life support japan update

I thought I'd bring you up to date on Life Support Japan, the online photography auction that has been quietly but diligently raising funds for earthquake/tsunami victims.

Crista Dix (Wallspace Gallery) and her team of volunteers, along with hundreds of photographers and willing buyers, have now raised $45,000! Crista's goal of $50,000 will surely be met. Congratulations to all who have taken part in this endeavor. It is a testament to the goodness that really does exist in the world. Especially in the close knit community that makes up the photography world.

I was pleased that my edition sold out in a day. Thanks to those of you who may have purchased one of the prints. I know the volunteers in LA are packing and shipping a majority of the prints this week, so you should receive yours soon.

There are still images available. Here's the link. The funds raised will be sent to two organizations:

Direct Relief International, for help with medical supplies.

Habitat for Humanity Japan, for help in the rebuilding of communities in and around Sendai and northern Japan.

print now available for purchase

My photograph "Two Boys, Kajjansi, Uganda, 2010" is now available at the "LIfe Support Japan" online auction at Wallspace Gallery.

Immediately following the earthquake and tsunami, several hundred photographers banded together to donate limited edition prints (10) for sale at $50 apiece. Tens of thousands of dollars have already been raised. If you buy one of the prints, you'll be contributing funds toward Direct Relief International and Habitat for Humanity Japan.

My print was offered up this afternoon, and I'd love to see it sell out quickly! Click here to go to the auction site. Thanks!

japan

Today I join hundreds of bloggers around the web for a day of blog silence to honor the many lives lost in Japan and the many who are suffering as a result of the earthquake and tsunami.

no words

Just deep sadness and despair.

life support japan

Wall Space Gallery has created a wonderful project selling photographs @ $50 as a benefit for the people of Japan. The money raised will go to Direct Relief and Habitat for Humanity Japan. Please visit the site and purchase a piece of art and help those in need.

All limited editions photographs are 8.5 x 11 inches, signed editions of 10 only.

This is the first of many auctions the photo community has pulled together, powered by my friends Aline Smithson of Lenscratch and Crista Dix of Wall Space Gallery. Many more photographers are donating their work, and more images are being uploaded every hour, so check back often! In just two days, over $10,000 has already been raised.



This is the image I have donated. "Two Boys, Kajjansi, Uganda." It probably won't be up on the site for a while, as I understand there are 200 prints in the queue. Quite an outpouring of support from an amazing photo community of which I am proud to be a part.

Thanks to Crista and Aline for organizing this. Now go shop! There are some wonderful photographers involved in this project. Click here to get started.

jja jja / mama

There are too many awful visuals swimming around in my head this evening/early morning. Too many hours of CNN today.

I need to plant some happier pictures in this brain of mine so I can fall asleep.

I got a new name when I was in Uganda this last December: Jja Jja. It means grandmother in Lugandan.

Here are the beautiful faces that belong to some of the young people I think about constantly: Henry, who may or may not call me Jja Jja when the time comes, and the kids at the orphanage who call me Mama Gloria. Thinking of them, as well as my children Abbie, Sam and Max, reminds me that my little slice of the world is indeed a good and wondrous one.





My heart aches, as I know yours does too, for the millions of people in Japan whose lives have been broken. What can we really do at this early juncture but fully appreciate what we have. With that strength, we will then move forward to do what we can to help.

paul fusco

This afternoon my friend Anna posted a link on facebook to Magnum photographer Paul Fusco's powerful series on Chernobyl's horrifying legacy. Anna simply wrote that she felt "compelled to repost this link — my all time favorite photo essay. difficult to watch, but so so important."

It is indeed very tough to watch. But in light of what's possibly going on with the nuclear plants in Japan, we may have to consider the reality of this frightening issue all over again.







You can watch the narrated slide show here. Do keep in mind the images are graphic.