Documentary photography students from the University of Wales, Newport, are to have their work exhibited at the club founded by reporters and photojournalists who make their living reporting from the world's war zones. Anastasia Taylor-Lind, Helen Rimell and Jason Moore, who all graduate in September, have taken photos in Middle East hot-spots as part of their course work. An exhibition of their photos went on show on 27 August until 17 September.
Anastasia Taylor-Lind is only 23 but is already building a considerable reputation for the photos she has taken documenting the lives of women soldiers in northern Iraq. She recently returned from Vietnam where she had been selected to represent the UK in a masterclass organised by World Press Photo, the world's most prestigious press photography organisation.
"Anastasia has proved to be a remarkable student," said her tutor, Ken Grant, a senior lecturer in Documentary Photography.
"She has tested herself in the extremes of conflict in Iraq, explored the long-term residue of war through the eyes of incapacitated Gulf War veterans, and recently returned from the unstable refugee hostels which are now so much a feature of the southern shores of Spain.
"In all of this, she has demonstrated not only courage and independence, but great sensitivity and a wisdom that belies her 24 years.
"A year ago, whilst planning her trips, Anastasia told me that she saw these projects as a test - to see if she was able to work at the highest level. Now with recent shows in Sweden, and a forthcoming showcase in London, it seems clear to us all that she has passed the first of many tests, towards establishing herself at the heart of contemporary photojournalism."
Anastasia's fellow student, Helen Rimell, is also proving herself a proficient photojournalist. The Frontline exhibition will feature her project, A Voice for the Voiceless, a face for the faceless, taken in and around Kabul, Afghanistan, where she spent 10 weeks taking over 1,500 photographs chronicling life after the Taliban.
Her favourite photo is of a woman police officer who had been forced to give up her job when the Taliban took power and fled into hiding - she has now resumed work in the police.
Thirty-year-old Helen is now trying to get a job in Afghanistan working for a photo agency there.
"It's a lovely place," she said. "The women are so positive and happy to be able to study again, which they couldn't do under the Taliban. One of my fondest memories was being in a sports stadium for a celebration of education - the same stadium where women used to be stoned to death."
Helen plans to go back to Afghanistan to do voluntary work for a month, teaching girls literacy through photography.
One of the tutors on the course is acclaimed documentary photographer, Professor Paul Seawright, Dean of the Newport School of Art Media and Design, who was an official war photographer in Afghanistan. Professor Seawright was also selected to represent Wales in the world's most prestigious art show, the Venice Biennale.
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