ONLY FOR A MOMENT

Tim Bentlin

Probably my most exciting moment in both my trips to Albania was when I stood with the boys from Kute on the mountain overlooking the village they came from. But it was not the view that is so unforgettable (although it most probably contributed to it) but how we got up there. When I came to the village for the second time, it was quite difficult for me to gain the trust of the group of children and young people, even though they were quite interested in what we were doing in the village. After some negotiation (mostly done with google translator or hand signals) they were willing to be photographed, but on the condition that I play a football match with them in the market place. When my team finally won, the gate was open for my portraits of them. Still quite shy in front of the camera, they all joined in bit by bit and finally felt quite comfortable in front of my camera. After a while, when probably all the children of the village had gathered around me, I asked the older boys for their favourite place with a nice view.

They gave me a sign to follow them, which I did, neither knowing where to go nor how long it would take, as the day was drawing to its end. We walked up a hill in a rush and I followed them while I kept translating the questions to them on my mobile phone. Not that I was overwhelming them with questions (if that was possible at that pace), they were almost fanatical about telling me about their village, who lived where and who worked abroad.

Once I reached the top, I was overwhelmed by the view. The whole village lay at the foot of the mountain in front of us. We could see the whole valley with its towering mountains behind it and the Vjosa River winding its way through the middle of the valley. While I dreamily looked down into the valley, the boys, almost bored again, started to play football with the ball they had brought with them. They showed me more and more tricks and almost managed to get the ball back into the valley without us.

Finally we talked about why we were in Kute. And they heard from me that the government’s planned dams might flood their fields. At that time, the protection of the Vjosa was still in full swing. They were quite surprised to hear about it, because I was the first to tell them. In response, they formed the national bird of Albania with their hands. An unforgettable moment for me.

@timbentlin.photography www.timbentlin-photography.com