Nightclubs to War Zones - My Journey
Kuda York and Russian T-72 Tank near Kyiv, Ukraine - By Edward Matthews
In 2016, I began working in the nightlife industry as a photographer and videographer. It started as a small university job, which then turned into a full-time job when I dropped out of higher education. The money was great, and I loved the atmosphere, but the antisocial work hours were rather undesirable as a teetotal non-drinker. In February 2022, after working six or seven nights a week for months, I began to burn out and lose my passion, which led me to start searching for something new.
On the night of February 23rd, 2022, I was working one of my regular nightclub photography jobs at Kuda York. From what I remember of this particular shift, the night was fairly uneventful, and everything was business as usual. That was until my shift came to an end around 3 am on the morning of the 24th, when news was just breaking online that Russia had once again violated Ukraine's borders, and a full-scale invasion had begun.
The news made me want to do something to help, but I had no idea what I could do. It wasn't until a conversation over dinner in early March with my friend Sean that I realized that I didn't need to pick up a weapon to help Ukraine, but I could use my camera to tell stories instead. Images are my weapon. Sean introduced me to his friend Ondrej, who had documented the war before the escalation last year. He invited me to join him in Poland to document the refugee crisis.
Around 10 days later, I was in Poland at the Ukraine border crossing, witnessing the mass exodus of refugees fleeing the war firsthand. Soon after arriving, I realized the gravity of the situation and ended up volunteering with local grassroots organizations that had set up in response to the war. Despite the language barrier, I was welcomed to the team at Przemyśl station for the 4 am shifts, distributing humanitarian aid, and supporting Ukrainian nationals arriving in Poland.
A Ukrainian woman and child browsing donated clothes at Medyka, Poland - By Edward Matthews
After a week of exhausting volunteer shifts, it was time to return home. This was very short-lived, however, because that week in Poland changed my life and career aspirations for good. I knew that from that moment onwards, I had to dedicate my time to documenting important issues and using my photography skills to raise awareness of them.
Just 10 days later, I was already returning to Poland to continue where I left off. Upon returning, I was asked to join a volunteer aid team delivering aid to Dnipro in the East of Ukraine to document their trip. This would become my first experience of war.
Portrait of me working with the DSNS in recently liberated Kupiansk December 2022
I’ve now completed six trips to Ukraine, supporting humanitarian aid teams and working as a documentary photographer.
When I first started my photography career, I never imagined that my work would take me to the frontlines of a war zone but after experiencing it firsthand, I knew that I had found my calling. It’s been a fascinating experience documenting the effects of war on civilians, capturing the humanity in the face of adversity, and the incredible resilience of the human spirit.
It's hard to describe the emotions and experiences I've encountered over the past year but the beauty and kindness of Ukrainian people, juxtaposed with the horrors of war and displacement, have left a permanent mark on me. There’s definitely a stark contrast between the vibrant nightlife industry and the harsh realities of war zone.
By raising awareness of the human cost of war, I hope to inspire empathy, understanding, and action. I want to use this platform to show that war is not just statistics, but real people with real lives.
If you would like to support my documentary work so I can continue producing more content then you can donate here: GoFundMe.