At some point in my life I want to…
Start a program called Photos for Change
I have had the privilege of taking pictures and being paid to do so for almost 5 years now. I love all of the work I get to do, but hands down my favorite aspect of the job is when I get to travel and to documentary/humanitarian work.
Earlier this year I traveled to my 20th country! Crazy right? I know… so stinking blessed. That being said I have seen a lot…A LOT… of stuff that has completely changed my perspective on just about aspect of life. I’m very thankful for that. I’ve been a guest in a home where the family had nothing, yet we sat on the dirt floor, drinking very questionable “coffee” and eating very very old food. They gave me everything they had. I was their guest. Life changing.
That being said I would love to start a program one day where I traveled to places that are under the radar as far as media and non-profit coverage are concerned. Once in these communities I would teach a photography workshop. Include very basic photo skills, provide a meal or two each day for the duration of the workshop, then at the end go out with the students and document their community.
There would be several purposes and hopeful outcomes:
1- Teach individuals a skill that they can have fun with and be proud of. Many of the people in these communities have had all forms of self-worth stripped from them. I want them to be able to have something that they enjoy doing, learn a skill, and that they can be proud of.
2- Shine a light on a struggling community. I’d argue that nothing speaks louder than a picture. It can tell a story in a powerful way that words often cannot. With this program the people would be able to give a voice to the issues prevalent in their community, everything from poverty to disease to injustice. This may be my favorite part of the whole idea because it teaches the people of this community to do what’s necessary to bring about change in their own community. It teaches responsibility.
3- Multiple meanings to the word “change” in the title.
First: the goal would be to highlight issues via photos within a struggling community that could then be addressed by various agencies, non-profits, etc. We must work together if we expect to see anything change. This program would allow for awareness that could bring about an army to start change for the good of the whole community.
Second: After the photos are take and processed they could be sold. The money would go toward bettering the community in which they were taken. This is probably the most complicated part of the whole idea and would take the most work, because the last thing I want to do is hurt the community by trying to help it if that makes any sense. And money makes everything tricky. I’d love to publish a book, maybe once a year, that would include photos from these various communities and the people who take them.
This is a very young idea in my head and there are more than plenty of kinks to get worked out, but I think it’s something that could actually work. I’m excited to see the doors open for this to happen. I’m convinced that humility and open mindedness will be the key to this.
“Everything starts with one and builds up. Eventually, we have an army.”
