a different kind of model

I like to try new things. When I was asked to photograph pumps, I jumped at the chance.

At first I had no idea how to approach these medical devices with my camera. They were hard and shiny and full of buttons and LCD screens. They seemed cold and sterile. But I know they also serve a great purpose: saving lives by allowing people, such as cancer patients, to get their drugs in a safe and efficient manner.

So I started to think of the machinery from a more compassionate point of view. As I unpacked the pumps and lined them up on a table, I tried to see their unique personalities.

Call me crazy, but, it worked for me.  

Just another day at the studio*, then, making portraits of pumps people. Making portraits.

The client was pleased.

* My studio now, since I move out of the Livestock Exchange Building, is any place that will work. I made these photographs in my apartment, using the natural light that comes in through the blinds.

american soldier

I am one lucky girl. The Nelson-Atkins Museum is basically in my back yard. I've been hearing about this upcoming exhibit for some time now and am eager for it to open. "American Soldier" will grace the walls of the museum soon, and I am really looking forward to seeing it. Below is the notice about the show from the Huffington Post.

'American Soldier' Photos Expose The Many Faces Of Modern War

 “What does a soldier look like? Once you reduce the term to a specific type of serviceman or woman -- taking into account the era, the country, the war, the branch of the military, the rank -- can you settle on a particular image of a soldier? Is she, or more likely he, wearing fatigues or full regalia? Is she being honored or is he in the midst of fighting? Is she stationed in your city or is he currently living in barracks across the globe?

Of course, the actual faces of a sharp shooter in Gettysburg, a Marine Captain in South Korea, and a Private First Class in the Gulf are wildly different. Their daily lives are distinct, their psychological experiences are personal, and as a result, the ways we think about and remember these individuals varies too. But the term ‘soldier’ holds some universal meaning, conjuring scenes of both honor and embattlement, hierarchy and chaos, pride and regret. The many ways we perceive and interpret the concept of ‘soldier,’ in all its complexities, adds up to our collective understanding of conflict around the world.

‘American Soldier,’ an upcoming exhibition at Kansas City's Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, explores this collective understanding. Through 50 portraits of American servicemen and women, from the Civil War to the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, the show presents a range of emotionally charged images of all contexts.

Judith Joy Ross, American (b. 1946). P.F.C. Maria I. Leon, U.S. Army Reserve, On Red Alert, Gulf War, 1990.

Larry Burrows, English (1926–1971). Reaching Out, First-Aid Center During Operation Prairie, 1966

Larry Burrows, English (1926–1971). The mission over, Farley gives way, from Yankee Papa 13, 1965.

David Douglas Duncan, American (b. 1916). Marine Capt. Ike Fenton, Naktong River Permieter, No-Name Ridge, South Korea, 1950. 

Joe Rosenthal, American (1911–2006). Raising of the Flag on Iwo Jima, February 23, 1945.

W. Eugene Smith, American (1918–1978). Frontline Soldiers with Canteen, 1944. 

Photojournalists and documentarians, artists and loved ones captured these images, focusing on the faces of soldiers as they stand to attention, sleep amidst equipment or beg for medical assistance. From the grim to the glorious, many of these images have or will become part of the visual history of war in the modern age. Just as the photos echo civilians' varied glimpses into the military machine, they reflect the ways in which photographers frame conflict from all sides. W. Eugene Smith focuses on the beads of sweat dripping from a helmet, Joe Rosenthal sees the raising of a very famous flag, Larry Burrows snaps a fleeting grimace and the late Tim Hetherington captures the shadows of a dorm in Afghanistan.

The exhibit will be on view from January 23 to June 21, 2015. The museum is also soliciting images of your own (or your loved ones') military experience. Share your photos on social media and use the hashtag #AmericanSoldierKC to share with the museum.”

from The Huffington Post  |  by Katherine Brooks

most prized possessions

Anna Ream tried careers in both investment banking and financial advising, but often felt like a fraud. When she started studying photography in 2008, things finally clicked.

‘I find with photography I don’t care how dumb my questions sound because I’m so driven to know the answer,’ she said. ‘I’ve always been on the quiet end of things, and this has given me a voice that nothing has in my life and I want to learn how to use that effectively.’

Early on in that process, Ream turned her camera on what was both near and dear: her children.

‘Having children in the home, they’re readily available subjects,’ Ream said. Starting out with her own three children, Ream began working on an ongoing series that focuses on children with their most prized possessions, ‘Comfort Objects.’ Ream describes these objects as ‘a toy or blanket that takes on emotional importance to a child’ and said she is ‘fascinated by [their] link to parenting, and to motherhood in particular. The mother is where so many physical, emotional, and psychological needs are met and focused.’

Currently, Ream has photographed roughly 75 children and hopes to turn the series into a book. She said working on the project has been a way for her to focus and learn from the children she photographs.

‘It’s interesting to think about what it’s like to be a kid,’ Ream said. ‘I was the kind of kid always looking for the next step. I kind of wanted to get through childhood.’

‘I also have an attachment to these objects because they’ve played such a role in my children’s lives and its sad when they move on from that. It’s sort of sad to see those transitions.’

Working with children can also be unpredictable experience, something Ream has embraced throughout the project.

‘You never know what you’re gong to get but I also think that’s part of the magic of working with them,’ she said. ‘I try to involve them as much as I can in the entire experience. I find it interesting that to photograph something that is so important to them changes the dynamic and it’s a way to honor and respect them. I find going in there and not asking for the smile, not forcing it too much makes it a more natural interaction and less pressure and hopefully more fun.’

- Slate, Behold, the Photo Blog

Interestingly, I have been making plans to photograph some of the children at St. Mary Kevin Children's Home with their most prized possessions, a project I started a couple years ago and never finished. I am going March 1st and can't wait to work on it!

new work

If you haven't already seen this, here's a quick look at some of the new work I've done lately… all assembled in one neat place. With a great Emmet Gowin quote to boot.

hello edward and lewis?

I have spent the past few days making some new black and white images from older captures made in Uganda.

The following only happens to me every now and then:

I'll be working on a picture, and some iconic, historical image starts hovering in the corner. It's kind of a cool and comforting experience. I mean, I'm sitting here in front of my computer all alone in a quiet room. I've not spoken to anyone most of the day as I've worked on these new pieces. I am basically in a vacuum. So, when these older images occur to me, and I make connections with photographers' ghosts and their pictures, I feel really connected to the long trail of images and image-makers that have gone before me. And that is a good feeling.

Here is my new picture. It was made in Uganda at St. Mary Kevin Children's Home.

Below are the images that have been floating around and keeping me company as I've worked on it. Granted, both Hine and Weston made sure every possible square inch of these images was in razor sharp focus, and I have done just the opposite, but still. The basic structures of these pictures are very similar. And not in a way that I mind at all. So, I nod to Edward and Lewis today.

photograph by Lewis Hine, 1920

photograph by Edward Weston, 1927

final post from team 8: suzanne

Suzanne and Alfonso

Magic Number 4…

"The number four has always been my favorite for as long as I can remember and so it seems fitting that on my fourth trip to SMK as part of Team 8 that there would be four significant moments that stood out over the 10 days that I was there.   

First moment:  Day one as I am walking through the village toward SMK this 4 foot 5 or so little person, in a sweet dress, is standing guard at the gate to Melissa’s. The moment she spots me, she takes off and greets me with a smile as big as Lake Victoria and a hug that would make a giant melt. It was like a Hallmark commercial complete with tears of joy for both of us. This was my little Oliva, whom I had not seen in two years.

Second moment: Another Oliva moment was when we were walking around school holding hands, she quietly said to me, 'Suzanna, I will never forget you.' This stopped me in my tracks. I know that this beautiful young girl stole my heart three years ago when I saw her amongst all the children of SMK quietly sitting on a chair with her small hands gently folded in her lap. She was just a sliver of girl who spoke little or no English, but somehow through holding hands and just being with one another, we formed this incredible bond, that despite the distance, has grown and flourished. I know in my heart that I will never forget my little Oliva.

Third moment: It’s often the simple things in life that are the most meaningful. My third moment was just that, simple. I was reading some books outside the girls dormitory when the skies opened up and it started to rain buckets. We all made a mad dash for the dormitory to take cover, Rita, Oliva, Kaifa, Fiona, Evalyn and me. We sat on a bench, finished reading our books and listened to the rain pound the sheet metal roof like thunder. Held captive by the storm, we started an impromptu dance party, which turned into a 'rain, rain go away' dance. It was the best time, just the six of us hanging out, So often as volunteers you think you have to come prepared with activities, games and projects, but the reality is all you have to do is be present. 

Fourth moment:  Is a combination of little moments; out of the blue, little Oliva planted a kiss on my cheek, Alfonso (Boy-Boy) came out of nowhere and bear hugged me (Boy-Boy hugs are the best), Peter Damba surprised us all with a visit to SMK on Spirit Day, the kiddos and I decorated the tent on Christmas morning, and the Cobb family and I, with Rose and Joan as tour guides, visited their Secondary School, St. Noa.

They say that life is a series of moments; well my cup is overflowing with all that I have come to treasure these past four trips to SMK with the kiddos. To simply say thank you does not seem to be enough. I can only say that I will never forget a single moment or any of them, ever."

- Suzanne Garr

team 8: some parting shots

Thanks to Suzanne and Dawn for these incredibly lovely and joyful photos!

team 8: dawn

Team 8 was chock full of good human beings who really understood the experience and who happen to be blessed with the ability to beautifully express their thoughts and feelings. The following blog post is from Dawn, who, along with her daughter Emily, are the last two team members remaining at St. Mary Kevin. Dawn is on her third journey to SMK and recently became a CTT board member. We're incredibly lucky to have her in our corner, as you will see just  from reading this post. I think we should all consider printing her missive, hanging it on our office or kitchen wall and reading it daily. There are so many good lessons here.

"3 Things

This is my third trip to St. Mary Kevin in Kajjansi, Uganda, and my second with my daughter, Emily.  Our visit this year has been filled with exciting moments and quiet connections, all of which add to the layers of memories that I will always treasure. 

I’ve felt a certain comfort level being here this year that comes from being familiar with these surroundings that are so different from home.  Since I’m not using as much energy just trying to figure out the basics of getting from point A to point B this year and how to convert dollars to shillings, I’ve tried to soak in some lasting lessons that I can carry with me. 

Here are the three that were inspired by conversations with Rosemary Kavalu, the founder of St. Mary Kevin.  Along with her husband, Joseph, and their daughter, Joan Faith, 'Mama Rosemary' has created a safe, loving environment for hundreds and hundreds of Ugandan children for more than 20 years.  She is the auntie you wish you had and the role model we should all aspire to be.

1.  Life Is a Struggle.  We Need Each Other

We all face challenges in life, some more than others.  In a place like Uganda, where most people exist on $2 a day, the struggles can be overwhelming.  But we are meant to help each other, to reach out to those whose needs are greater than ours, and to lift each other.  This African proverb sums it up:  'If you want to go fast, go alone.  If you want to go far, go together.'

We watch the older children at SMK care for the younger ones, and all reach out to the littlest friends like Wasswa, David, Jane, Moureen, and Daniel.  In this village of children, where sadness can come on suddenly and there are no parents to offer comfort, I marvel at the system of support that sustains them.

2.  Be It Ever So Humble…

The Kavalus spoke to the children this week about working hard to achieve their goals, but to always remember where they came from.  They know that SMK is not the most beautiful or best-equipped place to grow up, but the children can still be proud of this only home that most of them have ever known. 

Part of moving forward in life is giving back to those who helped you or gave you your start.  This message is especially important for the secondary school students who are sponsored by Change the Truth.  As they progress toward a university or vocational school, and graduate into the world, they will be expected to visit SMK and offer any support they can for the next generation of students who will look up to them and gain inspiration from their achievements.

3.  Do It With Love

If there is one message that Mama Rosemary delivers again and again, it is this:  Do everything with love.  Give support with love.  Educate with love.  Inspire with love.  Grow and improve with love.  Love makes things possible, and things are possible with love.  Period.

Wishing everyone a healthy and love-filled New Year!"

- Dawn

team 8: farewell party

It's hard to believe that Team 8's trip is coming to a close. Today the good folks at St. Mary Kevin threw quite a farewell party for the team members, most of whom are heading back to the US in at the next couple days.

Here are some pictures of the day's festivities. Looks like it was quite a fun celebration!

Sponsored student Samarie, Gus, Wyatt, Anna, Holly, Alan, Joan Faith and Maria

Dawn, Suzanne, Holly, Rose, Emily and Anna

Wyatt in the middle of the dancing circle

Back row: Joan Faith, Gus, Alan, Wyatt, Suzanne, Anna, Emily, Maria, Natalie
Front row: Melissa, Holly, Joseph, Rosemary, Dawn

Sponsored student Kate, Dawn, Anna

Sponsored student Issy, Suzanne, Holly

Suzanne, Joan Faith