Storyhouse Elders: Jim Holmes on The Mekong River in South East Asia
Event details
Part of Storyhouse Elders
Jim Holmes – a documentary and location photographer, covering social documentary, environment and human development stories – is back by popular demand.
In this 60-minute talk, Jim will inform and entertain with anecdotes as he guides us along the Mekong River in South East Asia. From the mind-broadening benefits of travel to the value of photographic creativity when we go on a journey, travel has so much to offer whether close to home or far afield.
The Mekong
Follow one of the world’s mightiest rivers as it flows through the mountains of Laos, Cambodia, Thailand and out into the sea from verdant delta in Vietnam. Jump ship to visit French colonial remnants, ancient kingdom treasures and see the largest freshwater fish in the world. Will the very survival of this great river be challenged by new, vast hydropower dams?
Pay what you can: £0 – £5
About Jim Holmes
I am a British/Australian freelance documentary photographer now living in Chester, in the UK.
I have spent 30 years specialising in documenting humanitarian work worldwide, and especially the issues, needs, solutions and outcomes of the development process. My focus is the individuals and communities that are affected by these needs and the challenges they face before and within this process. I have worked in almost 50 countries throughout Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia including collectively living in Vietnam, Laos and Japan for over 20 years.
Social and economic development issues are told through the lives and lifestyles of the world’s marginalised people, bringing their situations and struggle to light. Current topics of health, child protection, WaSH, education, infrastructure, agriculture and fisheries are illustrated through the prism of emerging climate change issues affecting communities and economies.
I have extensive experience working for multilateral agencies such as the World Bank, United Nations agencies including WFP, UNICEF, FAO, UNCDF, UNDP, UNEP, and WHO and with numerous international non-government organisations that manage projects worldwide.
My documentary skills have been used on large commercial projects from mineral extraction (Phu Bia) to large hydropower projects (THPC) in the developing world. Using a corporate documentary style my images illustrate civil works, plant, staff, environmental protection, community engagement and community support issues.
