Ben Wilhelmi

portraits, South Sudan

 

 

Pictures are not as easy as in Tanzania. The most hated and overused word “security” is constantly put in my face even for civilian subject. An obscure VIP passenger made me delete a picture. Luckily he didn’t know a tenth on the subject. I’ve been briefly arrested and brought to army barracks last week for shooting a street vendor. Talking about f..security? Long minutes of stress wondering if I’d get my Leica back. I did and without a bribe, funny enough.

So I sometimes pretend to phone and shoot discreetly with a silent smartphone while passengers and various onlookers hang around the aircraft.

 

 

 

 

 

 

People, South Sudan

 

There is quite a diversity of fashion and style in South Sudan. Too bad I never stay in those places. There would be so many real portraits to shoot…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tanzania, portraits in B/W

 

 

 

 

 

 

Random pictures, South Sudan

 

Now I got your attention, right?

 

Normally we carry these in the cargo pod. I had it once that the VIP’s party security guys were threatening  and adamant that these things would go inside. The thing is quite long and had to be stored pointed at me…great feeling. I told the boss I wouldn’t do the return flight in those conditions. It worked, the security guys must have been told off because they were polite and accommodating suddenly.

 

This weekend in Malakal, 89 boys have been abducted by masked cowards. They searched house to house and any boy over 12 was targeted…sad. According to Unicef, there are 12000 child soldiers in South Sudan. Government and rebels deny any implication, for once they agree on something.

This picture was shot in Gurumuk a while ago but  last week, good news, 289 child soldiers were freed there. Maybe this kid was amongst them. I hope he hasn’t seen and done too many horrors.

 

The status of a woman runs quite low especially in war times. This women association was not spared in some rebel attacks in Ayod. That bullet hole seems to add insult to injury, what a symbol.

 

Travelling in a military convoy across the bush.

 

A soldier is getting ready to dance.

 

But there is beauty in South Sudan! Women tend to dress well, to love colors and artistic patterns.

Aerial shots, lake Natron

 I miss Tanzania... in term of landscapes South Sudan has nothing to offer in comparison...

 

There is that stunning salt lake in the Rift valley, Tanzania. I can’t remember flying over once and thinking “not even worth one picture today”. There is always something to marvel at. The temperature is 40C in average, so to see kids running on the boiling crust was quite a surprise.

 

 

 

 

 

These pictures were shot the same day! It gives an idea of the diversity of that incredible lake. Unfortunately, this wonder is at risk: short sighted people have decided to build a soda factory there against a tremendous amount of negative reports…

the streets of Arusha

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aerial photography, South Sudan

 

Bor airfield. One of the UN bases in the country. Mi 8 or Mi 26 helicopters are based here.

 

Some swamp near Mankien.

and a more general view of these swamps.

 

 

 

Mud flow on the Nile.

 

Barges on the Nile.

Chocolate in Belgium

 

A bit erotic for chocolate, no? Ah yes Belgian chocolates are so good they are orgasmic.

 

Not sure this girl indulges very often in chocolate… though as they say, chocolate comes from a tree bean ergo it is a fruit or a vegetable, healthy that is….

 

 

 

Abandoned airplanes, Lokichoggio

 

Always a sad view for any pilot.

 

What happened to this mythical DC3? They’re still flying around in many places….it still looks good.

 

 

I heard the story that a US pilot came in Loki and wanted to restore this DC6 and another, then have them fly back to the US. But he went to the 2nd Irak war. And the planes are still here….

Street photography in Belgium

 

 

 

 

 

 

Leica M8 and 28mm lens at work.

Aerial photography in South Sudan

 

South Sudan is not as exciting to overfly as Tanzania, far from it. But it has its beautiful spots alongside the Nile usually.

A double rainbow, not that rare.

 

The Nile, called White Nile on this South Sudanese portion.

 

Approaching Juba.

 

 

The dry season, like in Tanzania, doesn’t bring anything positive in term of photography. The visibility is lousy, contrasts are dead flat.

 

The rainy seasons are always more interesting for flyers or photographers.

 

A swamp in the rainy season near Pibor.

 

Shot on Leica M8

B/W portraits, Tanzania

 

 A Sonjo woman protecting herself from the scorching sun.

 

 

 

 

Random pictures, South Sudan

 

 

South Sudanese women can be really stunning!

 

 

No comment on the tshirt…

 

A last minute passenger. In the cargo pod! Easier to clean….

 

 

Notice the baby in the wheel barrow.

 

A usual welcoming soldier when a VIP is around the aircraft.

Le Tour de France, photography on finale

 

The last day of the Tour on the Champs Elysées. I thought there was more show on the pavement alongside the racetrack.

The official T-shirt.

 

A Japanese lady with an official Japanese/Tour garment?

 

A selection of fans…

 

What was Wonderwoman doing there, mystery. I should have asked, she looked friendly with the Belgian guys…

 

Last but not least…

 

Some amateurs were allowed to cycle behind the racers.

 

 

 

South Sudan, hot tempered soldiers

 

We all thread carefully when it comes to soldiers, security people( a loose denomination here) and police. They think they have all the rights and can behave accordingly…

We had that flight to Ayod to retrieve 2 wounded soldiers. Bullet wounds we heard. On landing we noticed the usual dozens of soldiers, all armed up to RPG weapon even, and an armored vehicle coming to enforce our safety.

We loaded the 2 patients, only one was bleeding, plus a few other guys happy to catch a ride back.

One soldier, a bit drunk and loaded with 2 slung Kalashnikovs AK 47 ,tried to get in but some colleagues prevented him. The drunkard was getting aggressive about it and another soldier, quite big, came, grabbed him by the collar and threw him in the dust, which feat was not appreciated in front of a big laughing stock. He stood up in utmost anger, dropped his weapons on the ground (pfew) and started a fist fight with the big guy. The big guy, being big and sober but also angry, maybe willing to settle an old score, punched him a few times in the face. The crowd is dancing, jeering, betting maybe. Now his mouth was bleeding, his anger has increased another step…

He went back and retrieved an AK 47, cocked it up! Instantly about 20 soldiers and the big guy did the same and started to yell and pointed their weapon at each other. My smile fainted a bit at this point. It looked like in a bar fight where people don’t really know who they are punching anymore…

39 Celsius might fry some neurons on a daily basis.

I moved back to the aircraft, at least I didn’t have my back to check, only 180 degrees. The young copilot followed me. Then I heard a gunshot in the distance. Maybe it was time to move on…

We closed the doors while another far gunshot was heard. Maybe the rebels were closing in? They should just wait, it looks like these guys here could do them a favor. When we took off, they were still at each other in the same frenzy.

I thought they might call us back for more victims but 2 days later, nothing.

And today, there is a rumor that a plane was shot down in Maban, another hot zone. That would be the 3rd plane since August.

Yesterday the town of Bentiu with 53.000 refugees was bombed by rebels. I haven’t heard about the casualties yet.

Arusha, street photography

 

 

 

A helmet!! Not that many around.

 

 

 

Imagine the convoy, indicators blinking, horns blaring that annoying tune, a band with trumpets in a pick up…

 

South Sudan, kids in B/W

 

So on my 2nd tour in South Sudan, I left my Leica M8 and M6 in Tanzania, photography can be sensitive here. I’ve been arrested and questioned by the military for taking a picture of a street seller. No way to discuss with those guys. I was afraid they’d smash my camera! 30 years of war and various turmoil must leave some psychological marks. So this time I brought an old Nikon D200, still a great camera but which has lost its value on the 2nd hand market. I’d rather lose that one in the hands of some obnoxious ignorant people.

Meanwhile, in this place called Pibor, kids loved the shooting and a few soldiers passed by ignoring me. So cows and huts are not highly confidential and sensitive in this place, good to know.

 

 

 

Yep, those little punks have seen bad examples from rappers. They happily showed a lonely finger for the pose.

 

street photography in Paris

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pictures taken with Leica M8

Scenes in Tanzania

 

Some random and analog pictures over the years.

A Maasai man in a bush bar.

 

 

 

An old man takes it easy in Zanzibar.

 

 

 

On the phone, in the middle of nowhere. Tanzania is fast growing in term of networking.

Some people, South Sudan

 

 

 

 

 

Fashion victims?

 

Traditional scars on the forehead.

 

Aerials, South Sudan

 

Juba, only a few km of tarred roads.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oops, a picture of a bridge. Probably a felony, a crime to get of picture of it.

Brussels, street photography

 

 

 

 

 

 

August 2014, experimenting with my then newly acquired Leica M8.

People, South Sudan

 

A common scenery in Africa, a woman on water duty.

 

To be fair, this guy was doing his share too.

 

 

 

No comment…well yes, the Iron Maiden shirt and the rasta bandanna.

 

Arusha, street photography

 

That beggar stands under a banner for medical care. I’m not sure he can afford any of it.

 

“Passport Express”?

 

 

These guys are poor, probably don’t eat enough and must be fit.

 

 

Dar es Salaam in the rain

 

 

 

 On the main road.