With the Samosely
With the Samosely
Marco Cortesi
April 8, 2025
“This photograph is part of my photographic project dedicated to Chernobyl, a work that led me to explore the exclusion zone to document the traces left by time and history. During my research, I had heard about the samosely people who, despite the 1986 nuclear disaster, decided to return to live in their homes within the contaminated area. Their story struck me deeply: a courageous, perhaps reckless, but profoundly human choice.
The samosely (which means "self-settlers" in Ukrainian”, are mostly elderly individuals who chose to return to their homes shortly after the forced evacuation in 1986. Despite the risks posed by radioactive contamination, these people preferred to live in the places they considered home, rather than being forced to build a new life elsewhere. Many of them were farmers or people tied to rural traditions, unable to imagine a life away from their land. Over time, authorities ended up tolerating their presence, even if it was never officially recognized.
This photograph portrays a woman I met during my 2014 trip to the exclusion zone. I don't know her personal story in detail, but her face speaks of resilience and deep roots. I remember that during our meeting, this woman kindly offered us some pickled mushrooms, likely gathered from the surrounding forests. Naturally, we politely declined, aware of the risks posed by radioactive contamination.
My aim was to document not only the abandoned places and suspended atmospheres of the exclusion zone, but also the people who decided to stay or return to live there. The book I created gathers images and reflections on this theme, aiming to offer a human perspective on one of the most dramatic pages of contemporary history, particularly for its social and environmental consequences and as a testament to humanity's impact on ecosystems.”
The samosely (which means "self-settlers" in Ukrainian”, are mostly elderly individuals who chose to return to their homes shortly after the forced evacuation in 1986. Despite the risks posed by radioactive contamination, these people preferred to live in the places they considered home, rather than being forced to build a new life elsewhere. Many of them were farmers or people tied to rural traditions, unable to imagine a life away from their land. Over time, authorities ended up tolerating their presence, even if it was never officially recognized.
This photograph portrays a woman I met during my 2014 trip to the exclusion zone. I don't know her personal story in detail, but her face speaks of resilience and deep roots. I remember that during our meeting, this woman kindly offered us some pickled mushrooms, likely gathered from the surrounding forests. Naturally, we politely declined, aware of the risks posed by radioactive contamination.
My aim was to document not only the abandoned places and suspended atmospheres of the exclusion zone, but also the people who decided to stay or return to live there. The book I created gathers images and reflections on this theme, aiming to offer a human perspective on one of the most dramatic pages of contemporary history, particularly for its social and environmental consequences and as a testament to humanity's impact on ecosystems.”
Text and image: © Marco Cortesi
EQUIPMENT: Leica M Monochrom, Summilux-M 35/f 1.4 Asph
Whiteness in Chernobyl+-
136 pages, 60 duotone pictures. Spiral binding, 19 × 24 cm. With an introductory text by Stefano Agustoni. Curated by Paola Riccardi; editorial direction: Stefano Bianchi. Limited to 264 copies (standard edition) and 86 copies (special edition, plus two more photos, signed); Italian, Crowdbooks
With the code LFI25, readers of LFI Magazine receive a discount of 25 CHF/EUR on the special edition of the book.
LFI 3.2025+-
This issue brings together insights from around the world: Marco Cortesi documents the aftermath of Chernobyl, Emmanuel Serna gives a perspectiveof everyday life in Hong Kong, Fulvio Bugani portrays Cuba’s queer communityand Jean-Pierre Laffont tells us his best stories from the US. More
Marco Cortesi+-
The documentary photographer (*1981 in Lugano) has a degree in Human Geography from the State University in Milan. After attending courses and master classes at the International Center of Photography (ICP) in New York and with photographers from renowned agencies, he founded LuganoPhotoDays in 2012. He currently teaches Technology and the Environment in southern Switzerland. More