photojournalism

Hans Neleman's Book " Night Chicas" is brutal. Neleman shows us the hard core reality female sex workers in Guatemala have been forced or simply spiraled into. The strength of this photographic body of work is that it appears non judgemental; it is neither condescending nor pitying, in fact there is an incredible dignity in how the women are portrayed. The work just feels honest. There is a huge crescendo of emotion in the portraits, some prostitutes stare into the lens with a spirit that cannot be broken, while others reveal their hurt with urgency. Hans Neleman shows us their stories through intimate revelations; bodies, eyes, scars, environments and possesions. Every detail is essential and is there for us not to pass judgement but to help us understand their lives and their humanity. Night Chicas contains some of the most important and powerful images I have seen in this genre of photography and in fact through his unique approach which is neither documentary nor artifice, he presents us with powerful insightful and visually stunning impressions which to me are simply timeless painterly observations. I could go on endlessly and talk about the beautiful light, the lush colors, and the artistic compositions, but that is not the point of this work yet they are bonuses that only support my belief in this artist's talent.
Night Chicas is Neleman's third book and like his other monographs Moko - Maori Tattoo and his still life work in Silence a must have for every photography enthusiast.