Kickstarter

Hi. Thanks for checking out my project.

I want to create a photo documentary about the last Box-Camera photographers in Afghanistan.

The Box-Camera has been the photographers tool to take ID and portrait photographs in Afghanistan for the last 100 years. Slowly but surely digital is taking over and most photographers are moving to the cheaper and easier way of taking photographs.

I first encountered the Afghan Box-Camera in 2006. I spent several summers in and around Afghanistan to document tourists in conflict zones together with my friend Sean Foley. (Kafkanistan)

The camera is as you can see in the Video a very simple box. Containing everything you need to take a picture. Lens, photographic paper and darkroom. A very essential way of taking an image.
First you take a negative after that you take a picture of the negative and you will get a positive.

Several western journalist have reported on the Box-Camera but no bigger record has been taken of this photography form. Further more I want not only to record these photographers and their amazing tools, I want to photograph them with my own Box-Camera.

I will also buy as many photos as possible taken with Afghan Box-Camera photographers as well as actual Box-Cameras.
During my travels and documentation in Afghanistan I will collaborate with local photographers as I will need their help to understand their fascination for this tool.

And this is exactly what I would use your support for:
The money raised will make the trip around Afghanistan possible visiting and documenting the last remaining professional Box-Camera photographers and the people they photograph.

Once I created this record I will use the images and experience to compile a book and organize a touring exhibition with the work.

More info to my previous projects can be found on
www.lukasbirk.com
project page about tourism to conflict zones
www.kafkanistan.com

If you have any questions or even ideas about my project please get in touch with me.

Thank you all for your support.

Please spread the word

Lukas

credit:
Camera drawing by Landry http://afghancamera.blogspot.com/
http://www.payvand.com