Photojournalism nominee

Over 300 families live in Phnom Penh's “Kilometer 6” commune, which is located alongside railway tracks. The families live in self-built shacks, usually consisting of a single room. The people here – some of the poorest people in the city – often run small businesses, in the form of mini-kiosks, in their community.
Because of the lack of space, the residents spread out over the train tracks during the day. Every time they hear the train horns, they quickly gather up their cooking utensils, chairs, sunshades and children to clear the track. Just seconds after the freight trains have passed, the railway track once again becomes the center of life.
Like many Phnom Penh families before them, the Railway Community faces eviction. The reason why they are being threatened with displacement is that the Phnom Penh authorities are planning to build a 12-meter-wide concrete road and drainage system along the railway line. Ownership of the land has been disputed ever since. For a decade now, members of the community and activists have been campaigning for their right to land and adequate housing.
Steff Gruber’s documentation of the lives of the Railway Community is part of an ongoing long-term project on

Steff Gruber (1953) is a Swiss photographer and filmmaker. He worked as a press photographer for Keystone Press and was one of the first filmmakers to explore the docudrama genre. He became internationally known with his documentary LOCATION AFRICA about the filming of COBRA VERDE, the last collaboration between Werner Herzog and Klaus Kinski. His award-winning films have been shown at various international film festivals.
Based on his interest in documentaries, Gruber began shooting photo stories in various countries, focusing, in particular, on human interest subjects and humanist concerns. Visiting places and people on repeated occasions, many of his photo series were produced over a period of several years.
In 2020 Steff Gruber opened the Lumiere.Gallery for digital photo exhibitions.
Steff Gruber is a member of the Swiss Association of Journalists and Photographers IMPRESSUM.

Exhibitions as photgrapher (selection)

2022 FOTO WIEN, Café Prückel, Vienna
2021 photoSchweiz, group exhibition, Zurich
2021 PORTRAITS – Hellerau Photography Awards, finalits exhibition at the Technische Sammlungen Dresden (expected March 27, 2021)
2020/21 New Talents, group exhibition, PEP – Photographic Exploration Project, Bpart Berlin
2020/21 Cambodian Stills, LUMIERE.GALLERY
2020 The International Street Photography Exhibition, group exhibition, Glasgow Gallery of Photography