I attended two very interesting programs today at Fotofusion. The first was a presentation by Pulitzer prize-winning photojournalists, Lucian Perkins, and Renee C. Beyer. Their work had such impact; it was powerful, poignant, heartwrenching and yet their approach was sensitive in how they photographed their stories. It left me thinking deeply about the power a photograph or a series of photographs has to evoke a response – in this case, a response to help, to donate, to make a change to policies, end war, etc.
On the complete opposite end of the spectrum, and at the end of a busy day, I attended a program by Craig Blacklock about using nature photography as a way to help people cope, heal, and find stress relief. His videos and stills moved me to tears as much as the photojournalists’ pictures did, but my tears were ones of joy – and from a deep peace resonating within me as I watch water lapping a sand beach, or saw flower blossoms falling from a Spring tree. His stills were just as moving – no pun intended. He is working on some exciting projects in both video and stills that are designated for the medical, and self-help type markets, and he willingly shared ideas about how he got started and what he’s learned along the way. It was the perfect ending to a very interesting day for me!
edit: its fresh2o.org and one in four children die every minute (not everyday).
here in the west i think there’s an epidemic of ambivalence. it’s a weird fog everybody’s put under from watching t.v. and slaving to pay bills. so i’d say awareness is needed to shock them into whats going around the world and at home. around the world, tho, majority of the global population lives through horrible conditions on a daily basis and struggle just to survive. those people don’t need to be told what it is they’re going through. they desperately need healing and inspiration, which is a much greater number. i read at fresh20.com one in four children die everyday from dirty drinking water. however, your works always impacted me and filled me up with much needed positive energy, ever since i first started looking at it a few months ago. i’m sure it has for others for a lot longer time then that. i have a hunch even apathetic people get seeds planted in their mind that somethings missing from their lives after seeing your images. then they get filled with a need to share the love that blooms.
It can seem at times that “pretty pictures” don’t count as much as those of the human condition, but one very important thing to remember, which Craig’s work is all about as well, is that the image that inspires people to save/preserve nature is just as important as the image that shows the oil spill in the swamp. Some of us respond to the negative and want to do all we can to help; others respond to the beautiful and want to jump in and save the same things. I felt for a long time that my work wasn’t impacting people as much as that of a photojournalist, but I know differently now. Images of nature, as Craig also believes, can heal, inspire and created a balance or counterpoint for the negatives we all must face in this life. Thanks for the input, Kalani!
i just looked at their galleries, thanks for the links. i now want to put an image on my wall as a daily reminder that lots of work needs to be done to help other people. the two pulitzer prize winners work makes everything ive ever complained about seem trite and trivial.