This article originally appeared in the April/May issue of Focal Points Magazine.
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Early morning commuter and reflection of the famous Arco
in La Antigua Guatemala |
Last May I attended my first NANPA (North American Nature
Photography) Summit in Tucson. I heard a
talk from Russell Graves, an
engaging photographer from Texas who works to support conservation in a wetland
area near his home. He made the point
that supporting a cause is easy and very fulfilling, and that we need look no
further than our backyards.
Save the Dells
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| Drone image of Highway 89 through the narrow section of Granite Dells in Prescott Arizona; too beautiful to dynamite. |
I was inspired by Mr. Graves and made a commitment to
contact the leadership of an outfit called Save the Dells which primarily
works on conservation in Prescott Arizona, 35 miles from my home. When I first
met with their leadership, we talked about their photography needs and I made
some suggestions about what I have to offer, especially drone imaging. I’ve since worked with them in opposition to
a road-widening project which would require blasting of iconic granitic
boulders and in support of a new regional park which would preserve critical
open space. I’ve been collaborating with them for just a short time but am
looking forward to a long fruitful partnership.
Driving home from that first meeting I realized that, though
this seemed like an epiphany at NANPA, in fact I’ve been doing this sort of
thing for some time. I just hadn’t thought of this work as a goal nor realized
how fulfilling it is. I’ll share a few
more examples.
Cooperative for Education
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| A lovely, colorful student in La Hoya, Guatemala |
My husband and I have supported a Guatemalan NGO for about
15 years. Cooperative
for Education (COED) is dedicated to breaking the
cycle of poverty in Guatemala through education. I wasn’t thinking of photography when we
started working with them, but the partnership seems obvious now, after about
150 days in the country.
When in Guatemala with COED, we spend a great deal of time
in rural schools and surrounding villages.
There is social time (convivencia), the unavoidable talks from
administrative types, and cultural performances from the kids. These range from sedate folk dances to
performances which involve fireworks strapped to a costume or simulated Mayan
human sacrifice. The images from these visits are not only useful assets for
the organization, but also icebreakers with the kids. We all love to look at the photos on my
camera’s LCD screen and before long I have a tight circle of kids around me,
looking at photos and asking me to also take pictures of them.
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| A favorite rural street image from Santa Catarina Palopo, Guatemala |
Another of the delights of volunteer travel with COED is
access to street portraiture in rural areas.
Parents and grandparents are coaxed into a sense of comfort with me, the
strange photographer, because they know why we’re there and trust me more than they
would the average tourist. Even outside
the schools, Guatemalans are happy to engage and have their pictures taken.
Through Each Other’s Eyes
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| A feral dog warms up on the lava on Pacaya, an active volcano in Guatemala |
The deep dive into Guatemalan culture got me interested in
becoming an Associate Photographer for Through
Each Other’s Eyes, which promotes cultural understanding through
photography. We do international
photographer exchanges and host exhibits of the resulting work created by
photographers from both countries. We
also do educational events like photography instruction for kids and volunteer
activities like annual portraits for underserved schools.
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| The Phoenix exhibit of 80 images from all four photographers on the Guatemala exchange. |
My first TEOE exchange was with Guatemala. I was in a unique position to organize it
because of the connections made while traveling there. I hope to participate in one of our upcoming
exchanges to Himeji Japan or Cypress and Greece.
Yarnell Regional Community Center
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| Community fundraiser for Meals on Wheels in Yarnell Arizona |
Yarnell, Arizona is my small-town home. I’ve been volunteering to photograph events
at the Yarnell
Regional Community Center for some time.
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| A Meals on Wheels client and her beloved chihuahua. |
Recently I’ve been hired to work on a project for our rural
Meals on Wheels Program at the Center.
We’re operating under a grant from Meals on Wheels America and PetSmart
to help our clients manage food and veterinary care for their pets. Many of these folks have few resources, so a
bit of help goes a long way. Studies show that pets are very beneficial for
older people living alone and we know that they sometimes must choose between
paying for their needs or the animal’s.
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| Veterinarian Kate McCullough cares for a Meals on Wheels client’s dog. |
This project aims to make the effort sustainable with
printed materials and video, and I’ve had the pleasure of contributing still
and video assets, some made with the drone, as well as some work in graphic
design.
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| Perspective pulls on heartstrings for conservation in this drone image of the Peavine Trail and Watson Lake in Prescott Arizona. |
How to start
Interested in getting involved yourself? It’s easier than
you might think to get started. Perhaps
you already volunteer with a local conservation, humanitarian, or animal
welfare organization. Maybe you support an international cause or have a
connection with another country because of your heritage. These are great places to start brainstorming
what you have to offer and having conversations with the group’s leadership.
Next, consider your strengths and what you enjoy as well as
what you’d like to learn more about.
Maybe portraits of animals for rescue groups, landscape work for
conservation organizations, or travel work for international NGOs will suit
you. Sometimes you discover skills as
you go along. I never knew I had a
talent for graphic design until I agreed to give it a try for the YRCC pet
project, and I’ve also been learning a bit of video editing.
If you’re still baffled, remember that most of these opportunities
come from your own connections. Who do
you know that works with an interesting nonprofit or perhaps just knows lots of
people doing interesting things? Buy
that person lunch and see where the conversation goes.
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| Best Friends at a school in Chimaltenango Guatemala. |
Don’t be afraid of a cold call. After all, you’re offering them something of
value. Likewise, be willing to follow
up, sometimes several times. Nonprofit
leaders can be more focused on putting out fires than being proactive. Be sure
to be clear that you’re a volunteer. Sometimes sharing a resume is helpful to
show that you’re legitimate and help leadership see your skills and experience.
When you have that first meeting, be prepared. Review their website and know what the
current projects are. Take some time
beforehand to brainstorm what you can offer.
For example, I’ve enjoyed contributing aerial images to several
projects. You might also consider portraiture, landscape work,
behind-the-scenes images, and video.
Think outside the box as well and include things like public relations,
events, and social media work, as well as graphic design and video editing.
As your partnership continues, attend meetings. If you have
the time and inclination, you’ll be glad you did. More than once discussions in
the meetings have sparked a new idea that would not have otherwise occurred to
me.
Why Do This?
Mostly, I’d point to fun and fulfillment. That’s what many of us are looking for when
we reach the season in our lives when we have experience to share and perhaps
some uncommitted time. I’ve also seen
some incredible places and made connections with amazing people that would not
otherwise have come about. Additionally,
these projects focused my photographic learning and problem-solving skills. I certainly have gained as much as I’ve
given.
