Edge of Hope Photography Book by Anthony Dawton and Jim McFarlane

The Rohingya Refugee Camp at Cox’s Bazar by Anthony Dawton and Jim McFarlane

Published: 1st February 2024
Hardback ISBN: 9781843682509
Price: £35

Following the Rohingya genocide in 2017, Rohingya Muslims have sought refuge in Kutupalong in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. Kutupalong is now the largest refugee camp in the world and is inhabited by around 900,000 refugees, 65% of which are children.

It’s difficult to gain access to this camp, but Jim McFarlane and Anthony Dawton managed to do so and in Edge of Hope, they share their photographs. All in black and white and printed to the highest quality, the images bear silent witness to the plight of the Rohingya people. Harrowing and thought provoking, Dawton and McFarlane’s images shine a light on the huge body of individuals living as refugees, who no longer occupy the front pages of newspapers, but are still without a home.

Dawton and McFarlane are not subject to the time restraints that photojournalists are so they have time to get to know the individuals they photograph and build relationships with their subjects. As a result, the photographs show the humanity and dignity of the individuals, despite the tragic circumstances. Although the photographs document desolation, despair and destruction, they also document unity, love and hope.

The Amal Foundation in Bangladesh continues to work in the Cox’s Bazar and Edge of Hope is published to raise funds and awareness for this important foundation.

The Working Relationship

Behind Edge of Hope is a photography partnership. Unusually, Jim McFarlane and Anthony Dawton photograph together and have done so for years. Jim lives in Australia and Anthony lives in London, but despite the distance between them, they have maintained a close friendship and working relationship. They are both indispensable to the process and have extraordinary stories about how they work together to get the photograph they desire.

They have taken photographs in Gaza, Camp Zaatari in Jordan and in the Palestinian camps in Beirut.

They are both available for interview and can discuss the virtues of a photography partnership.

The photos in this post are all taken from the book. Aren’t they fantastic?

My Thoughts

They say that ‘the eyes are the window to the soul’. Each of these pictures is therefore looking into the souls of the Rohingya people. And they are looking right back. In spite of all the trauma and devastation they have experienced, so many of them are smiling for the camera, their faces full of hope.

I reviewed Anthony Dawton’s photography book NOTLondon in September 2021 featuring homeless people on the streets of the capital here: https://cookiebiscuit.co.uk/2021/09/13/notlondon-anthony-dawton/

This was in the introduction (not my words) “Anthony Dawton photographs his subjects with a beauty and dignity that many of them are often denied. His portraits capture the strength and power of humanity as well as its vulnerability,” and I think this sums up Edge of Hope as well. These people are allowed their dignity and their beauty, and their strength shines through in the photographs.

Anthony and Jim are a rare talent that are able to do this, to capture these amazing images.

Many thanks to Grace Pilkington Publicity @GracePublicity for inviting me to give an unbiased review of Edge of Hope.

Anthony Dawton is an award winning commercial photographer based in London. He also works extensively with NGOs across the world including: Niger, Kashmir (following the earthquake), Gaza, Camp Zaatari (the Syrian refugee camp), the Beqaa Valley, the Palestinian camps in Beirut. He recently photographed the homeless on the streets of London and his book NOTLondon was published by Pallas Athene in 2021.

Jim McFarlane is an Australian based photographer who has worked commercially for over 35 years. His expertise covers advertising and a wide range of subjects including food, dance and people. McFarlane taught photography at Victorian College of the Arts and Deakin University.

His work with Anthony Dawton led him to Gaza, Camp Zaatari and the Palestinian Camps in Beirut.