Gomma Photography Grant 2024
Sand and Iron
Photographer
Albert S?owi?ski
Sand and Iron
17 Jan, 2025
The history of the longest three-kilometer train running across the Sahara dates back to the 1960s, when rich deposits of iron ore were discovered in the mountains in the northern part of Mauritania. At that time, a railroad was established with the main purpose of transporting the valuable raw material from the mines in Zouérat to the port of Nouadhibou. Today, after more than 60 years of existence, the mine and railroad are one of the key sources of income for Mauritania's economy. The train consists of 210 cars, each capable of carrying up to 84 tons of iron ore. Locals traveling from the port city must travel some 704 kilometers through one of the most deserted and inhospitable places on Earth. There is only one passenger car in the entire train, which not everyone can afford to enter. Residents are forced to travel for twenty hours on iron ore mounds. Daytime temperatures often exceed 40°C, and drop to 5°C at night. One fully loaded passenger compartment, darkness, dirt, cold and sand. Cooking on gas cylinders, drinking sweet chai - all this becomes part of their daily life, an attempt to function normally in this tough circumstances.
About the photographer
Albert S?owi?ski
"My documentary photography focuses on significant world events and personal stories, aiming to capture the truth and natural emotions. I travel extensively to meet new people, believing that through my documentary projects, I can help bring local issues to a wider audience. I am a documentary photographer from Poland, currently studying photography at the Academy of Art in Szczecin. I co-founded the photography collective „Achromatic” at the Academy, where I lead various photography projects and exhibitions. My work has been recognized in several prestigious competitions. I qualified for the XXXVII Eddie Adams Workshop in New York and was a finalist in the 2024 Ian Parry Photojournalism Grant. I won first place in the 20th Grand Competition of National Geographic Poland in the Photojournalism category. My projects have also been awarded at the FotoArtFestival in Bielsko-Bia?a and the International Photo Contest „Children of the World” in Pacanów, among others. Additionally, I won the National Photo Contest „Exhibit Yourself at the Center for Contemporary Art” in Toru?. I have also had the privilege of participating twice in the Sputnik Photo x Fujifilm workshops."
