Gifts
Phil Ottum
Photography Specialist
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When we receive pro bono work from photographers it's particularly gratifying. As a contribution to the organization, this visual philanthropy is invaluable.
Recently, for example, I was contacted by local photographer, Lloyd Smith, who had just returned from Haiti. He offered us several hundred beautiful portraits from his trip. One of them became the cover of a book we recently published called "Notes from the Field: Haiti After the Earthquake". Since I've been here, image contributions have come from noted photojournalist, James Nachtwey and from humanitarian photographer, Nancy Farese, who has mounted two pro bono trips for us: to Liberia and to Haiti.
We've also received contributed work from Portland photographers — Craig Alness, Juan-Carlos Delgado and Joni Kabana. Joni has been a particularly good friend to Mercy Corps for several years and has donated a wide variety of large format prints that we've used to augment our permanent photography collection on the walls here at headquarters.
Photo: Joni Kabana for Mercy Corps
This image at right is from India in 2008, when she accompanied a Mercy Corps Phoenix Fund trip. I've always been intrigued by the way the boy's hand rests on his chest — it looks spontaneous and genuine. As it turns out, that was precisely the case. Here's what Joni says about it:
I asked if I could go to the lowest caste neighborhoods, and it took quite a bit of persistency to get someone to take me there. What I found was a tight camaraderie and loving encouragement of one another. Rarely does a foreigner come to these neighborhoods, and their excitement was fast and genuine. They showed me where they lived, tiny things they were proud of, such as a torn page from a magazine.
"I let them use my cameras and their hands shook as they held the devices. I was struck by how much feeling they could express from their eyes. The culture felt pure to me. Yes, they are ostracized and live in the slums. But this seemed to only intensify their spirit.
"This boy watched me photograph the more jovial and outwardly extending girls. He stood by shyly, taking it all in. I knew he was near me and I could feel all of his curiosity that he politely kept at bay. When I finally asked him to sit for a photograph, he had a catch in his breath and he sighed as he put his hand on his chest. It felt like we both got exactly what we were looking for, at the same moment. It made me cry. Of course they all laughed at this.
"Ever since I photographed him, I now use more hands in photos as I believe they tell another part of the story. Our hands reach out, and it feels like a connector or bridge across the cultures, blending our common stance as simply being human.
"The boy's name is Gunaratna or 'Jewel of Virtue.'"
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Comments
Phil Ottum
July 19, 2010 8:30AM
The image in this blog is by Joni Kabana. You can see more of her work at:
You can see Lloyd Smith's work at:
http://picasaweb.google.com/lsmithtwin
Phil
Joni Schrantz
July 21, 2010 5:58PM
What wonderful work Joni Kabana has done! It's refreshing to read about an artist whose heart, talent and mind are being used for such a source of good in the world today. Thank you for sharing this Mercy Corp. Great photo too!
Paul Binet
July 21, 2010 10:36PM
The photo reminds me of some of the photos from Joni's book "Torina's World" from a trip she took to Madagascar many years ago...simple moments telling a deeper story. Reminds me of the phrase "to take a picture". I take lots of pictures and by pure luck sometimes capture something profound. I envy this eye-lens-soul connection...instead of "taking pictures", Joni seems to be a "moment midwife"...taking an idea through fertilization, pregnancy, and birth all in a split second at f10.
That this photo was "born" while working with Mercy Corps is especially touching. If the goal is to awaken sensitivity and involvement, then I must say the collaboration has merit. I bought ten copies of Torina's World many years ago, have given nine away as gifts, and our copy has an honored place in my nine-year-old daughter's room.
My respect to all the photographers taking part in this project.
Paul Gilles Binet
Hamburg
Darlene Nastansky
July 22, 2010 6:11AM
Once again we are blessed by photographers who push their own boundaries, pulling us into their world, allowing us to see through their eyes.
Images such as Joni's remain imprinted in our minds, reminding us the world is small and fragile, inspiring us to help those in need.
Thank you.
Doug Mendenhall
July 22, 2010 6:24AM
Ok - that is so beautiful - I just read Joni's description of the photo and lead up to taking it... that is so touching and inspiring, what is possible in the human spirit.
Lloyd Smith
July 22, 2010 7:27AM
Thanks for the nice comments and the post and the cover, Phil.
Peggy Meyer
July 22, 2010 11:07AM
I am always amazed by Joni's ability to capture the essence and joy of life in her images - she wanders beyond our preconceived notions of what it takes to happy, bringing back pictures that whisper "think again..."
Jay Wright
July 23, 2010 9:26AM
As I travel the world I see an honesty that I don't always find in the states. And it's in the faces of the people. Joni captures that more than any photographer I know. Such a strong story in that boys eyes.
Kimberli Ransom
July 26, 2010 11:12AM
Joni's photography work with Mercy Corps has been so moving. She uses both her talent and her heart to capture the very personal side of life. Her empathy and compassion for her subjects come through every time.
rahel nardos
July 29, 2010 9:01PM
I was fortunate enough to watch Joni capture captivating images of Ethiopian women on our most recent medical trip to rural Ethiopia. When Joni approaches these women, she learns their name, then listens to their stories and in this humane encounter, she notices moments of brilliance, vulnerability, joy, fear, despair and somehow she captures their humanity. As a physician who is often too blinded by the complexities of medicine to appreciate the power of my everyday encounters, I value Joni's ability to bring to our consciousness the simplicity and honesty of the human spirit. For those of you who would like to see more of Joni's images in the setting of a humanitarian outreach, I encourage you to see her recent collaborative work from her trip in Ethiopia, entitled "Footsteps to Healing" which can be found at http://stores.lulu.com/ethiopianwomen
Corporate photographer London
July 18, 2010 11:02PM
Where can I see more of Lloyd Smith's work? Grant