few stories ranging from horrific conflict, to natural beauty to positive growth in some in regards to trade within Congo – stay tuned for more on this but don’t want to give too much away. Right now I am just networking and getting all my contacts to get the stories together.

I am also thinking of doing something in Eastern Europe down Chechnya / Georgia way on life and recovery after the war – this isn’t appearing to be an easy task but stay tuned for this…

Oh yes, sorry I didn’t write much in my last weeks in Nairobi but this was for a few reasons:

1) unclear head
2) serious censorship of sites down there so if I talk too much about what I want to do, it might not help me at all
3) personal issues while there…

What I did find there is a load of bureaucratic bullocks that is very hard to get around. Dealt with the likes of Department of Immigration, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Refugee Council and so on… Very senior people also. What did I learn? Simply, don’t bother with these guys. They are so locked into their actions and making money of the poor, that they simply brush you off, pass the buck & don’t want anything to do with journalists… So in future, go around them, get someone else (major NGO or media) to deal with them for you, find a fixer to do it for you or even get your damn Mum to call them! Just don’t do it yourself…

I won’t write much more on that one simply because I will be back down there in the future.

What else? USAID – Bullocks… I mean, they are doing great things as far as food rations to Eastern Africa, but to deal with them as a photojournalist is a definite No No. Simply put, they ended up “nearly” coming through for me and sending me to Dadaab. We agreed that I would fly with them, they would put me up there etc… and in the end they said that they would own my photographs and that I couldn’t even use them for personal promotion in my portfolio or competitions! So in summary, I told them to F**K OFF and get realistic… I would love to help out any NGO in the area, but be realistic – its an exchange of skill sets and don’t ever give me “you are dealing with the US Government” shite… As they said the US Government would own my photos and I couldn’t even use them in my portfolio I backed out and told them where to go. I really hope in the future that I will work with some great NGO’s but only if its a two way deal – we both help each other & I get paid!

Anyway, enough bitching… I am back in Helsinki, happy (partially) with my experiences in Kenya & soon will be back that way for my DRC work… Stay tuned!

And for those of you in Helsinki – Let’s drink!

P.S – I’d like to personally stick my fingers up to Finnair! Sorry for those of you working with them but I did not pay for excess baggage to Africa from Helsinki with Blue1 or Kenya Airways and from London to Helsinki they, “Finnair” charged me 72 pounds… That is nearly 90eur for 8 kilos over! What has flying come too? Ryanair I understand giving shit service as they are cheap, but Finnair? Really, I did expect more & rude ground crew… Go f**K yourself!

A child leaning aggainst a worship centre in Kibera slum, Nairobi

A child with HIV in Medicines San Frontieres medical clinic in Kibera

Most girls and boys in Kibera work hard at a young age as they don't get a chance to go to school

A young girl in Kibera slum, Nairobi

A young girl waiting anxiously outside an empty school in Kibera

Not gonna talk about work, photography or anything like that today, as I am relaxing

Its good that its quiet as its giving me time to reflect and think about what next!

As I am a little hungover, I have uploaded a few basic photos instead of explaining the place to you. I’ll be here for a few more days & then not sure… But, many of you I will be seeing very soon on return to Europe so looking forward to those beers in Terrasi!

So without saying anything else… Here is a few photos. Actually, sorry to say, but this wordpress thing sucks & I don’t at this stage seem to be able to upload pictures so you can check them out in Facebook. And if you aren’t my friend in Facebook then you should be

Big Love

Mike

In the meantime, I’ve done some more work on my site www.michaeltrenerry.com.

Athi River, Dandoras Dump, Kibera, Mathare Child Development Centre for mostly orphans, the multimedia piece in Athi River & I have created a new project with snaps that I liked as individuals…

More to follow but now for some vino

So why am I bringing this up in my blog focusing on photography & exploring the routes of being a photojournalist in East Africa? Because there seems to be more bureaucratic crap here than ever before. Well, it just seems that the buck keeps getting passed – corruption anybody? I have visited several official offices for a few reasons and seems I just get passed on to the next fuzz ball! Well, anyway its damn tiring & tests ones patience! There is a spot of hope though – seems there is normally one person at least who wants to help which is cool. I’ll get back to you on this but for auditing purposes I am leaving out the finer details due to censorship on the internet in this region by the government.

What else is happening? Thinking of taking a wee beach side break down to Mombasa now. The time has come and a fresh set of eyes is needed after seeing the slums and dirty parts of Kenya only so far… Just looking at a beach hut in a place called Diani where I can do some diving, chill on the beach and hopefully find a good beach bar where I can just chill & soak in some tunes in the sun.

Been here now over 4 weeks and it kinda feels a lot longer actually. Feels like I’ve been here for ages actually & while I am definitely meeting some interesting folk, I can say for sure that I highly doubt I will end up living here. I miss Europe and quite honestly, miss the comfort of being able to walk around. Starting to explore some ideas in Eastern Europe, Ukraine, Russia and then Southern Europe with asylum seekers so hopefully I have something to focus on when I return…

One picks up the newspaper in the morning here & front page title is death and despair. The sad part is that the outside world finds out very little about what shit goes on down here. Good or bad is the question?

Righteo, this boy has to find himself a cabana on the beach for a cheap price so laters!

www.michaeltrenerry.com

Feedback invited

So whats been happening? The past week has been a hard one – many things have happened, some good and some bad but more bad than anything to be honest. I’m not going to go into those in detail for reasons I can’t explain but I can say it has definitely brought up mixed emotions & thoughts about the future… At the age of 32 I have pretty much never been home sick but I’d say in the past week, I have been… Not sure where home is anymore – Finland, Australia… But with some of the things that have happened and some of the things I have been seeing, it definitely makes you realize how much you really have & how lucky we are too be born in the western world.

In saying that, I have been very busy this past week with an assignment that I hope to upload within the coming days. In fact there are a few assignments to come – mostly focused on life & living in and around Nairobi. When they are up, you will be the first to know or in this case Google will be the first to know!

In the meantime, I am keeping my fingers crossed that more positive thoughts come to mind in the coming week. I am highly considering a trip next week to the coast for a few days – after seeing dumps, slums and disease for a solid four weeks, perhaps its time I see a little of the beautiful Africa we read about in magazines.

Tomorrow I head to Mathari, one of the more dangerous slums in Nairobi to photograph a medical clinic and an orphanage that I partially visited yesterday. Saturday I’ll continue my story in Kibera but will hopefully be hanging with this guy who calls himself Solo 7 – during the post election violence he was responsible for putting artwork all over Kibera Slum asking for “peace from the people”… I met a friend of his during the week and he was a true Rasta so very nice guy…

Anyway, just a wee update to let all know that I am safe and fine. I am missing all of you out there & definitely looking forward to a summer in Europe at this stage anyway.

Stay tuned and big love…

Met with USAID last week & next week I have two meetings, one with Oxfam & the other with UNHCR to discuss doing some projects in the north of Kenya. I hope to do a big project on Dadaab, one of the biggest IDP camps there is housing over 250,000 people who have fled the conflicts of Somalia. Evidentally the estimates are that around 12,000 are fleeing a month so the issues is just evolving….

Anyway, enough blogging for another week. Next some photos from Dandora & Kibera!

Big Love