16th February 2010
Last month Samaritan’s Purse launched a beautifully BIG photo blog. And right now it’s a great place to see real time, large image coverage of the Samaritan’s Purse relief efforts in Haiti. I’ve been trying to update it every day with new images. Every day since the earthquake there’s been at least 1 photographer on the ground shooting. Check it out here… and check back often. We’ll be posting images from all over the world soon.
3rd February 2010
I write this as my plane departs the land of Haiti. My time here was short but intense. During my week on the ground I documented the work of Samaritan’s Purse as official relief operations began- primarily emergency shelter, blankets and food distributions. I was struck by the extreme graphic poverty that so many people seem to be trapped in, and as usual I leave with more questions then when I arrived.
Since it was my 1st time in Haiti I’m uncertain how much of the poverty was here before the quake and how much of it exists as a result. But it’s enough just knowing that it was already one of the poorest countries on earth even before the damage had struck. It’s hard to imagine it getting much worse.
It’s with a bit of sadness that I leave knowing how much work there is to be done. But I am hopeful that with the outpouring of support from the international community that Haiti can build foundations for a new and fruitful beginning.
My experience reminds me how short and precious life is, and how important it is to use ours for the betterment of others.
While the main goal of my photography on this trip was to document the actual work being done, it’s the faces of the people; their hope, their strife, their struggle and their environment that will stand out in my mind forever. And hopefully my favorite images will express this. I will post them as soon as I finish the edit. Onward…
