May 14, 2022 - South African photographer Joubert Loots captures Ukrainians in Đurđevac as part of a moving portrait series to connect with war refugees. 

Joubert Loots is a photographer and artist from South Africa that moved to Đurđevac in early 2020. An ex-pat himself, he knew about the challenges of leaving your family, culture, and life and starting new somewhere else. When the war broke out in Ukraine, Joubert and his wife Marija were hoping to find a way to connect with some of the Ukrainians in Đurđevac and hopefully make them feel a little bit more welcome.

"One day, I was going through some of my old photos from South Africa and found a photo that I had taken of my wife in canola fields. I realized that this concept could make a wonderful backdrop for a portrait series with Ukrainian families. Since all we see in the news are images of sadness and war, I thought this might be an excellent way to depict the families with some joy, dignity, and beauty. Each person in these photos looks off into the distance as one in thought and contemplation, the longing to go home, but also with a sense of courage to move forward and face the current day - with the colors of the Ukrainian flag in the background. The actual flag of Ukraine was designed with the intended meaning of the colors that stand for Peace (blue) and Prosperity (Yellow)," said Joubert. 

Joubert Loots is a Croatia-based social documentary photographer. Through photography, he powerfully captures and communicates how people live, work, and interact in their social environments.

An avid traveller, he has covered stories in over 28 different countries by the age of 33. Throughout his life, Joubert has had the opportunity to meet and form connections with many who have come from vastly different cultural, social, and economic backgrounds. These bonds and the insight they proved into the life of others are what have fuelled his enthusiasm for photography’s ability to illustrate untold stories.

Joubert finds inspiration in his faith, humanity, and nature. A combination of these forms the creative arena through which he explores his own identity. As an artist, Joubert views creativity as an aid toward self-development, and he hopes that his work might evoke careful reflection from his audiences.

As well as taking dynamic pictures, his amiable character and sense of adventure mean that his trips are often about surprise encounters and partaking in unique shared experiences.

You can explore more of Joubert's photography here.

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