Photo essays
Jan Sochor Photography
Selected photo essays
Shark slaughter
Manta - Puerto López, Ecuador
Every morning, hundreds of shark bodies and thousands of shark fins are sold on the Pacific coast of Ecuador. Most of the shark species fished in Ecuadorean waters are considered as “vulnerable to extinction” by the World Conservation Union (IUCN). Although fishing sharks barely sustain the livelihoods of many poor fishermen on Ecuadorean coast, at the end of the shark fins business chain in Hong Kong they are sold as the most expensive seafood item in the world. The shark fins are primarily exported to China where the shark's fin soup is believed to boost sexual potency and increase vitality. Rapid economic growth across Asia in recent years has dramatically increased demand for the shark fins and has put many shark species populations on the road to extinction.
Sugar cane cutters
Valle del Cauca, Colombia
The Cauca River valley is the booming centre of agriculture and sugar cane cultivation in Colombia. Although the main part of the crop is still refined into a sugar, the global demand of biofuel and ethanol has intensified the sugar cane production in the last years. 85 percent of Colombia's cane crop is still harvested the manual way, employing approximately 30,000 workers. Working six days a week, under harsch labor conditions, the sugar cane cutters earn $4 for every ton of cane they cut, with no access to social benefits due to the tricky system of intermediary contractors and cooperatives.
Fear in El Salvador
El Salvador
During the last two decades, Central America has become the deadliest region in the world that is not at war. According to the UN statistics, more people per capita were killed in El Salvador than in Iraq, in recent years. Due to the criminal activities of Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) and 18th Street Gang (M-18), the two major street gangs in El Salvador, the country has fallen into the spiral of fear, violence and death. Thousands of Mara gang members, both on the streets or in the overcrowded prisons, organize and run extortions, distribution of drugs and kidnappings. Tattooed armed young men, mainly from the poorest neighborhoods, fight unmerciful turf battles with their coevals from the rival gang, balancing between life and death every day. Twenty years after the devastating civil war, a social war has paralyzed the nation of El Salvador.
Warrior Queens
Mexico City, Mexico
Lucha libre, literally “free fight” in Spanish, is a unique Mexican sporting event and cultural phenomenon. Based on aerial acrobatics, rapid holds and the use of mysterious masks, Lucha libre features the wrestlers as fictional characters (Good vs. Evil). Given the popularity of Lucha libre in Mexico, many wrestlers have reached the cult status, showing up in movies or TV shows. However, almost all female fighters are amateur part-time wrestlers or housewives. Passing through the dirty remote areas in the peripheries, listening to the obscene screams from the mainly male audience, these no-name luchadoras fight straight on the street and charge about 10 US dollars for a show. Still, most of the young luchadoras train hard and wrestle virtually anywhere dreaming to escape from the poverty and to become a star worshipped by the modern Mexican society.
Palo: African Ritual in Cuba
Santiago de Cuba, Cuba
The Palo religion (Las Reglas de Congo) belongs to the group of syncretic religions which developed in Cuba amongst the black slaves, originally brought from Congo during the colonial period. Palo, having its roots in spiritual concepts of the indigenous people in Africa, worships the spirits and natural powers but can often give them faces and names known from the Christian dogma. Although there have been strong religious restrictions during the decades of the Cuban Revolution, the majority of Cubans still consult their problems with practitioners of some Afro Cuban religion.
Exorcist
Mexico City, Mexico
Exorcism is an ancient religious technique of evicting spirits, generally called demons or evil, from a person which is believed to be possessed. Although the formal catholic rite of exorcism is rarely seen and must be only conducted by a designated priest, there are many Christian pastors and preachers (known as ‘exorcistas’) performing exorcism and prayers of liberation. Using their strong charisma, special skills and religous formulas, they command the evil spirit to depart a victim's mind and body, usually invoking Jesus Christ or God to intervene in favour of a possessed person.
Santa Muerte
Mexico City, Mexico
The religious cult of Santa Muerte is a syncretic fusion of Aztec death worship rituals and Catholic beliefs. Born in lower-class neighborhoods of Mexico City, it has always been closely associated with crime. In the past decades, original Santa Muerte's followers (such as prostitutes, pickpockets and street drug traffickers) have merged with thousands of ordinary Mexican Catholics. The Saint Death veneration, offering a spiritual way out of hardship in the modern society, has rapidly expanded. Although the Catholic Church considers the Santa Muerte's followers as devil worshippers, on the first day of every month, crowds of believers in Saint Death fill the streets of Tepito. Holding skeletal figurines of Holy Death clothed in a long robe, they pray for power healing, protection and favors and make petitions to ‘La Santísima Muerte’, who reputedly can make life-saving miracles.
Colombia Displaced
Colombia
With nearly fifty years of armed conflict, Colombia has the highest number of civil war refugees in the world. During the last ten years of the civil war more than 3 million people have been forced to abandon their lands and to leave their homes due to the violence. Internally displaced people (IDPs) come from remote rural areas, where most of the clashes between leftist guerrillas FARC-ELN, right-wing paramilitary groups and government forces takes place. Displaced persons flee in a hurry, carrying just personal belongings, and thus they inevitably end up in large slums of the big cities, with no hope for the future.
Hunger and Rage
Port-au-Prince, Haiti
Although the Caribbean islands are widely considered as a holiday paradise, Haiti evokes a hell and a disaster rather than anything else. The overall situation on Haiti gets worse every year and the extreme, hardly imaginable poverty hits more and more people. The Haitian economics is paralysed, there is no infrastructure, no food supplies, the population suffer from hunger, social and living conditions in Haitian slums (e.g. Cité Soleil) are a human tragedy. There seems to be no way out of this misery. Haitian administration is (and always has been) higly corrupted, misappropriation of public funds is common. MINUSTAH (Blue Helmets installed on Haiti by the UN in 2004) substitute the police therefore they are generally not welcomed by the Haitian population. The rage grows and the tension continues with undiminished strength.
Nukak Maku
Guaviare, Amazonia, Colombia
The Nukak Maku people, nomadic hunter-gatherers from Amazonia, were violently driven out of the jungle by the Colombian guerilla and paramilitary squads. Now, roughly cut off their original tribal lifestyle, they stuck between worlds. They learn from the (mainly Christian) aid workers to use clothes, to listen to the radio, to beg for money. Although their digestion suffer, they love to eat sweets, cookies and other western food. They have hunted out all the animals around and now there is nothing left for them. Nukak can not return to the jungle, their world has already passed through an irreversible change.
Comandante and the people
Cuba
During the Cuban Revolution, an armed rebellion at the end of the 1950s in Cuba, most of the revolutionary leaders started as no-name soldiers fighting in the jungle. As those young men risked unselfishly their lives in the name of the country's better future, soon they gained the hearts and genuine support of all poor Cubans. Although the revolutionary leaders, after taking over the power, became autocratic rulers holding almost absolute power and putting the opposition in jail, for some reason Cuban people have never stopped to worship Fidel Castro, Che Guevara, Raul Castro and others. Cubans hang their photos and portraits on the wall in homes, shops and working places even they don't have to. The people of Cuba love their heroes.
Harraga
Tanger, Morocco
Every day tens of Moroccan young men try to cross ilegally the Strait of Gibraltar. “Harraga” (immigrants in Arabic) come to Tanger from all over Morocco. They try their good luck and hidden between the wheels of a truck they attempt to board on a ferry and get to Spain, eventually further to Europe. Considering the thorough checks at the port only few of them make it. Therefore they spend months living on a beach, in huts along the walls of the port, begging for food and waiting for the right night so as their dream about Europe came true.
Photo essay archive
Swamp People
Tumaco, Colombia
Deep in the impenetrable labyrinth of mangrove swamps on the Pacific seashore, hundreds of people struggle everyday, searching and gathering a tiny shellfish called ‘piangua’. Wading through sticky mud among the mangrove tree roots, facing the clouds of mosquitos, they pick up mussels hidden deep in mud, no matter of unbearable tropical heat or strong rain. Although the shellfish pickers, mostly Afro-Colombians displaced by the Colombian armed conflict, take a high risk (malaria, poisonous bites,…), their salary is very low and keeps them living in extreme poverty.
Banana Republic
Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia
Eighty percent of the exported bananas in the world are grown in Latin America. Local farms have no other alternative than to sell for a price offered by the multinational company. When working conditions (workers on the plantations are hired on a monthly-contract basis) and ecology (some pesticides used on the banana plantations are forbidden in Europe and in the US) is in question, the corporations do not have any responsibility as they do not own plantations. Local governments in the attempt of organizing banana export provide low duty taxes on export, they try to eliminate social and enviromental politics to attract the big companies to their countries.
The Battle of Colors
Barranquilla, Colombia
The Carnival of Barranquilla is a unique festivity which takes place every year during February or March on the Caribbean coast of Colombia. A colourful mixture of the ancient African tribal dances and the Spanish music influence – cumbia, porro, mapale, puya, congo among others – hit for five days nearly all central streets of Barranquilla. Those traditions kept for centuries by Black African slaves have had the great impact on Colombian culture and Colombian society. In November 2003 the Carnival of Barranquilla was proclaimed as the Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.
Jangadeiros
Ceara, Brazil
The fishermen in the northeastern Brazil (Ceará) use a unique wooden raft boat called jangada. They keep their work and tradition for more than four hundred years. Being a fisherman on jangada is highly dangerous job. Jangadeiros spend up to several days on high-sea being tens of kilometres far from the coast, with no navigation on board. In the last two decades jangadeiros have been facing up the pressure from motorized vessels which use modern, effective (and environmentally destructive) fishing methods. Every time Jangadeiros come back from the sea with less fish.
Amazon River
Amazonas state, Brazil
Amazonia is the world's largest dense tropical forest area. Since the 16th century the original indigenous people have been virtually pushed away or exterminated. The primal ancient unity between tribes and the jungle ambient has changed into a fight between the urban based civilization and the jungle enviroment. Although new generations of white and mestizo settlers have not become adapted to the wild tropical climate and rough conditions, they keep moving deeper into the virgin forest. The technological expansion causes that Amazonia is changing rapidly.
Semana Santa Cora
Nayarit, Mexico
The annual week-long Easter festivity (called “La Judea”), performed in the rugged mountain country of Sierra del Nayar, merges indigenous tradition (agricultural cycle and the regeneration of life worshipping) and animistic beliefs with the Christian dogma. Each year in the spring, the Cora villages are taken over by hundreds of wildly running men. Painted all over their semi-naked bodies, fighting ritual battles with wooden swords and dancing crazily, they perform demons (the evil) that metaphorically chase Jesus Christ, kill him, but finally fail due to his resurrection. La Judea, the Holy Week sacred spectacle, represents the most truthful expression of the Coras' culture, religiosity and identity.
Rainforest wood
Tumaco, Colombia
Tens of sawmills located on the banks of the Pacific jungle rivers generate almost half of Colombia's wood production. The wood species processed here (sajo, machare, roble, guabo, cargadero and pacora) are mostly used in the construction industry and the paper production. Although the Pacific lush rainforest in Colombia is one of the most biodiverse area of the world, the region suffers an extensive deforestation due to the uncontrolled logging in the last years.
Boxing dreams
Havana, Cuba
During the last 30 years Cuba has produced more World Champions and Olympic gold medallists in amateur boxing than any other country. Many famous fighters, who came out of Cuba, were training at Rafael Trejo boxing gym in their youth. This run down open air facility in the Old Havana is a place of learning and mastering the art of boxing by the old school style. Boys begin their training very young. As sports are given a high political priority in Cuba, all children are systematically encouraged to develop their skills. Those who succeed will become heroes of Cuban society.
Esmeralda
Muzo, Colombia
Despite of a persisting civil war conflict and related difficulties Colombia still produces 60 percent of world emerald production. Due to the special clarity and deep vivid green color, gemstones from Muzo are considered the most beautiful emeralds in the world. There have been thousands of treasure hunters coming to Muzo during last decades. They have been searching for a fortune, infatuated by so-callled “green fever”. The major part of “guaqueros” (emerald miners) spent long years in the hot and wet unhospitable jungle working hard, they contracted malaria or tropical diseases but they still kept their dream about magic green stone alive.
Holy Week
Malaga, Spain
The Holy Week (Semana Santa) in Spain is world known religious event held by Roman Catholic Church. Andalusia, the most southern province of Spain, tends to have the most elaborate processions where thousands of people participate. Cofradías, a neighbourhood based brotherhoods, keep the major part of the tradition. They maintain large ornate thrones with wooden biblical statues which are carried throughout the cities during the Easter feast. Brotherhood members (penitents) wear colorful tunics and conical pointed hats. They walk down the city streets, carrying candles, rough wooden crosses for long hours, some of them barefoot, to demonstrate their penance and commemorate Jesus Christ's suffering, death and redemption.
50 years after Revolution
Cuba
About 50 years after the national rebellion, led by Fidel Castro, and adopting the communist ideology shortly after the victory, the Caribbean island of Cuba is the only country in Americas having the communist political system. Although the Cuban state-controlled economy has never been developed enough to allow Cubans living in social conditions similar to the US or to Europe, mostly middle-age and older Cubans still support the Castro Brothers' regime and the idea of the Cuban Revolution. Since the 1990s Cuba struggles with chronic economic crisis and mainly young Cubans call for the economic changes.
Life of a Scavenger
Managua, Nicaragua
La Chureca is the biggest garbage dump in Central America, it is a lively sewer of Managua, the capital of Nicaragua. This dumping ground lies on the shores of the contaminated lake Xolotlán. Hundreds of human trash recyclers search in tons of smouldering garbage mainly metals (copper, aluminium), others concentrate on glass which is cheap, but in bigger amount. The majority of the searchers are families with children for whom recycling is a regular job. The children very often eat the food they find on the dump, none of them goes to school, they suffer from skin diseases, they have high levels of lead and DDT in blood. Many of them sniff glue, the drug of the poorest. The inhabitants of Managua say that there is the end of the world in Nicaragua – it is called La Chureca.
Cockfight
Colombia, Venezuela
Cockfight is a widely popular and legal sporting event in much of Latin America. The fight is usually held in an arena (gallera) with seats for spectators. There is always gambling involved in cockfights. People take advantage of cock's natural, strong will to fight against all males of the same species. Birds are specially bred to increase their aggression and stamina, they are given the best of food and care. The cocks are equipped with tortoise-shell made gaffs tied to the bird's leg. The fight is not intentionally to the death but it may result in the death of cocks very often because birds never stop fighting till they are dead.
Women Gold Miners
Choco, Colombia
Chocó is a no man's land. The large inaccessible rainforest jungle area in the western lowlands of Colombia is mainly inhabited by Afro Colombian population, descendents of African slaves. High presence of malaria, guerilla drug traffic routes, tropical deseases and only an irregular river transport makes this region virtually lost. Gold that is found in the jungle rivers of Chocó is the only hope for many although they never find what they dream about. Women goldminers work in a hot tropical humid climate, miring in the goldbearing mud, searching for the gold and platine dust. They will never give up their effort simply because there is no other way to live off.
Jesus Combat
Cali, Colombia
El Calvario is a slum in the pure centre of Cali. Right here, on the dirty, stinky street lies the social bottom of the city. Poor dwellers recollect the garbage, children get high by sniffing the shoe glue and all together watch out for not getting shot dead by so called El Sheriff, the former policeman but now the illegal authority “Mano negra”, who fight the criminality in the ghetto. Theft, drug abuse, unemployment never let the slum people jump off the misery and stop being the second category citizen in the rigid catholic society of Colombia. Although missionary organizations fight (in the name of Jesus Crist) to help them, there seems to be no hope for the future.
Random photoblog posts
Selected publications
Vybrané reportáže
Kamentsa shaman (Colombia)
Vintage print shop (Cali, Colombia)
Yawar fiesta (Cotabambas, Peru)
Exorcism (Colombia)
Sugar cane cutter (Colombia)
Yemanjá: Candomblé cult… (Brazil)
Women wrestling (Mexico)
Holy Week in Santa Elena (Ecuador)
Mara Salvatrucha (El Salvador)
Suburbia (Santiago de Cuba, Cuba)
Mara 18 (San Salvador, El Salvador)
Ghetto of Chanov (Most, Czech Rep.)
Immigrants cross the river (Mexico)
Havana Zoo (Havana, Cuba)
Circus… (Amazonia, Ecuador)
Graffiti in Bogota (Bogota, Colombia)
A stone that swallows (Brazil)
Vodou ritual (Saut d'Eau, Haiti)
Bullfighting (Spain)
El Chepe train in The Washington Post
Santa Muerte in The Times
El Chepe train in Vogue
Warrior Queens in ABC News
Selaron's… in National Geographic
Boxing dreams in Haaretz
Exorcist in The Huffington Post
Selaron's Stairs in The Daily
Swamp people in GEO
Santa Muerte in Süddeutsche Zeitung
Tap-tap in Русский Репортёр
Santa Muerte in The Guardian
Rainforest… in The Huffington Post
Corrida Bulls in La Vanguardia
Boxing dreams in ESPN Deportes
Swamp people in Science
Boxing dreams in Vanity Fair
La Saline market in The Economist
Hunger and Rage in Burn
Swamp people in Boston Review
Žraločí jatka (Ekvádor)
Královny bez korunek (Mexiko)
Alegria (Rio de Janeiro, Brazílie)
Selarónovy schody (Brazílie)
Démoni z Nayaritu (Mexiko)
Exorcista (Mexiko)
Zoo Havana (Kuba)
Svatá Smrt (Mexiko)
Lidé z bažin (Kolumbie)
Voodoo rituál Saut d'Eau (Haiti)
Útěk bez konce (Kolumbie)
Teče krev, teče krev (Kuba)
Sluneční město (Haiti)
Omega 13 (Venezuela)
Harraga (Maroko)
Bojovníci (Kolumbie)
Život supa (Nikaragua)
Zlatokopky (Kolumbie)
