Kieran Doherty: The Fishermen of Kerala

Photo © Kieran Doherty-All Rights Reserved

This post is a treat...and one that I know will appreciated by readers of The Travel Photographer blog.

Kieran Doherty is a photojournalist whose career started with the Reuters News Pictures service in London. He remained with Reuters 15 years until resigning his position to undertake commissions in 2008. His photography has taken him to almost every part the world and his work has appeared in all the major international journals and magazines including Time, Newsweek, Der Spiegel, Stern, National Geographic, The New York Times and The Sunday Times magazine.

His recent commission by the BBC Natural History Unit has used his photography in the television series Human Planet. His work has been awarded first prizes in news, sport, features and essay categories, including being shortlisted for Fuji's European Photographer of the Year and the British Photographer of the Year on five occasions.

From Kiernan's compelling photo essays, I chose The Fishermen of Kerala to feature here. It was photographed with a Leica M6 using a 125 asa film made in India for about 50 cents a roll. Kiernan tells me that the essay was photographed in Kovalam, where Muslim and Christian fishermen were at odds over fishing rights.

While I suggest you explore all of Kiernan's photo galleries, don't miss his photo story involving the repatriation of British soldiers through the tiny English village of Wootton Bassett in Wiltshire. This often-covered Wootton Bassett event is about to end as the local airbase RAF Lyneham is to close...an end to an era.

Finally, Kiernan's website is one that many photographers ought to emulate...large images (including full screen view), clear and simple navigation and a concise About page.