May 31

May 31 Photojournalist Omar Havana

While in Cambodia, I had the great pleasure to meet Spanish photojournalist with a social conscience, Omar Havana.

He is a freelancer born in Madrid who has lived in seven countries including Cambodia which he calls home and where he began his career in photojournalism.

Photography arrived in his life after the suicide of one of his best friends who was a photographer who'd been in the Romanian Revolution. He shot one photo that captured his heart of a little girl with the most amazing and memorable look he'd ever seen, surrounded by war. Since , Omar has covered conflicts in Thailand ( Red Shirt Revolution ), Tunisia, Cambodia, Burma, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia and most recently Libya....He speaks 5 languages.

Greatest Inspirations/Influences?

James Nachtwey, I had the pleasure to meet him few times, and he always gave amazing tips.
Miguel Gil, , murdered in Sierra Leona in 2000, and the best journalist in my opinion in Spanish history.

Favorite Shoots?

The best shot is the one that I will take next
Favorite countries for photography are Cambodia,of course, Burma, Tunisia, Libya.

Where can we see your work?

My work has been published in Al Jazeera, and I normally collaborate with Spanish media such as Bottup and Periodismo Humano

Other creatives who's work you admire?

Eduardo Galeano, writer from Uruguay
Gervasio Sanchez, Spanish photographer
James Nactwey, the best photographer alive

What inspired you most about Cambodia?

The eternal smile of the kids, the look of their people, their stories, their lives, everything about Cambodia!

Tell us about your current exhibition in Granada, Spain

It is called, La Primera Sonrisa, which means the first smile. It was in Cambodia I learned to smile, to live, to see and Cambodia has inspired me to be who I am. Cambodia belongs to those countries that I call The Forgotten World, since not many people know the reality there. It is an honour to show my Cambodia back in my town Granada. It will be on view until June 8th. Upcoming events will be exhibitions about my work in Libya, and I will travel to Africa to cover the situation of the children in Mozambique and Uganda.

Anything else you'd like to share?

We are who we are due 80% of this world is not who deserve to be.....