A Short Walk in The Gambian Bush - PhotoStories

The River Gambia Expedition team reach the Atlantic Ocean, at...

Mon, 28 Jan 2013 08:53:00 -0500

The River Gambia Expedition team reach the Atlantic Ocean, at Denton Bridge, The Gambia – after over 1000km of road and river l-r: Helen Jones-Florio, Ebou Jarju, Abdou Ndong, Jason Florio. Thanks to Terry, of Denton Bridge Watersports, for his hospitality on our return (and the chicken and chips!).

We are still in West Africa and the internet connection is still super slow/non-existent - as it has been for the last 2 months! So, please bear with us as we try to update the blog from our second successful West African expedition (the first one was ‘A Short Walk in the Gambian Bush’ - please scroll down for photos and stories). We promise to post more photos and road/river stories soon.

In the meantime, check out the River Gambia Expedition blog so far.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Jason Florio and Helen Jones-Florio

River Gambia Expedition team leaders

Crikey…we did it! You did it!! Kickstarter success! We can’t...

Mon, 15 Oct 2012 03:11:00 -0400

Crikey…we did it! You did it!! Kickstarter success!

We can’t thank everyone enough for all the support and encouragement over these last months, including ‘An Exchange’ for Jason Florio’s fine art photo prints (still running on the River Gambia Expedition blog by the way, so it’s not too late!) and on Kickstarter.

It’s our last day before we fly down to West Africa and lots of running around (nothing new there, then), to begin the River Gambia Expedition proper. We’ll post more updates later…soon…once we can breathe again

BIG LOVE and gratitude to everyone…we are truly humbled.
Jason & Helen Florio x

Image: Florio & H – ‘A Short Walk in the Gambian Bush – a 930km African odyssey’ 2009 The Gambia, West Africa

We made it! We beat our Kickstarter target - and some! Thanks to...

Wed, 26 Sep 2012 06:26:00 -0400

We made it! We beat our Kickstarter target - and some! Thanks to New York photographer, Robert Wright, for pushing us over the final hurdle!

There are still rewards available though - until the deadline of 15th October - for those who wish to have one of Jason Florio’s limited edition fine art photography prints. Check it out:

Kickstarter Campaign - River Gambia Expedition - 1000km source to sea African odyssey - deadline 15th October 2012!! - Award-winning photographer, Jason Florio & photography and expedition producer, Helen Jones-Florio.

Thanks to absolutely everyone who jumped on board with us, from all over the globe - we definitely couldn’t do the expedition without you.

The Florio

River Gambia Expedition - 1000km source to sea African odyssey

October 2012: Please visit our new blog about our forthcoming...

Wed, 27 Jun 2012 08:20:00 -0400

Jason Florio & Helen Jones-Florio

Abdou Ndong - expedition team member

October 2012: Please visit our new blog about our forthcoming expedition - ‘River Gambia Expedition 2012 - 1000km source to sea African odyssey’ - over on Wordpress.

Thank you so much for following us on our last journey - ‘A Short Walk in The Gambian Bush - a 930km African odyssey’which produced award-winning portraits from Jason Florio, of village chiefs and elders of The Gambia, West Africa.

We hope that you’ll jump on board and follow this next one - over on Wordpress. We’ll post the occasional update on here, but if you want to follow our adventure, then please sign up (all that’s needed is an email address and verification) for updates on the River Gambia Expedition.

‘The River Gambia Expedition – 1000km source-sea African odyssey’

The Journey – 1 river. 2 borders. 3 countries – Guinea-Senegal-The Gambia, West Africa

Paddles in the water: mid October 2012

When: October – December 2012

Why: To create an historical – visual /audio/written - document of the peoples, cultures and environment along one of Africa’s last, free flowing, major rivers – The River Gambia.

Estimated journey time: 2-3 months

Modes of transport: Canoes & Trekking

River Gambia Expedition 2012:

Experienced West Africa travelers, husband and wife team - multi award-winning photographer, Jason Florio, and, photography producer, Helen Jones-Florio – will attempt to create a modern-day account of the people, societies, and life along the length of one of Africa’s last, free-flowing, major rivers – the River Gambia. There has also been talk, for a number of years, of damming the river. This journey is about documenting the communities and environment before this happens.

They will be promoting canoeing and trekking, as a means of travel – thereby maintaining a low carbon footprint/environmental impact. Travelling through the through the homelands of over seven different tribes, their journey will begin at the source of the river, where it trickles out of the Fouta Djallon highlands of Guinea, on into hippo-abundant Niokolo Koba National Park, Senegal, and finally into The Republic of the Gambia – following the same course as the early gold and slave traders had done century’s ago – to the 10km wide mouth of the river, where it opens into the Atlantic Ocean after over a 1000km journey.

Meet the River Gambia expedition team: Expedition team leaders, Jason, Helen, and rest of their team, will collect - through multiple medias: visual/written/audio - stories documenting the lives and cultures of the indigenous people, who live and work along the course of the River Gambia. Using traditional protocol, relevant to each country, they will approach village chiefs to ask permission to stay in his/her village.

They will travel with Abou Ndong & Ebou Jarjau, two local Gambian experienced river men will be on the team for the entire journey; along with hiring local guides in Guinea and Senegal – thus making it a diverse and international team.

We look forward to seeing you on other side!

Thank you

The Florios

Check out how you can own one of award-winning photographer, Jason Florio’s, fine art photography prints from the River Gambia Expedition 2012 http://rivergambiaexpedition2012.wordpress.com/2012/08/07/two-ways-to-own-one-of-award-winning-photographer-jason-florios-fine-art-photography-prints/

We also have a Facebook page & Twitter

Photo Editior, Stella Kramer’s Interview with Helen...

Fri, 15 Jun 2012 08:59:00 -0400

Photo Editior, Stella Kramer’s Interview with Helen Jones-Florio - for Stellazine - about their 2009 Expedition (with photographer, Jason Florio) - ‘A Short Walk in the Gambian Bush - a 930km African odyssey’

Image © Jason Florio

Stellazine

When we returned to New York, from our ‘Short Walk in The Gambian Bush – a 930km African…

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We are now guest bloggers for Africa Geographic Safari Interactive Magazine!

Thu, 14 Jun 2012 03:27:00 -0400

We’re excited to have been invited to be guest bloggers, on Africa Geographic Safari Interactive...

Jason Florio’s Award-winning Portraits of Village Chiefs...

Wed, 13 Jun 2012 08:55:00 -0400

Jason Florio’s Award-winning Portraits of Village Chiefs and Elders - Limited Edition Prints available to the 2009 - A Short Walk in the Gambian Bush ’ expedition donors

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B&H Photo NYC - Interview with Jason Florio - all things...

Wed, 13 Jun 2012 06:45:52 -0400

B&H Photo NYC - Interview with Jason Florio - all things photography and our 2009 ‘Short Walk in the Gambian Bush…’

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Remembering James - 1939-2011 James & Helen – Mandina...

Tue, 12 Jun 2012 13:31:00 -0400

Remembering James - 1939-2011

James & Helen – Mandina Balong, Makasutu Culture Forest, The Gambia, West Africa.…Jan 2010 (just after we returned from ‘A Short Walk in the Gambian Bush’)

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‘A Short Walk in The Gambian Bush - a 930km African...

Fri, 04 May 2012 09:09:00 -0400

‘A Short Walk in The Gambian Bush - a 930km African odyssey’ 2009 - West Africa

Image © Jason Florio - the expedition team at dawn, leaving Kalaji village, The Gambia, West Africa

October 2012 Update: forthcoming expedition: ‘River Gambia Expedition - 1000km source to sea African odyssey’

‘Your Experience’ Magazine - Matt Smith and the guys...

Wed, 02 May 2012 10:47:00 -0400

‘Your Experience’ Magazine - Matt Smith and the guys over at Gambia Experience/Serenity Holidays - have used one of my photo’s, from our 930km walk, in their May 2012 edition of the magazine.

Image © Helen Jones-Florio 2009

Kunta Kinteh Island (formally, James Island), The Gambia, West Africa

http://930kmafricanodyssey.tumblr.com/post/2313060104/image-by-florio-2009-james-island-a-former

Random road shots: The Alkalo (village chief), Dam Sallah, and...

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 10:06:00 -0400

Random road shots: The Alkalo (village chief), Dam Sallah, and the village elders come to meet the team - Kerr Sat Maram, The Gambia, West Africa

A Short Walk in the Gambian Bush - a 930km African odyssey

I’m in the middle of writing the book (long overdue!)...

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 12:12:00 -0400

I’m in the middle of writing the book (long overdue!) based on A Short Walk in The Gambian Bush - our 930km African odyssey - and I’m almost at the end of our journey. The last day was a particularly tough one - the cart wheel coming off three times was only part of a nightmare of an extremely long and frustrating day.

Here is Adama, the mechanic from Makasutu Culture Forest, doing his best to secure the wheelback onto to the cart again so that we can make the remaining few miles home. Janneh, Samba, Momadou and myself (Flo is taking the photo - heavy work, holding that camera, eh, Flo) transfer our gear, from the cart to the truck, to lighten the load, in an effort to move faster on the last leg of the walk…wishful thinking.

Random road shots: Almost the end of the journey - Helen...

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 11:06:35 -0400

Random road shots: Almost the end of the journey - Helen Jones-Florio on The Barra-Banjul Ferry - across the River Gambia

Random roadshots: Jason Florio - Sunset & Baobab Trees,...

Mon, 09 Apr 2012 13:11:25 -0400

Random roadshots: Jason Florio - Sunset & Baobab Trees, James Island, Juffereh, The Gambia, West Africa

Random Road Shots: Gambian boy with feather in his hair Taken...

Thu, 05 Apr 2012 11:11:00 -0400

Random Road Shots:

Gambian boy with feather in his hair

Taken whilst on ‘A Short Walk in The Gambian Bush - a 930km African odyssey’ - 2009 - The Gambia, West Africa

‘Silafando’ - Award-winning portraits of village...

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 10:22:40 -0400

‘Silafando’ - Award-winning portraits of village chiefs, ‘Alkalos’, and elders by Jason Florio

Taken whilst on a 930km walk around the small West African country of The Gambia - 2009

NME - review: Guelewar Band of Banjul : Wollou (...

Sat, 10 Mar 2012 12:34:19 -0500

NME - review: Guelewar Band of Banjul : Wollou ( Photostories by Jason Florio & Helen Jones ) Guelewar Band of Banjul : Wollou - video

Photostories by Jason Florio & Helen Jones-Florio from a 930km Africa odyssey

http://www.nme.com/nme-video/youtube/id/u_wjGq

From the archive: Salafo & Penda Bah - Mr Bah is a...

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 14:53:09 -0500

From the archive: Salafo & Penda Bah - Mr Bah is a Marabout, holy man and farmer who we met and stayed with, in the tiny village of Tuba Dabbo, whilst on our 930km walk around The Gambia, West Africa.

One of a series of award-winning portraits of village chiefs (‘Alkalos’) and elders from ‘A Short Walk in The Gambian Bush - a 930km African odyssey’

Umbi Salla Tourey (the village chief’s mother) &...

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 14:51:16 -0500

Umbi Salla Tourey (the village chief’s mother) & Kanifana Tourey (the chief’s sister-in-law) - Balanghar Bental, The Gambia, West Africa

From the award-winning series of portraits by Jason Florio