the extra-ordinary is a collaborative platform for creative projects that cross formats and genres, pushing boundaries of conventional storytelling.
It's about the little things: documenting the parts of lives, cities, homes and day-to-day existence that people take for granted, noticing the story in the details. It's an attempt to change the lens through which people see the spaces and stories around them, by profiling the seeming everyday; a celebration of just how extraordinary the ordinary is.
the extra-ordinary also brings together creative professionals who produce features for publication on travel, architecture, food and design. Have a look at a small selection here.
Nastasya writes words, creates images and plays with sound and video to tell unusual stories. She has written about Neapolitan ice cream parlours in Mogadishu, filmed beauticians in Congolese refugee camps and accompanied transgender sex workers to Sunday church services. Nastasya has lived in Kuala Lumpur, Perth, Oxford, London, Nairobi and Arusha, but right now is based in Johannesburg, South Africa. She has written, recorded, produced and shot for an enormous range of international publications and broadcasters, which you can read about here: nastasyatay.com
Charlie captures images of people and their lives, often at their most intimate; documenting their light and dark. He has shot child-headed households in Zimbabwe and the private ranches of big game breeders, explored the private lives of wounded military veterans and survivors of terrorist bombings in Uganda. Charlie has lived in Washington DC, Chicago, Baltimore, New York and Kampala, but right now is based in Cape Town, South Africa. In 2014, he was named one of Magnum Photo’s 30 under 30, and has won numerous awards for his documentary work across North America and Southern & East Africa, including the Magenta Foundation’s Bright Spark Award, which you can read about here: charlieshoemaker.com
Yiannis takes pictures of places and people, and finds beauty in everything he points his lens at. He has shot cleaners hosing down Moroccan mosques and marble busts of Greek ladies missing their noses. Yiannis has lived in Boston, London and Cairo, but right now is based in Athens, Greece. He has had done residencies and been featured in exhibitions across the Middle East, North Africa and Europe, which you can read about here: hadjiaslanis.com
Ellie designs digital spaces, shoots images and creates projects, products and ideas. She has written about political intrigue in the former Yugoslavia, designed an online portal for an independent Greek newspaper, and shot competitive gypsy brass music-making in the Balkan heartland. Ellie has lived in London, Edinburgh, Berlin, Vienna, Belgrade, Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and Tianjin, but right now is based in Athens, Greece. She creates interactive installations around childhood and memory - often including teddy bears - and shares the megalomaniacal thoughts of her rescue mutt, Tito here: instagram.com/ellietzortzi