Kickstarter

All contributors will receive "backer-only" updates along the way, which will include early-release photographs before anyone else sees them.

THE STORY

I have always loved cities. In my travels I dedicated myself to cities, both historic and understated. I love the streets and corridors of beautiful and dull buildings. I love the isolating anonymity of people and the crowd. I love the multitude of cultures vibrant and shifting from block to block.

But now I will find Svaneti.

Svaneti is an isolated mountain region in northern Georgia on the border of Russia. There is one main road in, one large town, and a number of smaller settlements throughout the area. There is a notable cluster of towns called Ushguli, which is thought to be the highest continuously populated settlement in Europe. That's my goal.

I intend to reach Svaneti by starting my trip in Tbilisi, one of the world's great classical capitals. I intend to embrace my love of cities in the urban portion of the work. Then I will leave this comfortable environment and head towards Svaneti. The work will transition from urban to rural, from city to no-city.

My flight is on June 1st, 2012.

THE APPROACH

I am a film photographer, and I will shoot a prolific amount of film on this journey. It be will assembled and presented in a coherent narrative, as I transition from the city to a place of nature. The project will be personal, confessional, difficult, and bold.

In the end, the final product will be a book collecting the work.

QUALIFICATIONS

I am a traveler of many years. I have traveled through the eastern United States, Western Europe, Romania, and Bulgaria. I spent twenty four hours awake in Istanbul photographing the city. I lived in Mumbai during the 2008 attacks, and subsequently left my new home in search of work and safety in Germany, Sweden, and the Baltic states. I now live in Queens, New York, and I have published two books.

Khamra Obscura, 24 Rolls of Film in 24 Hours in Istanbul: A 440-page book of about 650 photographs. I walked through Istanbul and shot a roll of film every hour for 24 consecutive hours and presented the work in entirety and in sequence. Khamra Obscura was my effort to present the richness of a city with Islamic cultural heritage, thus challenging Western perceptions of the region as a troubled and violent monoculture. I helped fund this project through Kickstarter last year.

The Citadel is Everywhere: A 160-page book of about 90 photographs. This collection of my work shot from 2007 to 2010 spans three continents and ten countries. It explores feelings of alienation, and explores personal depths as vast as the distances traveled.

WHAT WILL YOUR PLEDGE BE USED FOR?

In addition to the deep gratitude that I have for anyone who believes in and follows my work, your funding is invaluable to my ability to undertake this project. I have secured my tickets, but your pledge allows me to buy the great stock of film I need to create my work. My film of choice [Ilford Delta Pro 400 & 3200 36 exposures] costs (as of my last purchase) around $7 per roll. With the amount that I shoot, this gets very expensive. Beyond that, funding allows me additional materials for printing my work, exhibiting it, and acquiring space to display and sell it. I personally carry out every single step of production, from developing and processing to printing and book development.*

My goal amount is listed at $500, which I believe is relatively low. I run a very tight ship and I feel that a humble approach helps ensure the honesty of the work. The absolute biggest cash-sink for my projects is not travel, lodging, or materials -- it's the eventual publicity and expenses for getting the word out, like submitting to competitions and seeking gallery exposure. If you believe in me and what my work stands for, please know that your contributions help me get my work seen.

* With help from my wonderful and talented friends.

NOTES

In addition to the Kickstarter rewards for everyone who pledges, you will be given private access to my work as I develop it. In general, I hold back the release of my work until it is fully completed, but you will be able to see it as it progresses. I use backer-only updates to keep in touch with those who have pledged and to distribute these early results.

This is an ambitious journey. Svaneti is an isolated region that is difficult to reach. It has always remained independent from the historic invaders of Georgia who just couldn't get there. I plan to make this effort to the best of my ability, however, if acts of god or man make it dangerous or forbidding, I will adjust my path accordingly -- but you can be assured that any shift in the plan will only lead to more intrigue in the story.

MORE OF MY WORK