“Being a photojournalist means trying to tell life stories through pictures”

The Swedish photographer Åsa Sjöström has a special relation with our country. The images shot by the Swedish photographer caught the attention of visitors at key Swedish and European exhibitions. Many of her photos were highly appreciated not only by the public, but also by the organizers of photo contests. Her latest victory was the winning of the second prize in the category “Daily Life singles” at the 2015 World Press Photo contest, where she participated with the photo “Orphan Brothers” taken in Moldova. It is a true achievement, as 5,692 photojournalists and documentary photographers from 131 countries participated. Out of the huge number of contributions - about 97,912 photos! - the international jury comprising widely-known professional photojournalists selected only 312 photos published in the media during 2014, and one of the best photos, in their opinion, was the one taken in Moldova, contributed by Åsa Sjöström.
 
In an interview taken by CIJ volunteers Rubén Pulido and Francesco Brusa, photojournalists Åsa Sjöström talked about her story of discovering Moldova, what keeps her close to this country and how she gained her reputation as photojournalist. 

- How did you get to Moldova and what motivated you to learn more about this country?
 
- I went to Moldova for the first time in 2005. I started to work in my own after a year of work at the biggest Swedish newspaper. As I did not get a permanent employment contract there, I decided to pursue my dreams. I was looking into going to the Middle East, but a friend suggested me to go to Eastern Europe. That's how I discovered Moldova. You do not hear much about this country in Sweden; some were telling me about human trafficking. Many people think about Moldova as a country whit a negative background... To be honest, at the beginning I shared this impression. The first thing I wanted to cover in Moldova was a story about trafficking of women. However, when I came to Chisinau things changed a bit. I spent my first two weeks in a shelter for children. Then I started to take pictures of the ballet school located in a building that was beautiful to me. I spent some hours there taking pictures of the dancers. That's how I took my first pictures in Moldova.
 
- How did you explore Moldova and how did your impression differ from what they say about the country in the international media? I am asking because, as you just said, there are a lot of stereotypes...

- The people that I have met are very friendly and helpful. I think it has been quite easy to work as photographer. There are lot of interesting family stories there. - As for the stereotypes... Always, some expectations and legends turn out to be true and others don't. If you don’t spend time there you just scratch the surface. It takes time to really understand the difficulties the country is having. I always try to stay as much as I can. Also, I think that it is really important to be open to anything; for example, before traveling to a country you can have an idea, but when you get to a place you can discover something entirely different from what you expected.
 
- Did you find it difficult to take pictures here?

- Well, I would say that there were some red tape issues, but we managed to overcome them eventually and it wasn't that difficult after all.  Somehow, since my first trip I felt in love with Moldova and I wanted to come back; and so I did. In 2005 and 2006 I traveled to Transnistria. I saw a chance to go back to Moldova when the situation in Ukraine heated up, because the editors at the newspaper I worked for were interested in the Moldovan situation. I traveled several times to Gagauzia, where we covered some stories.
 
- Nowadays, the media abounds in images, video recordings, pictures of events. How do you choose what is worthy to be shot and what is not?

- I find it interesting to show genuine things that may seem insignificant at the moment. I like to portrait the reality. I try to show more than people usually expect. For example, in Dahaab, the biggest refugee camp in the world close to Somalia: before I went there I just thought about taking pictures of starving people. But when I got there I was overwhelmed by the Dahaab as a community: they had cinema, outdoor entertainment, families engaged in various activities. I found this really interesting; in my opinion, it is also necessary to show this reality.   
 
- What do you think about the social value of an image?

 - One always wants to achieve something when telling real life stories. It is the dream of the journalist to change reality. I focus on women and children and I try to show them from a beautiful perspective. When I take pictures, I like not to interfere, I try to be quiet when I work. I try to look for a certain moment when I feel something. That's where the social value of the picture derives from.
 
- In your opinion, what is the difference between photojournalism and artistic photography?

- I see myself as a photojournalist because I am trying to tell stories. When I am not taking pictures I am socializing, knowing the people, and then when something happens I take my camera and I take pictures. Some journalists make photographic pieces of art. Everyone chooses his own language to tell the story. The good journalists or photographers have their own language.
 
- What is your opinion about the use of technology (mobile applications, for instance) to take pictures? Everyone thinks nowadays that he can be a photographer...

- As a professional photographer you cannot be scared of that. It is just an incentive to do even better. Being a professional requires much accountability. It needs time, imagination, many other ingredients for catching the moment, as a professional picture always sends a message. Everyone can snatch a picture on Instagram, but what does it say? That is what really matters. You can really see the differences between a professional photographer and someone who is not. There is a reason why around 20% of photojournalists are disqualified for the World Press Photo because they have manipulated the pictures. A professional is more into the people he photographs, there is a meaning in his pictures.

I snatch a lot with my mobile, but it does not mean much to me. On the other hand, sometimes taking pictures with a mobile phone is the only way for journalists to provide images, whenever they are not allowed to take pictures.  
 

 - Let us talk about the picture that got the second prize at the World Press Photo contest. Tell us more about it. How did you find the two brothers? What was inspiring about their life story?

  - As I was telling you, women and children is my topic of choice. The picture that won the second prize at this prestigious international contest was initially called "Birthday Chocolate Cake". I took it on March 24, 2014, at a shelter for children. The two boys in the picture are twin brothers, Igor and Artur; it was their ninth birthday on that day and I made the picture when they were discussing how to give some chocolate to their teacher, to celebrate their birthday. It was an emotional moment. The story of their life is just as emotional. When they were only one year old, Igor and Artur lost their mother, who left for Moscow to earn money and never came back. Later they learned that the worked at a construction site and died there. The brothers do not have a father either. It is a sad story, so typical for many more children in Moldova, whose parents left them in the care of relatives and went to work abroad. I spent over two weeks among these children and I was deeply touched by their dramatic stories.
 
- What did participation at this prestigious contest mean to you?

- Every year I sent some pictures to the Swedish Picture of the year award, because is free. We are a couple of photographers in Malmö, where I live. We keep an eye on each other's work and sometimes it brings about some kind of professional development.

The World Press Photo contest is an event that lets one show his work to a very large audience, which implies great accountability. There is a lot of hard work behind each winning picture. I think that these events are a way of keeping the photography and photojournalism at a high level, which means much to photojournalists and to history. Besides, the photos participating at the contest are interesting for other people and the stories you have made can live longer.
 
- Do you have any advice for a student of photography?

- It is always good to photograph a lot and never be afraid of asking people if you may take pictures of them. When you go into sensitive topics, you have to think why you are there and what story you want to tell. You have a responsibility as a photographer and you have to take care of the stories that people share with you.
 
 
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:     
Åsa Sjöström is a Swedish photographer based in Malmö, Sweden. Her work focuses on social and cultural issues especially relating to the intimate world of women and children. She has been given several awards for her photojournalistic work such as World Press Photo (2005, 2006, 2015), Poyi (2015) and the Swedish Picture of the Year Award. Her work has received twice the UNICEF Picture of the Year Award, as well as the Swedish Red Cross Journalism Award.

Too see more about Åsa Sjöström's projects visit her website: www.asasjostrom.com
 
To see the wining photos at the World Press Photo 2015 contest, go to http://www.worldpressphoto.org/awards/2015