Laura Böök : For me it's important to develop strong relationships with the people I photograph and give back something, and also to make work that is not just for other photographers or photography enthusiasts.”

Laura Böök speaks about her ongoing documentation of a Congolese immigrant community adapting to live in a small Finnish village.

Vero Bielinski: "In the future It will be harder and harder to be or to feel individual in our world."

Vero Bielinski, a German-based photographer with Polish roots, explored the hipster street culture in an effort to understand their message.

Surendra Lawoti : History has shown time and again, that the 'common people' do rise up to bring about change.

Surendra Lawoti was born in Nepal in 1972. After finishing his high school in Kathmandu, he moved to the US to pursue higher education. Surendra’s work stems out from his interest in social issues, politics, image-making and activism. He is interested in individuals, social groups and their milieus, generally those on the periphery of the mainstream society. He agreed to talk about his work with Nepali activists who are rallying for constitutional changes.

Matthew O'Brien: 'It is an uphill battle, and always will be.'

Matthew O'Brien joins our blogathon to talk about his long standing engagement with a complex country like Colombia.

Marrigje de Maar: 'Over the years my backpack got lighter and lighter.'

"I feel it is more the individual who changes his community, not so much whole communities choosing a different life style." – Marrigje de Maar, our guest for blogathon issue #5.

The power of urban gardening, with Katharina Fitz

'I would like to encourage people to take things literally into their own hands and to actively participate in change.'

Austrian photographer Katharina Fitz is our guest for blogathon issue #4.

John Vink on Resisting Human Rights Erosion in Cambodia

During the festival the Noorderlicht blog is hosting bite-size interviews with participating photographers about their work. We asked photographers to share their thoughts on how their own projects reflects on the festival theme, and to tell more about their personal engagement with their subjects. Today, John Vink expands on his ongoing project documenting social change in Cambodia, a country in transition towards a functional democracy.

Diana Blok on sexual diversity

During the festival the Noorderlicht blog is hosting bite-size interviews with participating photographers about their work. We asked photographers to share their thoughts on how their own projects reflects on the festival theme, and to tell more about their personal engagement with their subjects. All interviews are conducted by Hester Keijser. Today, Diana Blok speaks about what drove her to make the work 'I challenge you to love me'.

Introducing the Noorderlicht Festival Blogathon!

An Ocean of Possibillities has now officially opened to the public. During the festival the Noorderlicht blog is hosting bite-size interviews with participating photographers about their work. Continue to read the first interview with Zhao Renhui, whose work is the token image for the festival.