Philippe Laurent: Beirut

Philippe Laurent is a self taught French photographer who immerses himself in various cultures in order to explore and chronicle them. The images shown here were taken during a 2009 expedition to Beirut.

In his introductory text, Laurent explains the internal tensions still strong within the city and their conflict with its desire to become a truly modern city:

“Even if Lebanon is suffering one of the largest diasporas in the world, Beirut, its capital—populated by more than 2 million inhabitants—has a strong desire to develop and rebuild. Its economy and cultural activities radiate through the Near East, despite its unstable geopolitical situation...”

“...The country has no fewer than 18 religious communities. My journey in Beirut led me to most of them: Muslim Shiite, Sunni, Christian Protestant, Orthodox. In this series of images captured during October 2009, I wanted to chronicle the lives of the residents of this city... Although the balance here remains very fragile, life goes on.”

All images are © Phillipe Laurent 2009. You can see the whole series at Laurent's web site: 50 Shoots for Beirut.