Alan Gignoux

Photographer

Follow Hire

Location: LONDON

Nationality: United Kingdom and United States of America

Biography: Commissions Camera Obscura Refugee project 2019 - present I am using a camera obscura to photograph migrants. Thew subjects appear as blurry figures against a European urban environment that remains clearly in focus. By using this creative... MORE

Focus: Photographer, Photojournalist, Filmmaker, Journalist, Editor, Producer, Director, Videographer, Researcher, Reporter, Politics, Video Editor, Environment, Science, Documentary, Multimedia, News, Creative, Film, Photography, Portraiture, Art, Culture, Director of Photography, Digital Stratagist, Visuals Editor, Arts & Culture, Journalist Investigative, Freelance, Humanitarian, Opinions, Assignments, Educator, Communications, Founder, Visual Communications , Human Rights, Investigation, International, Creative Professional

Public Story

England or bust

Copyright Alan Gignoux 2024

Updated Jun 2020

Over the past ten years, The Port of Ostend has become a major gateway for illegal immigrants trying to enter the United Kingdom. Ostend is attractive to the refugees as there is a direct ferry service to Ramsgate with thirteen ferries leaving every day, carrying 600 lorries. New technology is making detection easier but the immigrants find creative ways to avoid detection.

No immigrants at the CAW Centre in Ostend agreed to be photographed or reveal their names, apart from two refugees, one from Afghanistan who has Belgian residency who explains the process that the refugees undertake to evade the British authorities. The other, an Algerian, suffering from Diabetes describes his gruelling trip across Europe.