Andrea Hernández Briceño

The Avila Mountain looms over Caracas, Venezuela, on August 11, 2018.

December’s featured photographer is Andrea Hernández

Andrea Hernández Briceño is a Venezuelan photographer based in Caracas with a degree in Journalism from the Universidad Católica Andrés Bello (Venezuela). She focuses on social conflicts and community issues in the Latin American and Caribbean region. After working as a writer she found her calling in photojournalism at the local media website El Estimulo. In 2017, she was given the Director’s Scholarship to study at the International Center of Photography. In 2018, she participated in the Eddie Adams Workshop and she was selected as a Women Photograph Mentee. She was recently recognised as one of the 30 Under 30 Women Photographers by Artpil, was included in PDN’s 30 New and Emerging Photographers to Watch list, 20 Rising Female Photojournalists list by Artsy. Also, she was chosen as one of the mentors of the 20 Fotógrafos Workshop in Guatemala and as a leader for the Women Photograph Chapter in Caracas. Most recently, she was named National Geographic explorer. Hernández Briceño now works as a freelancer for the Associated Press and contributes for publications such as; The Washington Post, El País and Buzzfeed News.

Homecoming

Leaving do parties are more common than birthday parties in Venezuela. Since I left in 2017, more than 4 million people have migrated Venezuela says ACNUR, propelled by their survival instincts. Homecoming shows the terrors that have pushed them towards the frontiers, while celebrating those who stay to stubbornly fight for a normal life. Most of all, it highlights the moments of dignity that defy all around crisis.

This project is the direct consequence of what I found when I returned to Venezuela in 2018: the deterioration of living conditions that transcend the unacceptable. I’ve been documenting my surroundings in Caracas and the regions, where locals struggle in worst circumstances regarding shortages and violence. Much worse.

The heart of Homecoming are the moments of introspection that allow us to continue living the dispute between corruption and natural splendour. Scrutinising these instants through the reflective power of photography is a way of understanding and honouring the small rebellions that are carried out in the face of decline.

*this is a project that continues to be in progress

Johanna Osorio, 26, posa en su oficina en el Este de Caracas el 26 de noviembre de 2018.
People sit on the Calvario steps in Caracas, Venezuela, on January 9, 2019.
El Ruso poses for a portrait in Patanemo a coastal town in Venezuela, on August 10, 2018.
A bat lies on the baseball field of the Estadio Universitario de Caracas, Venezuela, on January 26, 2019.
Francisco Salazar mantiene un loro como mascota en su apartamento de Misión Vivienda en El Paraíso el 21 de noviembre de 2018.
A pregnant woman holds her belly while watching the debris of a fire that swept through more than 30 houses in the town of San Isidro in Caracas, Venezuela, on February 17, 2019.
Children wait outside of the Dolorita community kitchen for free food in the low income neighborhood of Petare in Caracas, Venezuela, on February 27, 2019.
Children play on top of a military tank in La Guaira, Venezuela, on February 24, 2019. Hugo Chavez and Nicolas Maduro’s governments have been known for worshipping military institutions.
A young man turns to run away from the National Bolivarian Police during a protest in El Paraiso in Caracas, Venezuela, on January 30, 2019. This was one of the first of a series of demonstrations in support of Interim President Juan Guaido and against dictator Nicolas Maduro.
A woman gets dressed after treatment with the spiritualist El Guayanes in his “operation” room in the low income neighborhood of Petare in Caracas, Venezuela, on April 9, 2019.
Jesus Torres fixes his miliciano uniform in his house in the Petare area of Caracas, Venezuela, on March 22, 2019. He is part of the 2 million soldiers in the military-civilian movement created by ex president Hugo Chavez.
María Andreina Briceño, my mother, poses for a portrait on the morning of March 12, 2019 at her home in Caracas, Venezuela.
A Jose Gregorio Hernandez statue sits on top of a bar in Caracas, Venezuela, on August 8, 2018.
Parejas bailan salsa durante el evento Suena Caracas en el barrio Catia el 23 de noviembre de 2018.
Guillermo Hernandez, 59. lies on a bed at the Centro Medico after being hospitalised in Caracas, Venezuela, on May 5, 2019. He is a cancer patient.
A view of Caracas, Venezuela, from the Avila mountain on March 1, 2019. The capital continues to be the most dangerous city in the world with an average of 130.5 murders per 100,000 inhabitants.

To see more of Andrea’s works, here

La fotógrafa del es de Diciembre es Andrea Hernández

Andrea Hernández Briceño es una fotógrafa venezolana basada en Caracas, Venezuela, con una licenciatura en Comunicación Social mención Periodismo de la Universidad Católica Andrés Bello (Venezuela). Andrea se enfoca en conflictos sociales y asuntos comunitarios en América Latina y el Caribe. Luego de trabajar como redactora, encontró su vocación en el fotoperiodismo en el medio local web; El Estímulo. En el 2017, el Centro Internacional de la Fotografía (ICP) le otorgó una beca para estudiar el programa de Práctica Documental y Periodismo Visual. En el 2018, participó en el taller Eddie Adams XXXI y fue seleccionada como mentoreada por la organización Women Photograph. Recientemente, fue reconocida como una de las 30 Mujeres bajo 30 años por Artpil, fue incluida en la lista de PDN’s 30 Fotógrafos Nuevos y Emergentes, en la lista de 20 Fotoperiodistas por Artsy, escogida como tutora para el taller de 20 Fotógrafos en Guatemala y como líder del Capítulo Caracas de Women Photograph. Hace poco, fue otorgada como National Geographic Explorer. Hernández Briceño ahora trabaja como fotógrafa independiente para Associated Press y publicaciones como; The Washington Post, El País y Buzzfeed News, entre otros.

Vuelta a Casa

En Venezuela son más comunes las despedidas que los cumpleaños. Desde que me fui en 2017, más de cuatro millones de venezolanos han emigrado – referencia ACNUR – impulsados por su instinto de supervivencia. “Vuelta a casa” expone los terrores que los han empujado hacia las fronteras, pero también celebra a los que se quedan peleando tercamente por una vida normal. Y sobre todo, resalta los momentos de dignidad que desafían la crisis.

Este proyecto es la consecuencia directa de lo que encontré cuando volví a Venezuela en 2018: unas condiciones de vida que se han deteriorado y que trascienden lo inadmisible. He estado documentando mi entorno, Caracas, y las regiones, donde los locales padecen peores circunstancias en cuanto a escasez y violencia. Mucho peores.

El corazón de este proyecto son los momentos de introspección que nos permiten continuar viviendo esta disputa entre la corrupción y el esplendor natural. Observar con detenimiento estos instantes mediante el poder reflexivo de la fotografía es una forma de entender y honrar las pequeñas rebeliones que ocurren en la cara del deterioro.

Para saber más de los proyectos de Andrea, aquí