Every day thousands of sub-Saharan Africans try to enter Europe by crossing the divide that separates the two continents. Those that make it to the Canary Islands in Spain are customarily given an expulsion order, but because of the lack of repatriation agreements between Spain and many African countries some can not be returned. After 40 days of captivity in overcrowded detention centers they are flown to cities like Barcelona where they are released. They are left in a legal limbo, without residency or a permit to work, which drives them underground living in the shadows and scraping to survive.
Charlie, the 2007 winner of the New Talent category of the Travel Photographer of the Year award, is a freelance photographer based in Barcelona, Spain.
He likes to work on stories of human interest and sometimes collaborates with non-profit organizations. He has traveled extensively and has experience working in remote locations like the Balkans, West Africa and Latin America.
Charlie strongly believes that photojournalism can bring about change by functioning as a witness and giving a voice to people who are powerless to tell their own stories.
He has studied with Pep Bonet, Paco Elvira and Tino Soriano in Barcelona, Arlene Collins and John Isaac at the Maine Workshops. He has a Masters in Photojournalism from the Universidad Aut?noma de Barcelona. He also has a B.A. in International Relations and Biology from Bowdoin College.
