my city my view young photographers celebrating 25 years of EUROCITIES Paul Bevan Secretary General EUROCITIES photo competition In celebration of its 25th anniversary, EUROCITIES asked its members to provide a photo - taken by a young person between the ages of 15 and 25 - which represents their city. Cities could choose how best to select this photo, with some launching competitions or taking advantage of social media to reach young photographers. The criteria for competition entries were that they must be taken by a photographer between the ages of 15 and 25, and that they must illustrate ‘people and place’ in line with the EUROCITIES 2011Genoa conference theme, with some suggested themes such as wealth and poverty, planning for the future, transformation processes and liveable neighbourhoods. The chosen photos were then submitted, with three winners picked by an independent jury. All young photographers were invited to Genoa to exhibit their photos. We also received some entries which, although printed in this book, were not eligible for the competition, some because their photographer was outside the age bracket, or because they were submitted after the deadline. m y c i t y m i j n s t a d m a v i l l e m i c i u d a d mojeměsto m y v i e w We would like to thank the following cities for their generous contributions towards our EUROCITIES 25 years special activities: GRAND LYON NANTES METROPOLE ROTTERDAM THE HAGUE WARSAW FOREWORD Frank Jensen Lord Mayor of Copenhagen President of EUROCITIES ‘My city – my view’ is a collection of photos by young photographers from across the EUROCITIES network. To celebrate 25 years of EUROCITIES, members were asked to select one photo which best represents their city, taken by a young person aged 15 to 25. They embraced the concept, with many launching calls for entries using competitions and social media. With the title in mind, we were looking for images which show the people and the places that make up our cities. In these pages you will find the inspiring contributions we have received from young photographers across Europe. It is these young people who will shape the future of our cities, bringing with them new skills, perspectives and ideas. It is therefore essential that we nurture and encourage this talent, and this photo book is an excellent example of showcasing their potential. This book also offers a unique insight into city life across our network: the people and the places that make Europe what it is today. I encourage you to take the time to enjoy this book, read the stories behind the photos and reflect on what the next 25 years might have in store for Europe’s cities, with these young people paving the way. 4 Anna Drozd specialises in Michael Chia is a freelance Caroline Van Kerckhoven is social, employment and commercial and art a youth worker at D’BROEJ, education policy in EUROCITIES. photographer. He has an association of ten youth Last year, she coordinated had several exhibitions in organisations in different our activities under the 2010 international fine art galleries. neighbourhoods in Brussels. European Year for Combating Through leisure activities and Poverty and Social Exclusion. Michael was born and raised projects, D’BROEJ contributes to Her main interests are social in Singapore, and now lives the development and support and physical regeneration in and works in Brussels, Belgium. of children and youngsters. urban areas, planning and He is also an accomplished management in cities, as photography workshop leader Caroline began her career as well as the public sector in and organises seminars for a physicist, but quickly shifted general, education policy and people who wish to use this her focus to social work. After international development. media as a tool for artistic self a year spent volunteering in Taking photos is her hobby expression. Pakistan and Bolivia, she arrived and she is especially keen on in Brussels in 2004 where she concert photography, urban He has accumulated his has been working for several and travel photography, as well vast experience travelling years. As well as youth work, as landscapes. In the future, around Europe and Asia for she also makes documentaries. she would like to start making his photography projects. This Within D’BROEJ, she guides and photo-reportages. provided him with an eye for supports youth workers and detail and an ease for working their groups in using video and with people when shooting other multimedia tools as a way portraits. of communicating, exploring the world and expressing THE JURY themselves. 5 6 WINNER Jelena Bajić, 24 years Jelena Pažin, 25 years BANJA LUKA Bosnia & Herzegovina Connection This photo was taken during a 24-hour photo marathon. The idea was to produce ten creative photographs of their hometown. This seemed like an interesting challenge, but they had no idea how much of a challenge it would be. They brainstormed ideas, but couldn’t brainstorm their way around the fact that it was snowing and freezing that day. Ustanička Street is one of the most peculiar streets in Banja Luka. Every house has a story to tell. People usually have huge, uninviting garage doors designed to keep everyone at bay, but these bright blue doors with an improvised post box were just the opposite. They conveyed the owner’s sense of humour and stood out for their uniqueness. Our busy day-to-day lives can make us blind to the most wonderful things around us. Even in the tiniest streets far from the bustling city centre one can discover small hidden treasures. 7 8 WINNER Antigoni Metaxaki 25 years HERAKLION Greece Anticipation While walking the streets of Heraklion one sunny morning I caught sight of this little girl. She was sitting on the ground at the Morozini Square playing her accordion, waiting for passersby to reward her with a coin. Her eyes are fixed on the woman’s bag and clothes. Though it is not an unusual sight nowadays, what touched me more was the desperate expression on her face, reflecting the poverty and abandonment, not only of this specific girl, but of helpless and innocent girls around the world being exploited by grown-ups. Will it ever be possible to eliminate the gap between poverty and wealth? Will the world ever be fairer? 9 10 WINNER Srdjan Srdjanov 24 years NOVI SAD Serbia Forever Young This photo was taken during this year’s ‘third photomarathon’ in Novi Sad. This event attracts photographers from all over the country trying to capture the essence of our city. I noticed these three senior ladies leaving a retirement club and getting into a vintage car. Since there were photographers all over the town and everybody knew about the event, these ladies were nice enough to let me take a photo of them. Novi Sad is a city of young people. We have a big university campus with nearly 40,000 students. In an environment like this it is easy to preserve a young spirit that will stay with you throughout your whole life. 11 AARHUS Denmark Sara S. and Alaa E. play football in the schoolyard at Lykkeskolen in Aarhus, Denmark. Lykkeskolen is an independent school with a focus on the study of the Qur’an and the Arabic language. The girls in the seventh grade class at the school are facing a decision in their lives that is very important to their religion. Around the age of 14 and 15, young Muslim women typically are faced with the decision of whether or not to take the hijab, the Muslim veil of modesty. Most of the girls in the seventh grade class at Lykkeskolen have already taken the veil, though some are still making the decision. However, all express excitement Katie Currid at the chance to take the hijab, as they see it as a symbol of 21 years Islam and also a sign of maturity. 12 AMSTERDAM Netherlands This spot means a lot to me because it radiates peace and Roxanne Spaans quiet in the middle of the hustle and bustle of the city. If I 18 years didn’t know Amsterdam and I saw this photo, I would want to stay here forever. 13 ANTWERP Belgium The picture was taken by a young photographer from Stampmedia. Stampmedia is a youth press agency based in Antwerp. All their articles and pictures are written and taken by young volunteers. The photo was taken at Park Middenvijver, in Antwerp at a kite festival that was organised in partnership with different actors from the local community: the cultural centre, the Afghan community, schools, etc. The activity was part of the programme of Antwerp European Youth Capital Vincent Buyssens 2011. We chose the photo because it shows the beauty of 21 years multicultural and sectoral crossover and cooperation. 14 Joy in the Castell BARCELONA ‘Castells’, or human towers, are part of the culture of Catalonia. Spain Declared ‘intangible cultural heritage’ by UNESCO in 2010, the castells are human towers that are very beautiful as well as being technically demanding. The human towers require effort and solidarity: the youngest ‘castellers’ climb up to the top of the tower while the strongest ones support the base. The photograph shows, close up, the delight of Petra Rechach i Torrens, a member of the ‘Colla dels Castellers de Sants’ (the Human Tower Association of the neighbourhood of Sants). In the background you can see how the tower is being successfully dismantled. The photograph was taken during La Mercè, a major festival in Barcelona, in the main Sant Jaume Jorge Dourado square.