Bargain hunters, here is your chance: A special poster offer until Sunday 12 February in The Sochi Project web shop: buy one poster and get the second one free. While stock last.

My series 'Sochi Singers' made it to the top three finalists in the Sony World Photography Awards. The winner will be announced in London on 26 April.

Good review by Joerg Colberg (Conscientious blog) on 'Sochi Singers', the third annual publication within The Sochi Project. It is interesting to see that Colberg understands what we are doing, by putting this annual publication into the larger context of The Sochi Project: "With a focus on a very troubled region, The Sochi Project’s attention to something that is very much part of that region, but that is not part of any sort of trouble (other than the audible kind), shows that hard-hitting documentary work can indeed be combined with something that is lighter fare. "

'Sochi Singers' won the second prize in the 'Arts, Culture and Entertainment' category of the Zilveren Camera competition (the Dutch prices for best photojournalism of the year).

Article about Sochi Singers in Dutch daily newspaper De Volkskrant: 'Every night popsa at the Russian riviera'.

Interview on ilovethatphoto magazine.

Interview on Landscape Stories website.

These days, everyone makes a list of his or her favourite photo books of 2011. It’s a great trend and I don't want to be left behind. My list differs somewhat from the most prominent list makers. In order to make it into my top 10, a book must, above all, tell an intriguing story. The main criterion is that, sitting on my sofa in the evening, I can lose myself in a book. Text, photography and design have to be balanced and serve the content. I regularly see books where form dominates content.

'Sochi Singers' has been selected by Jörg Colberg (Conscientious) as one of his favourite photobooks of 2011.

From December 1-7, 2011: Every day 15% discount on a combination of items in The Sochi Project SHOP. Also the last option to buy a copy of '101 Billionaires - Crisis Edition', as the stock has run out.

Interview in The New European Economy about The Sochi Project.

Joerg Colberg: 'Occasionally, photographers publish their contact sheets, and often, the one shot you are familiar with clearly is the only worthwhile image. In contrast, this book is not filled with lots of bad photographs and the occasional good one. Instead, the majority of the images are very interesting'.

Now available in our webshop: Sochi Singers * Special Edition (signed book + two c-prints (29 x 37 cm.) + custom made protective envelop in a solid glossy white hardboard slipcase). Edition of 25.

Une conversation avec Rob Hornstra: Interview in LeMonde (weblog on Photography and Books).

On Wednesday November 16, I will talk about The Sochi Project in Galerie Noorderlicht Groningen. More speakers during the seminar are Lars Boering (Fotografenfederatie) Fred vd Ende (Zilveren Camera) and Reyer Boxem (photographer). Start 19:30 PM.

New work about violence in the North Caucasus (preview on the next chapter in The Sochi Project) on display at Flatland Gallery (B33) at Paris Photo. More information about events during Paris Photo, please check the list below.

2.30pm: Round table conversation at the LIVE Platform at Paris Photo together with Jim Goldberg, Marysia Lewandowska, Taryn Simon, Mikhael Subotzky, and Marie Murraciole (moderator).
5.30pm: Book signing 'Sochi Singers' and 'Safety First' at Flatland Gallery booth D33.

6.00pm: Book signing 'Sochi Singers' and 'Safety First' at Komineks booth at Offprint Paris.

6pm: Be welcome at Le Bal Paris for the launch of 'Sochi Singers', the third annual publication as part of The Sochi Project. With drinks and good music (Russian chansons). In addition we also launch 'Safety First', the first title in the new Sketchbook Series.

Safety First is entirely composed of negatives which were damaged by x-ray scanners in Grozny. In the Chechen capital, these scanners are not only placed at the entrance to the airport or government buildings, but also to shops, gyms, restaurants and outside on squares. In Safety First we ask what the difference is between security and a false sense of security.

150 x 210 mm / 48pp / 41 Colour Photographs / Hardbound with photo-illustrated dust-jacket / € 35.00 / Signed copy / All books are numbered 1-750.

Safety First is the first book in the Sketchbook Series. By purchasing titles from this new series, you are also supporting The Sochi Project.

On Friday October 28, 2011 I will take part in a workshop about new models and experimentation together with Bram Souffreau (chair), Alex Wood, Arnold Van Bruggen, Olaf Koens and Johan Weisz.

This week my new book Sochi Singers comes back from the printer. Signed copies are for sale in the online store of The Sochi Project.

The FotoGrafia Festival in Rome has asked me to curate an exhibition around the theme ‘Motherland’. In the group exhibition ‘New Dutch Storytellers’, I show how my own work is influenced by innovative young Dutch documentary photographers such as William Popelier, Anne Geene and Anna Dasovic. The FotoGrafia Festival opens on Thursday, 22 September at the MACRO Testaccio. I will be giving a talk on Friday, 23 September.

'Empty land, Promised land, Forbidden land' will be on display at Savignano Festival in Italy.

Together with writer Arnold van Bruggen, I will be traveling in the Sochi region from June 30 - July 26, 2011. Please click the link below to follow us on Facebook. For commissions, archive and image licensing, please contact INSTITUTE / Matt Shonfeld / +44 1225 462 968 / matt@instituteartistmanagement.com. In case of urgent matters, please call me on my Russian mobile: +7 928 446 0685.

This week (only with a coupon from Dutch newspaper De Volkskrant + € 6.99) for sale at Free Record Shop, Primera, The Readshop, Plantage Boekhandel of de Bijenkorf. Or order the entire series (portfolios of 20 photographers in a box) by clicking the link below (only available in Dutch language).

Interview on blog about arts, conflicts, activism and beauty, an initiative by the Treaty of Utrecht 2013.

Please be welcome at the award ceremony for the Dutch Doc Award in the garden of the Centraal Museum in Utrecht at 8 PM. No entrance fee but limited space.

VBS.TV (Vice) made a film about me working in Utrecht and Sochi (16:29 minutes).

Article in Dutch newspaper De Volkskrant about the projects of the six nominees for the Dutch Doc Awards.

Trailer of forthcoming episode of Picture Perfect on VBS.TV (1:02 minutes).

During the Swiss Photo Award days in Zürich, I will take part in an on stage conversation with Lars Willumeit, picture editor of Du Magazin. Saturday May 21, 2011 at 6:00 PM, Selnaustrasse 25, 8001 Zürich.

In connection with the nomination for the Dutch Doc Awards 2011, the exhibition Empty land, Promised land, Forbidden land will be on display at museum Catharijneconvent in Utrecht. Opening Friday, May 20, 2011 4:00 PM. Please download the invitation for more information.

On Thursday and Friday I will be giving a two-day workshop about self publishing, crowdfunding etc. during the Focus Award days in Dortmund.

Together with fellow INSTITUTE photographers Zed Nelson and Simon Norfolk I will be giving a talk at the INSTITUTE U seminar on May 14th in London. Please click on the link below for more information about the INSTITUTE U seminar weekend.

I will be present at 'Creative Amsterdam 2011' to do a talk on Thursday at 11:30 AM and a presentation on Thursday at 16:00 PM (together with Arnold van Bruggen). Please click on the link below for more information.

‘On the other side of the mountains’ will be on display at Nordic Light International Festival of Photography. Together with Arnold van Bruggen I will do a presentation on Wednesday at 8:30 AM.

From April 23 until 29 I'll be in Sochi investigating the new subject for our upcoming annual publication. In case you need to contact me in this period, please call me on my Russian mobile: +7 928 446 0685.

‘On the other side of the mountains’ will be on display at Carre Rotondes, 1, rue de l’Aciérie, L-1112 Luxembourg-Hollerich. Vernissage Wednesday April 27 at 18:00 PM.

The Sochi Project is nominated for the Dutch Doc Award 2011 along with five other projects. Award ceremony on June 11, 2011 in Utrecht.

Lecture about self publishing and the future of photo books at a symposium organized by the North East Photography Network in Newcastle (UK).

Artist talk at 19:00 PM at the 'anatomisch auditorium KASK' in Gent (belgium) organized by Punctum in collaboration with the Koninklijke Academie voor Schone Kunsten.

'On the other side of the mountains' and a brand new exhibition of 'Empty land, Promised land, Forbidden land' on display at FreeLens Galerie in Hamburg (Germany), part of the fifth Triennale der Photographie. Opening Saterday April 2, 2011 at 7:00 pm.

On June 21st, 2010, ten photographers shot each a series for a book, in different places around the world. The participating photographers are Alec Soth, Eva Maria Ocherbauer, Gerry Badger, Harvey Benge, Jessica Backhaus, John Gossage, Martin Parr, Rinko Kawauchi, Todd Hido and myself. I made a book about the district 'Ondiep' where I am living, which is listed as one of the most problematic districts in the Netherlands. My favorite neighbors Willem and Kid are both real Ondiep people, although they are complete opposites. Berlin release party, March 24 19-22 PM, Immanuelkirchstr.12 Berlin.

On Wednesday March 23, 2011 at 8:00 PM I will do a talk at photo collective De Zutphense, Oude Bornhof in Zutphen and on Friday March 25, at 8:00 PM at UCK, Ganzenmarkt 14 in (my hometown) Utrecht.

Please join us at Flatland Gallery for the opening reception of the exhibition 'Inside - How any story should ultimately be told'. Saturday February 26, 2011 at 4 pm.

Exhibition and talk at Third Floor Gallery in Cardiff, Wales, UK. The exhibition reports on the current state of The Sochi Project. Opening Night Preview: Friday, 18 February 2011, 7pm. Talk on Saturday, 19 February 2011, 5pm.

Thursday February 17, 2011 I will do a day-long masterclass at Redeye, the Photography Network in Manchester, UK. Please click on the link below for detailed information.

Some work from 'On the other side of the mountains' at Flatland Gallery, booth # 71 at Art Rotterdam.

The weekend of February 5-6, I will do a two-days-workshop at the Scuola Romana di Fotografia. Plus on Saturday at 7 PM a presentation around our new publication Empty land at Officine Fotografiche. Please click on the link for detailed information on both events.

'Empty land, Promised land, Forbidden land' has been selected as one of the best photobooks of 2010 at photo-eye magazine.

Together with writer Arnold van Bruggen, I will be in the Sochi region (Russia) until January 10,2011. You can follow us on Facebook or Twitter. For commissions, archive and image licensing, please contact INSTITUTE / Matt Shonfeld / matt [at] instituteartistmanagement.com. In case of urgent matters, please call me on my Russian mobile +79284460685.

End-of-the-year assignments for weekly magazine Vrij Nederland and Dutch daily newspaper De Volkskrant. More examples in the editorial section of my Portfolio (please click the link at the top of this page)

Joerg Colberg at Conscientious: "While you could treat Empty Land as a photobook, in reality it’s something different. In a nutshell, it’s a documentary, transformed into book form (...) It does it in a way that, I think, hints at where at least some contemporary photojournalism is moving. (...) A most excellent book, highly recommended." Please continue reading by clicking the link below.

‘Empty Land, Promised Land, Forbidden Land’ is about the small country of Abkhazia on the Black Sea, located a stone's throw from Sochi's Olympic stadiums. Through words and images, the book describes the past, present and future of this small, breakaway Georgian province. The retail price of 'Empty Land' is €49. The Sochi Project donors can buy the book in due course for €35.00 (excl. p&p). Silver and gold donors will receive a free copy. Orders can be placed by sending me an e-mail. Payment can be made via PayPal (including credit cards) or bank transfer.

My article about The making of our newspaper-cum-exhibition 'On the other side of the mountains', is now featured in Ahorn Magazine.

Please click on the link below to read a nice review on our new book at 'Buffet' (Andrew Phelps' great blog about photobooks, special editions etc, etc..)

Honorable mention for 'On the other side of the mountains' in this years Magnum Expression Awards.

A limited edition comprising a signed copy of the book, three c-prints (a mini-exhibition about Abkhazia’s only prison ‘Dranda’) all numbered and signed, housed together in an handmade box. The color of the box is the same as the flyleafs in the book. Edition of 25 copies + 2 artists’ proofs.Each print and book is signed and numbered 1-25.Price € 375 excl. p&p.

‘Empty Land, Promised Land, Forbidden Land’ is about the small country of Abkhazia. The book’s international launch will take place on November 18 at Off Print Paris (book fair), Espace Kiron, 10 rue de la Vacquerie, Paris (France). In The Netherlands, the book will be presented two days earlier in Pegasus bookshop, accompanied by vodka and snacks. Jelle Brandt Corstius will provide an introduction.

Book presentation of ‘Empty Land, Promised Land, Forbidden Land’ in Pegasus bookshop, Singel 367, Amsterdam (NL). With an introduction by Jelle Brandt Corstius.

You can now support The Sochi Project by buying your Christmas cards from us. Only five euros + p&p for 6 big Christmas cards (13 x 18 cm.) in a leporello. Please click on order at the top of this page to see the cards and how to order.

‘On the other side of the mountains’ will be on display at the Mesiac Fotografie 2010, Prepoštská 4, Bratislava (Slovakia). Opening on Wednesday November 3 19:00 PM at Galeria Hopkirk.

‘On the other side of the mountains’ will be on display at Eyes On: Month of Photography Vienna, MUSA Museum auf Abruf, Felderstraße 6-8, Wien.

On Tuesday October 26, 2010 at 8:00 PM I will do a talk at the Muzerie in Zwolle.

‘On the other side of the mountains’ will be on display at the Europäischer Monat der Fotografie, Berlinische Galerie, Alte Jakobstraße 124-128 in Berlin (Germany).

‘On the other side of the mountains’ will be on display as part of the Mutations III exhibition during Fotografia Festival Internazionale di Roma (Italy). I will attend the opening on Thursday September 23, 2010.

On Tuesday September 21, 2010 at 7:30 PM I’ll do a talk about The Sochi Project at Spazio Labo - Centro di Fotografia in Bologna. With an introduction by photo editor Maurizio Garofalo.

Finish Photo RAW magazine has published an extensive selection of my series Russian WWII veterans, plus an interview with me about The Sochi Project, Russia and more.

This handmade Collectors Box is a gift to all gold donators of The Sochi Project. For every year they are a gold donator, they will receive a numbered and signed C-print. This C-print won't be for sale in galleries or anywhere else. For more information please click on the link below.

Nice article by Olivier Laurent in the British Journal of Photography about The Sochi Project.

In collaboration with writer Arnold van Bruggen I started The Sochi Project in 2009. Over the course of five years we want to map out the extensive region around the Russian resort Sochi. This is where the Olympic Winter Games will be held in 2014. The Games are being organized in Russia's most unstable region, the Caucasus. ‘On the other side of the mountains’ is a story about Krasny Vostok, a village with one foot in the 19th century, still partially without gas and electricity. There is no reason to portray this village; and that's why we did. The Caucasus is more than just conflict and refugees, fundamentalist Islam or billion dollar Games.

The new publication ‘On the other side of the mountains’ is part of The Sochi Project and has been specially designed and produced for the European Month of Photography (EMOP). If you are interested in the making of this 64 page newspaper-cum-do-it-yourself-exhibition please visit the sketchbook of our website thesochiproject.org where you can view all dummies and more.

Sanatorium was published in Sunday Times Magazine. Please click the link below to view the article.

On Friday July 23 at 2:00 PM I will give a lecture during Foto Leeuwarden in Grand Hotel Post Plaza, Tweebaksmarkt 25, Leeuwarden. Next day (July 24, 10:00 - 17:00) I will do a masterclass at Media Art Friesland, Blokhuisplein 40, Leeuwarden.

In collaboration with the Netherlands Foundation for Visual Arts, Design and Architecture, the Centraal Museum Utrecht presents, between 19 June and 13 September 2010, the exhibition In your face. Stip 2010 and art now. A preview of my new work Empty Land / Promised Land / Forbidden Land is on display.

On Saturday June 5, at 3:00 PM I will give a lecture during the FOTOBUCH TAGE in Hamburg.

The Sochi Project annual publication 'Sanatorium' has won the New York Photo Book Award 2010. A limited number of copies is still available for donators of The Sochi Project.

On Sunday May 16, at 10:00 AM I will give a lecture during the FotoBook Festival in Kassel.

My book 101 Billionaires - Crisis Edition has almost sold out (but can still be purchased through some bookshops and of course my own website). For the last copies I have designed a Crisis Box (edition of 25 @ €99 + p&p). This is a signed copy of the book in a handcrafted box. Every box has its own small image from the original archival print mounted on the front. Please click on order for more images of the box. Update 18.05.2010: Sorry, the box is sold out.

I will be in New York from May 10 - 14, 2010. Some work from The Sochi Project will be on display at the New York Photo Festival. On Thursday May 13 11:00 AM, I will be participating in a panel discussion in the St. Ann's Warehouse and Friday May 14 I'll be doing an artist talk on self-publishing photobooks (also in the St. Ann's Warehouse) from 1-1:45 PM.

101 Billionaires was reviewed by Melanie Manchot for the UK based magazine Photoworks.

101 Billionaires featured in Guernica magazine (a magazine of art and politics): 'At the beginning of 2008, the list of the richest Russians contained 101 billionaires; a magical number that for the time being will not be matched. These photographs document a very different Russia.'

Portfolio (work from Russia) published in The Outlook Magazine (China).

I'll be teaching everything I know in a masterclass organized by the Fotomuseum Antwerpen (Belgium) from Wednesday until Friday March 10-12, 2010. Please click on the link below for more information.

Dutch broadcasting company AVRO presents "The Month of Photography". From March 1, 2010 the website kunst.avro.nl is entirely devoted to photography. This interview (as part of the month of photography) can now be seen on kunst.avro.nl. It was recorded right before the opening of the exhibition 'Quickscan' in the Nederlands Fotomuseum. And yes, it was a bit early for us.

Together with Arnold van Bruggen - my writing companion in The Sochi Project - I will be on Dutch radio (Spijkers met Koppen, channel 2) on Saturday March 06, 2010 around 1 pm.

Nice interview with a misplaced headline in Parool (Dutch newspaper) about The Sochi Project and more.

Visura Magazine - issue 8 - is entirely dedicated to INSTITUTE artists Lauren Greenfield, Joshua Lutz, Gerd Ludwig, James Longley, Zed Nelson, Jeff Jacobson, Nadav Kander, Simon Norfolk, Paul Shambroom, Jodi Bieber, Reni Effendi and me.

On Wednesday February 17, I will be on Dutch Radio from 7-9 pm.

From Wednesday until Sunday, Flatland Gallery will show new work from The Sochi Project at Art Rotterdam. On the opposite of the street the Nederlands Fotomuseum also shows The Sochi Project, but in a completely different way. On Saturday February 6, 2010 at 4 p.m. I will be at the museum for a book signing.

Organized by 3/3 & Mandeep Photography, the city of Rome is being glued over by giant posters. The Sochi Project is on show at two exhibitions. During QuickscanNL#01 in the Nederlands Fotomuseum from January 16 untill May 24 and during a solo exhibition at Mandeep Photography (Rome, Italy) from January 29 untill March 27. In collaboration with Roman curators Chiara Capodici and Fiorenza Pinna (3/3) and our magnificent designers Kummer & Herrman we have developed a set of 5 posters which will be available at both venues in a custom made silkscreened packaging (print run 300). Please click on the link below to see the box and posters on the website of Kummer & Herrman. The poster boxes will be for sale on both locations.

Dutch weekly magazine Vrij Nederland featured our Sanatorium series. To view more Sanatorium please scroll down and click through the first annual publication in connection with The Sochi Project.

Please click on the link below to read a review about Sanatorium on 5b4.

Please click on the link below to read a review about Sanatorium on Buffet.

Thursday, December 24 Dutch daily newspaper De Volkskrant published a special Christmas annex starring eleven more and less famous people looking back at 2009. I photographed all portraits for this annex.

Together with writer / filmmaker Arnold van Bruggen I was in an interview about The Sochi Project.

Please click on the link below to read a article about The Sochi Project and our first annual publication Sanatorium on Conscientious.

I am happy to announce that I have joined INSTITUTE for Artist Management.

New work from the The Sochi Project will be shown at Paris Photo (Flatland Gallery / booth F 19). Make sure you get a copy of the new publication Sanatorium (print run only 350 copies) on Friday (20th November) at 4 pm in Flatlands booth.

Please click the link below to read an interview about The Sochi Project on the website Media Kritiek (an initiative of the Pascal Decroos Foundation).

101 Billionaires will be shown in the main exhibition of the Athens Photo Festival '09. Main program's inauguration Friday November 6, 20:00 Esplanade Building, Faliron Olympic Complex.

The coastal strip on the Black Sea around the subtropical resort of Sochi (Russia) has for decades been famous for its sanatoria. During the Soviet era, millions of workers were sent to one of these sanatoria annually to revive their spirits and strengthen their bodies. Today, the sanatoria are still fully booked year round mostly with elderly or disabled Russians. In the run-up to the Olympic Winter Games in 2014, almost all the sanatoria will be converted into luxury hotels. There is no place for sentimentality when it comes to the past. Sanatorium is an ode to these Soviet strongholds, revealing a deep-seated love for spas that is firmly embedded in the Russian soul.



For more information about the annual publication Sanatorium please click on 'Order'at the top of this page.

One of my favorite photographers Alec Soth once wrote on his blog after visiting New York: “…I only had time to visit one gallery. But it wasn’t hard to make a choice. Nobody has better photography than Yossi Milo...”. So I am very proud that Yossi Milo also wants to show my photography. From now on, my work is represented by two galleries: Flatland Gallery NL / Paris and Yossi Milo Gallery NYC.

With the book 101 Billionaires, I have been nominated for the Deutsche Börse Photography Prize 2010 (longlist). The shortlist will be announced at the end of October.

A small but really nice exhibition of my work will be on display in the satellite program of Noorderlicht Photo Festival in Groningen. Preview of Paris Photo. Location: Boekhandel Godert Walter, Oude Ebbingestraat 53, 9712 HC Groningen.

Aperture Magazine #196 (Fall 2009) will publish an eight page portfolio with work from 101 Billionaires.

Preview of The Sochi Project on website of daily newspaper De Volkskrant (in Dutch, this video call for Dutch Crown Prince Willem Alexander is subtitled in English on www.thesochiproject.org).

The current issue of design mind pays attention to my work. Design mind is published by global innovation firm frog design.

Unfortunately the second edition of 101 Billionaires had to be reprinted due to a mistake in binding. This new Crisis Edition will be delivered on July 3, 2009. To everyone who already bought the Crisis Edition via my website, I offer my sincere apologies for the delay. The book will be shipped to you as soon as possible. I will also take some copies with me to Arles Photo Festival, where I will be from July 7-10.

MEP will be showing recently acquired work from their collection in a group exhibition ‘Acquisitions et donations récented’. Two of my photos are included.

Dutch newspaper de Volkskrant is selling one of my photos in their web gallery. This is a print in an edition of 30 (signed and numbered). For details, please click on the link below.

At the same time that Fotofestival Naarden opens, I will be launching The Sochi Project. This is a new, five-year project on which I will be working with writer/filmmaker Arnold van Bruggen to document the region around Olympic Sochi. In order to be able to realise this distinct example of slow journalism we are partly dependent on donors. And so we are calling on everyone with a love of slow journalism, documentaries or photography to become a bronze, silver or gold donor. Details of the donor benefits can be found on our website. If you would like to know more about the project, come to the FestivalLive! tent at Fotofestival Naarden on 23 May 2009 at 11 o’clock.

101 Billionaires has been nominated in the book category of the New York Photo Awards 2009.

At the end of 2008 the jury of the Prix de Rome 2009 selected my work from a longlist of ten candidates. The work of these ten candidates is now being exhibited. My work can be seen in Witte de With Rotterdam.

The current issue of Dutch photography magazine P|f pays a lot of attention to my work because of the upcoming Fotofestival Naarden (where 101 Billionaires will be exhibited). The magazine also published an eight-page portfolio with my series of portraits of WWII veterans (2003-2009).

Fotofestival Naarden will start on Saturday May 16, 2009. One week later (Saturday 23, 2009 at 11 a.m.) you are invited at the FFN to join a meeting in which writer Arnold van Bruggen and I will launch and explain our newest project: The Sochi Project. This is a unique, in-depth project with a revolutionary financing system. Learn more about it during the Fotofestival Naarden.

At the beginning of 2008, the list of richest Russians contained 101 billionaires. One year later, there are only 49 left. This drop was behind the decision to publish a second, revised edition of 101 Billionaires. The Crisis Edition has a print run of 1,000 copies. It has a hard cover and smaller format, but no fold-out pages and is therefore cheaper. The text has been adapted here and there to reflect current events.

101 Billionaires (2009 Crisis Edition) will ready in the second week of May.

Article in Dutch daily newspaper NRC about the fact that more and more young photographers find ways to self-publish and distribute photobooks.

Just returned from a trip to the Sochi region, Abkhazia and Georgia. In 2014, the Winter Olympics will take place in Sochi, Russia. Together with writer Arnold van Bruggen, over the next five years I will intensively follow the developments taking place in this tumultuous region. To finance this project we have developed a unique concept, which we will launch (including website) during the Fotofestival Naarden (opening on 15th of May 2009).

101 Billionaires has been selected in the book category of the Photo District News 2009 PDN Photo Annual.

Last weekend, I took the last remaining copies of my book 101 Billionaires to Markus Schaden’s bookshop for a (very quick) final book signing. The book is sold out now, although you might be able to buy copies in the following bookshops: photoeye.com, Dashwood (USA), Claire de Rouen, Henry Sotheran Ltd (UK), Flatland Gallery, Shashin (NL), Luova.fi (FIN) or the Deichtorhallen (GER).

101 Billionaires has been selling quickly. This is undoubtedly due to the fact that 101 Billionaires was included in several Top 2008 book rankings, among which were those of Jeffrey Ladd (5b4), Jörg Colberg (Conscientious) and photo.eye.com. Thank you all for your support.

It doesn't happen very often to be compared with Tom Waits.

On 4 February 2009, the art programme Opium TV (NL 2, 9.30 pm.) will devote a segment to my work. Afterwards the programme can be viewed online on AVRO's website

Flatland Gallery will start 2009 with a solo exhibition of my work. Books, prints and Special Editions from the series 101 Billionaires, Roots of the Rúntur and Communism & Cowgirls will be shown, as well as work from Georgia and the Netherlands, which has never been shown before. Wed-Sat 1-5 pm and by appointment.

101 Billionaires is selected as one of the top 10 photo books of 2008 at photo-eye.com. Photo-eye is hosting the Best Book Picks of photo-eye staff, as well as the top picks of John Gossage, Alec Soth, Andrew Phelps, Lesley A. Martin, Rebecca Solnit, Todd Hido, Richard Gordon, Markus Schaden, Michelle Dunn Marsh, Dewi Lewis, Martin Parr, Gerry Badger, Jeffery Ladd, Chris Pichler, Darius Himes, and Mark Klett.

Another nomination for 101 Billionaires at The Online Photographer!

101 Billionaires was selected by Jörg Colberg (Conscientious) as one of the 10 best photo books of 2008.

Jeff Ladd wrote a nice review about 101 Billionaires on his blog 5b4. Afterwards he also published a list with his 'Best Books of 2008'. 101 Billionaires is on the second place.

Cick on the link below to read an interview on the website of Dutch art magazine MetropolisM.

A selection of 101 Billionaires is presented in the latest issue of GUP Magazine. For the ones who do want a subscription on GUP Magazine and also want to buy my book there is a special offer: Subscribe to GUP and you get 6 issues together with 101 Billionaires for only 60 euro. Please contact for further information.

Especially these days, many people ask me why do I produce books without a publisher? The answer to this question (and more) can be found in an online interview with Joerg Colberg on his great blog Conscientious.

Last week my new book 101 Billionaires has been delivered. The book will be sold for the first time during Paris Photo at Markus Schadens bookshop and in the Flatland Gallery stand. Flatland Gallery will also show prints and the limited edition ‘Billionaires Box’ (15 + 2 AP). A book signing in Paris is scheduled on Saturday at 4 pm.

In the presale 350 copies of 101 Billionaires were sold. The special presale price has ended. For the ones who missed the presale, but now make up their mind quickly: The first fifty orders via my website will be rewarded with a free set of five different Christmas cards (you don’t want to miss). To get a preview of the book, please click on ‘Order’ and you are able to view fifteen spreads from the book.

In my hometown Utrecht I am living in the working-class neighbourhood 'Ondiep', which is listed as one of the most problematic districts in the Netherlands. My favourite neighbours Willem and Kid are both real 'Ondiep-people', although they are complete opposites. When I moved to 'Ondiep' - four years ago - I started photographing them. I will continue to follow my neighbours Willem & Kid until we are all forced to leave as a result of housing development plans. An article about my neighbour Kid and his snakes appeared in the Volkskrant Magazine last weekend.

The numbered edition of 101 copies is sold out. Nevertheless, you may keep on ordering. The special discount price of € 38.50 (Europe) / € 43 (overseas) will still apply to all copies purchased during the pre-sale period until November, 1th. (price includes shipping).

My upcoming book 101 Billionaires is almost finished and will be released in the first half of November. The retail price will be € 42.50 (Europe) / € 47 (overseas). The pre-sale price is € 38.50 (Europe) / € 43 (overseas). The first 101 buyers of the books will receive a numbered edition. The numbers will be assigned by order of registration. For multiple orders, the buyer will be entitled to one numbered copy only.

Work from my new project 101 Billionaires will be shown during the Silverstein Photography Annual New York. For more information, see invitation.

Part of the ongoing project ‘Willem & Kid’ will be shown during the group exhibition ‘Het Geheim van Utrecht’ in the Centraal Museum in Utrecht. Opening: 30 August 2008 by A. Wolfsen (Mayor of Utrecht).

Last week I returned from my final trip to Russia in connection with my new project 101 Billionaires. I went to Karachay-Cherkessia, an autonomous republic in the Caucasus where I produced a feature about tourism. This series - and more work from this region - can be viewed in my online archive.

A preview of my project 101 Billionaires can now be seen on my website for the first time, under ‘Documentary’. The book of the same name will be launched during Paris Photo. Pre-sale of the book will begin in September.

A preview of 101 Billionaires has been selected for the Festival of Young Photojournalism in Hannover (which includes work up to and including my fourth trip).

My work will be shown during 'De Nieuwe Salon', a contemporary view of Utrecht-based artists in the former psychiatric hospital 'Willem Arntsz Huis', Lange Nieuwstraat 119, Utrecht (near the Centraal Museum). 'De Nieuwe Salon' is organized once every three year. Or sometimes four year. Or five. The selected artists were asked to present recent work around the theme ‘U Home’.

I am out of the office from August 7 until August 21, 2008. I do not have access to my email accounts and will not be checking emails until I return. There won't be any urgent matters. (Or if so, please send a text message to my mobile phone +31 6 14365936).

Flatland Gallery will present my work during Art Amsterdam.

Interview by Merel Bem in Dutch newspaper De Volkskrant.

I have just returned from my second trip to Siberia. In contrast to my Siberian expedition a few months ago, this one was much colder (down to -42 degrees). I worked in an industrial area in the city of Angarsk on my series for GD4Art. Besides that I worked on my upcoming book '101 Billionaires'.

Around the presidential elections there will be some extra media attention on Russia. For that reason, parts of my new project 101 Billionaires can be seen on different places. Volkskrant Magazine will publish a series of portraits of young Russians on Saturday the 1st of March. Also on that day a small exhibition will start in Amsterdam’s De Balie. Work from Abkhazia and recent work from Russia will be shown there. And from the 5th of March until the 27th of March there will be a exhibition in the Utrecht Town Hall with work from Russia (2003 / 2007). Opening on Friday the 14th of March by alderman Marka Spit at 16:30 (free entry).

The exhibition 'Pages' (organized by FW-magazine) is about photo books. Not about the 'best' books in the world or a summary of the history of photo books. ‘Pages’ is about young Dutch photographers and their actual relation towards this medium. ‘Communism & Cowgirls’ can be seen in the exhibition. Opening on Friday the 08th of February on 17:00 in the ‘Nederlands Fotomuseum Rotterdam’. Click in the link below to download the invitation.

Out now is Witness Magazine #03, published by Joy of Giving Something Inc. and internationally distributed by Nazraeli Press. Martin Parr is the subject and guest editor of Witness #03 (the first one was done by Stephen Shore and the second one by Daido Moriyama). From the press release: “...Parr rounds out his volume of Witness with a section called “Three Ways to Make a Book,” which documents how photographers Rob Hornstra, Mark Neville, and Bart Sorgedrager were able to self-publish and distribute their own books; a presentation of portfolios by Japanese photographers Keizo Kitajama, Kohei Yoshiyuki, and Osamu Kanemura; and an interview with Parr conducted by Gerry Badger.” Available at Shashin’s Bookshop Amsterdam.

From now on my work will be represented by Flatland Gallery (Martin Rogge).

Together with Lea Crespi (France) and Dita Pepe (Czech Republic) I am the winner of the GD4ART international photographic competition. We will all receive a scholarship to complete our research projects before the 1st of May 2008. I will be working on a series about the life and circumstances in metallurgical districts in Russia. For this competition 36 young photographers from twelve different countries were nominated and had to present a research project and portfolio. The final conclusion of the jury: 'Considering the high level of the material submitted, all the artists who submitted projects are invited to show one of their works at the exhibition, which will take place by the end of 2008'.

Communism & Cowgirls was done as a graduation project at the Academy of Arts in Utrecht in 2004. In this final design the flyleafs are red (front) and green (back), but in the actual printing the flyleafs are blank. Communism & Cowgirls deals with the first Russian generation growing up after the decline of communism. These young people are influenced by Western subcultures and are free to ¬pursue individual development in a way that would have been unthinkable for their parents. At the same time they don’t know how to handle the liberties offered to them. They are growing up with grandparents who still speak well of Lenin. They still live and work among the architecture produced by communism. And – true to the spirit of Communism – they still agitate against American capitalism. Yet they drink Coca Cola and wear the latest fashion as shown on MTV.