Read interview here.
Dani appears from the darkness surrounding the Mimosa Hotel, and my heart takes an extra jump. DANI! I am incredibly happy to see him, this young man who keeps me safe, and more importantly sane, in Addis Ababa.
I am here! He says. Do you think otherwise?
We share the same love for hip hop and rap music, as well as more traditional Ethiopian fare, and when our eyes first meet each time we see each other, we break into shoulder dancing. It is always so great to see him!
He helps me get settled the first day here, and the love I feel for him grows each day I am with this funny and spirited guy. Dani!
Each morning, he comes to pick me up in his van, and helps me navigate language barriers, cultural protocols and equipment issues. Such a creative soul he is. Give him any problem, and he will think of a solution. He only likes spending time with “people of positive” and I watch him as he intently looks at people….he has an uncanny ability to assess situations and make the most of them….or get the hell away.
Do you want to take lunch with me, he asks? YES! I say, and off we go on another happy van ride…..he in modern style, me trying to respect and emulate Ethiopian traditional culture. We make a great pair, and by the end of each day, my cheeks are literally aching from laughing so much. He personifies the Ethiopian wicked sense of humor.
Dani works with me at the Hamlin Fistula Hospital, helping to set up interview equipment for our time with Dr. Hamlin and other work. He also is a compatible travel partner; our time in BahirDar following a midwife by foot into the bush to see her outreach health post was productive…..and wildly fun.
And can he DANCE! The professional dancers can not even keep up with him, whispering in his ear on stage that they are tired and need to rest.
I learn so much from this special soul. We sanction our friendship into “family”. He is now my bro in the most heart bonding sense.
I love you, Dani.
We said goodbye to Dr. P and Darlene, and off to Mota they went. We were excited to know there was cell reception in Mota when we got our first call from them. The news was equally as exciting. In less than 24 hours, they had been harassed significantly in BahirDar, found themselves in the middle of a religious celebratory mob scene in Mota, learned that there is no internet in Mota, found out that we would have water only three days per week, and that no cook existed for us.
The good news: sheets are pretty clean, the hospital staff is warm and inviting, and the air is cool without too much threat of malaria carrying mosquitoes. And the rooms are in the hospital compound so we can be locked in at night.
From all accounts, they are navigating the obstacles the best they can. This does not come without a bit of sleeplessness and anxiety….and lots of “what ifs”.
What if a women dies while we are there? How will Dr. P and Darlene feel about removing a dead fetus? What if a woman is hurt? What if a referral needs to be made, knowing there is no place to refer in the vicinity? What if the village gets angry? Will they accept a female doctor?
Most of these questions seem less of a concern during the daytime. But when the head hits the pillow, we all lie awake churning the scenarios over and over.
This is the hard part. And we signed up for it.
Dr. P and Darlene get ready to take off on their plane to Mota, while Jay and I turn toward Arba Minch
The rain, the family dog, the backyard cottage, the son.
Shot impromptu with the Canon G11 point and shoot.
Aaron’s 6-string bass solo
The Children’s Cancer Association just posted their 15th Anniversary video. They used many of the still images I have taken of CCA families over the years.
See the video here.
The screening of the movie “A Walk To Beautiful” and our own “Footsteps To Healing” newly released video drew a large crowd at the Hollywood Theater last week. We are humbled by the response many people have to the maternal conditions that occur in Ethiopia and other parts of the world.
The video I shot for our film was the first time I used the Canon 5DM2’s video capability, and I was amazed at the quality results.
I love using the Canon G11 to film things that I see along life’s interesting road. Here is the lovely Poison Waters in Phantom of the Opera, filmed at Darcelle’s in Portland, Oregon.
Video is here. (Quality is not as good as the video I shot of Jack White in Dead Weather…not sure what happened on the upload to YouTube.)
Still image:
One of my favorite assignments is to get a call from a magazine, hear a great story about a person, and then get the go-ahead to meet them and photograph them. I never know what I will find when I arrive at the scene….but most likely it is a fascinating person with an incredible background. I usually only have a few minutes to assess lighting and backgrounds, and I love that challenge of finding the sweet spot of light and learning as much as I can about this person in a short period of time.
Here is a link to a recent multi-portrait assignment from the newly launched 1859 Magazine.
Check out the video on this site as well, for a behind the scenes peek at one of the larger shoots from this assignment. (Thank you for that, Sandymontana Creative!)
Yesterday’s Hero Wall Celebration was a heart-thumping event. It was so great to see all of the families together, and to hear great music, watch the kids get their faces painted and rejoice in some health improvements. It is a true honor to be work with these families. Huge THANK YOU to Pro Photo Supply and George McGinnis for donating the file prep and printing of the wall, and to DigiCraft for mounting the prints.
TV coverage here.
Oregonian coverage here.
See more of my images here.
And heeeeeere is George, O Printer Extraordinaire!
Letting the doves fly, along with wishes, in the middle of the closed downtown street in front of the World Trade Center:
A father’s emotion:
And there is a serious side to the day as well. This is not a typical “happy” photo from the festivities, but I am sure this little girl has many questions in her mind.
Not with guns and rifles.
But with all of the care and sensitivity you have in every part of your bones.
It took various visits, and a slow introduction to lights and different people to get a series of shots for the newly launched magazine, 1859.
Video of part of the shoot is here.
