Belgian photographer Alain Schroeder (b. 1955) has been in the industry for over four decades. During his tenure as a sports photographer in the 1980s, his shots appeared on more than 500 magazine covers. Book assignments and editorial articles followed with topics as diverse as travel, art, culture and human interest, and in 1989 he co-founded the Belgian photo agency Reporters. As CEO of the company, Schroeder led the company from the golden years of analog photography into the digital age.
In 2013, he uprooted his life, trading his shares in Reporters, to pursue life on the road with a camera. Schroeder now travels the world photographing stories that focus on social issues, people and their environments. “I'm not a single-shot photographer. I think in series », he says adding, « I strive to tell a story in 10-15 images, capturing the essence of an instant with a sense of light and framing. »
He has won numerous international awards including Nikon Japan, Nikon Belgium, TPOTY, Istanbul Photo, Days Japan, Trieste Photo, PX3, IPA, MIFA, BIFA, PDN, the Fence, Lens Culture, Siena, POYI and World Press Photo.
He is represented in France by the photo agency Rea and Hemis.
He recently won the All About Photo contest "Black and White" with one of the series that I am presenting here. To be honest I wanted to do a post with all 25 finalists, but after seeing Schroeder's work I thought he deserved a "solo" post
Kim city
The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) is one of the most isolated and secretive nations ruled by Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un. It is a society based on an extreme cult of personality and a lot of propaganda. September 9, 2018 was the 70th anniversary of the creation of North Korea. Watched over by two official government guides at all times you are told what to do, what to look at or not and what to photograph and have no choice but to follow the rules. So remember when you look at the pictures, as Magritte, the Belgian surrealist painter said: This is not North Korea.
Muay Thai kids
In Isaan, children enroll in Muay Thai (the martial art which is the country's national sport) as early as 5 years old and can compete at 6-7 years old. The wagers are fierce and the pressure on the children is palpable. For poor children, Muay Thai is a way to fulfill a cultural expectation to help their families and a chance for a better life.
1st place at URBAN Photo Awards at Trieste Photo Days,
1st place at the Lugano Photo Days,
1st place at the Best of Photojournalism 2022 by NPPA,
3rd Prize at Istanbul Photo Awards, Finalist at 79th POYI in Sports Picture Story category and Finalist at Sports Life ,
Honorable mention @ Siena 2022,
1st place to Felix Schoeller in the Photojournalism category, 2023,
and published in National Geographic Holland Belgium in January 2023
Brick Prison
In Bangladesh, the brick industry employs men, women (sometimes pregnant) and children to work in the kilns in harsh and dangerous conditions. Without protective clothing, they work 12-18 hours breathing air full of toxic particles to make bricks. Children as young as 5-6 work as slaves for $1 a day. Children without access to education have no choice but to enter the labor market where they are often exploited and unable to escape the cycle of poverty.
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