Escaping the Heatwave, photo essay by Fethi Sahraoui
The coming of the heatwave can be synonym to an escapade to the sea for the supermajority of the Algerians because it is the most accessible kind of vacations and the most affordable one.
In places like Mascara and Relizane during long summer days the temperature approaches the 44°C,even if the Mideteranean coast is only 65km away,for some familial and financial reasons not all children will have the opportunity to go spend a day in the beach,as a result of a lack of places of amusement like pools in those parts of the country children manage to escape the heatwave by going to some dangerous spots like an abandoned water tower,there injuries are so common beside the water which can be very polluted,you can find them swimming in large irrigation channels too with some deplorable conditions exposing themselves to countless risks away from their parental supervision.
The aim of this photographic series is to show the plight of these children who are ready to do anything just to avoid a hard sun. (by Fethi Sahraoui)
Q&A with Fethi Sahraoui
Photography is…
well as a documentary photographer photography is a way of life that permit me to deal with society.
Photography and writing…
I’m not quiet sure if did get your question or not, if it is about the relation between the two i use to think as a beginner some four years ago that strong photos don’t need to be accompanied with a text or captions but now as i start working on series i think that writing is essential to photography and it can be a great complement.
Who left the biggest impression on you?
Josef Koudelka, Eugene Richards, my older uncle.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with the readers?
My Greetings