Forbidden photos of North Korea, filmed with a hidden camera
These pictures were taken by photographer Eric Lafforgue during his last visit in a closed country. The latter — not in the sense of the most recent, and in the sense that now the entry into this country closed to him forever. He took these photos during the tours with government approved guides who asked him to delete all the photos. But Eric Lafforgue managed to save them and later put on public display.
Photographer Eric Laffor visited North Korea six times. On memory cards, he was able to take out any of their photos that were not supposed to get into print.
When shooting Laffor sought to show that the people of North Korea — it is primarily poor people, and not those soulless robots, they seem to be on the front photographs.
1. "The authorities hate when people make such photos. Even when I explained to them that poverty exists everywhere, they still forbade me to do these pictures".
2. The North Korean army is one of the largest in the world, but in fact, the soldiers often have to take on the dirty work than weapons.
3. "In difficult times (and they are constantly) children can be seen working in the fields, says Lafford. — I was denied entry after a trip in September 2012 when I published some photos on the Internet. The North Koreans saw them and asked me to remove, finding them offensive. I refused, because it felt unfair not to show the reality of their country." According to the photographer, the locals have a hard time getting outside Pyongyang and major cities. "Life is cruel in many places of North Korea, far from Western standards," says the photographer.
In a small fishing village, where he was received as the guest of honor. The settlement has never seen a mobile phone. Its inhabitants are busy all day fishing, and seaweed farming. "Even with such a heavy life, they told me with tears in his eyes, that honor their distinguished leaders... even if sometimes they do not have enough food."
4. The North Korean government prohibits photographing everyone who suffers from malnutrition, as this man...
5. ...or the little boy.
6. "It is forbidden to photograph people who are poorly dressed. According to my guide, this man was not well dressed, so I could photograph him."
7. "I saw those kids that collected corn on the street near Begabungen," explains Lafford.
8. A woman stands in the middle of the crowd of soldiers. Authorities are not allowed to take photos of the military.
9. North Korea does not like to show his army. "Here is you can see there all the time, but taking pictures is not allowed."
10. "To photograph in the demilitarized zone (between North and South Korea) is easy, but if you get too close to the soldiers, they stop you."
11. Photograph of soldiers on holiday in North Korea is also prohibited.
12. "During a visit to the Dolphinarium in Pyongyang, you can photograph the animals, but not the military, which make up 99% of the audience".
13. North Korean authorities hate images of their soldiers are resting. "This picture probably contributed to the fact that I was expelled from the country," says Lafford.
14. A man washes in the river near Pyongyang. "In rural areas this occurs quite often."
15. "This man used old bus instead of a boat. In rural areas people often catch fish in lakes is a good way to get fresh food from where it is rare".
16. "While on the bus to Chongjin, district suffering from hunger, my camera was confiscated. When I saw people on the streets, I realized why."
17. "This man was sleeping by the sea in Chilbo. My guide asked me to remove this photo because I was afraid that people would think that this man is dead. No, he was alive."
18. "In Kaesong, near the demilitarized zone, the tourists stay in the hotel complex, built of old houses. The guides say that the outside all the same. No, this is not so."
19. "Here are the photos prevalent in the West. Signatures are typically say that the North Koreans have to eat grass. Guides out of yourself if you make a photo".
20. "People go to the village public works. Before the authorities considered these images are positive, but now they understand that we consider them to be evidence of forced labour".
21. "Walking past these buildings, the guides asked me not to shoot with flash. The official reason was "not to scare people."
22. "The North Koreans are a bit paranoid. The guides asked me to remove this photo because I was sure that I would then say that these people are homeless, but they were just resting."
23. Authorities believe that photos that smiling people are under the portraits of the leaders of the country, are offensive. "Never take pictures when I see what people are doing stupid things in front of portraits of Kim," says Lafford.
24. "Although machines in Pyongyang is becoming more common people they have not yet been used. Children continue to play in the middle of the road, as if oblivious to the passing cars".
25. "In two supermarkets in Pyongyang you will find all types of food and drinks. They even have Evian water, but the shops here, only the elite."
26. "We were in an art gallery in Pyongyang, when there was another outage. When that happens, they say, that the fault of the Americans."
27. "Probably the most ridiculous ban of all. When I took this picture, everyone started to yell at me. As the painting was unfinished, I could not photograph."
28. "In the children's camp Songdowon should be laughter and fun but many of the children come from the village. They are scared of, for example, escalators, which have never been seen before."
29. "The authorities had problems with this photo for two reasons: the teen is wearing his cap in a strange way (according to my guide), and in the background are visible the military."
30. "Pyongyang metro is the deepest in the world, because it also functions as an air-RAID shelters. I was asked to remove this photo because it shows the tunnel."
31. "Clothing is very important in North Korea. When I asked to take pictures of these students, the girl insisted that the kid straightened his shirt."
32. "When I visit families, the guides love it when you take photos, which show children with computers. But when they see that computers are not even included, they ask you to delete the picture!"
33. "On the side of the road many people are tired, because many have to drive hours to work on the bike. To take pictures of tired people, of course, prohibited."
34. Although authorities closed the black market, "gray market" that they turn a blind eye, allow some to scratch out a living.
35. "To photograph the logo of the world food programme through the window of a house in the village is forbidden."
36. "A rare example of an undisciplined kid in North Korea. The bus was driving in the small roads of SAMINA in the North, when this boy ran into the road."
37. "Turn — a national sport for North Koreans". In this photo, people wait for their turn to get on the bus.
38. "Pyongyang is the showcase of North Korea, so that the appearance of the buildings carefully monitored. But it's worth a look inside, all secret becomes obvious".
39. The festival in honor of Kim Jong Il, thousands of North Koreans are in the queue to various monuments.
40. A visit to farmhouse. The house and the villagers for such shots are carefully selected by the government. But sometimes some detail, such as bath as a reservoir for supply of water, shows that the life here is quite difficult.
41. Public transport for intercity the message is almost there. Citizens need to obtain permission to move from one place to another. In this photo you can see soldiers of the voting on the highway.
42. Show poverty is forbidden, but displaying wealth is also banned. This car Laffor photographed Sunday in a Park in Pyongyang. The owners of the Mercedes had a barbecue.
43. Photos of soldiers at rest is also prohibited.
44. Absolutely forbidden to take pictures of the statues of Kim Il sung from the back. It is considered very rude.
Keywords: Poverty | Ban | North Korea | Photographer