Ben Speck

Nine images selected from the series Riding the Rails are on exhibiton at the newly renovated Galeri Neptun inside Hotel Scandic Neptun. The show is up throughout February and open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. throughout February and March 2013

The address is:

Valkendorfsgate 8, Bergen, Norway

welcome!

 

Last Sunday, the 2012 Rafto Prize was awarded to Nigerian Nnimmo Bassey in recognition of his long-term fight for people’s right to life, health, food and water in a world affected by complex and threatening climate change and mass environmental destruction. During the award ceremony a selection of our images from Black Gold | Precious Green were projected as a backdrop to the reading of Basseys powerfull poem, We thought it was oil, but it was blood. It was an honor to be able to contribute to the RAFTO award ceremony.

Here is the poem and the images that were shown. To find out more about Black Gold | Precious Green and to see the whole photoessay click here

WE THOUGHT IT WAS OIL, BUT IT WAS BLOOD by Nnimmo Bassey

The other day
We danced on the street
Joy in our hearts
We thought we were free
Three young folks fell to our right

Countless more fell to our left
Looking up,
Far from the crowd
We beheld
Red hot guns

We thought it was oil
But it was blood

We thought it was oil
But this was blood

Heart jumping
Into our mouths
Floating on
Emotions dry wells

We leapt with fury
Knowing it was’t funny
Then we beheld
Bright red pools

We thought it was oil
But it was blood

We thought it was oil
But this was blood

Tears don’t flow
When you are scarred
First it was the Ogoni
Today it is Ijaws

Who will be slain this next day?
We see open mouths
But we hear no screams

Standing in a pool
Up to our knees

We thought it was oil
But it was blood

We thought it was oil
But this was blood

Dried tear bags
Polluted streams
Things are real
Only when found in dreams
We see their Shells
Behind military shields

Evil, horrible evil gallows called oilrigs
Drilling our souls

We thought it was oil
But it was blood

We thought it was oil
But this was blood

The heavens are open
Above our head
Toasted dreams in flared
And scrambled sky
A million black holes
In a burnt sky

But we know our dreams
Won’t burst like crude pipes

We thought it was oil
But this was blood

We thought it was oil
But this was blood

This we tell you
They may kill all
But the blood will speak

They may gain all
But the soil will RISE
We may die but stay alive
Placed on the slab
Slaughtered by the day

We are the living
Long sacrificed

We thought it was oil
But it was blood

We thought it was oil
But this was blood

All images © Ben Speck & Karin Ananiassen

Poem © Nnimmo Bassey

So, now I am doing cofirmation portraits as wellHere are the results of a one hour spontaneous shoot in the studio and up on the roof.