Author name: Ali MC

Ali MC is a freelance writer and photographer who holds a Masters in Human Rights Law. His work has featured in publications such as Al Jazeera, The Guardian, GQ and SBS, and his photography has appeared in galleries such as the Monash Gallery of Art. Previous projects have included Rohingya refugees, marginalised East Timorese groups and labouring conditions in north-east India. Ali MC is also the author of the full-length 'punk rock travel book' The Eyeball End. He currently works extensively with Indigenous communities in Australia.

Vanuatu 4

The Challenges (and Joys) of Travelling with Film – Reflections on Vanuatu – By Ali MC

People often ask me at presentations and tutorials: ‘what are some the challenges of travelling with film?’ To be honest, after emerging from 262 cumulative days in the world’s longest lockdown in my home city of Melbourne, Australia, I’ve almost forgotten.

Fortunately, the world is beginning to open back up to travel again – especially for us in Australia, who have suffered the strictest travel restrictions in recent times bar North Korea (and that’s no joke).

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Photographing a Refugee Protest – By Ali MC

Like many photographers, I’ve always aspired to become a photojournalist. However, the global media industry is rapidly changing and the ‘golden era’ of photojournalism – featuring the globe-trotting likes of Sir Don McCullin and James Nachtwey – is in decline.

Yet I’ve been fortunate enough to develop a side hustle writing and photographing feature articles for publications such as Al Jazeera, SBS, The Guardian and others.

Recently I covered a story for Al Jazeera about the ongoing human rights issue of refugees and asylum seekers in Australia. Over the past 15 years, the Australian Government has developed a very strict immigration policy, which ensures that anyone seeking asylum and arriving by boat will never be permanently settled here.

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