http://blog.mattpowellphoto.com Matt is a Christian humanitarian NGO photographer. Tue, 16 Feb 2010 20:00:29 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en 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 ... http://blog.mattpowellphoto.com/news/2010/a-big-new-photo-blog-samaritans-purse-in-pictures/ 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 ... http://blog.mattpowellphoto.com/haiti/2010/haiti-a-debrief/ Life Water Development + Thirst Relief During December I visited Cameroon where I took a week off to document the work of a local grassroots NGO called Life Water Development.   LifeWater is headed by a man named Peter Njodzeka who is quite honestly one of the most inspiring people I've ever ... http://blog.mattpowellphoto.com/africa-pictures/2010/cameroon-update/ Some of the missionary doctors serving with their families in Bangladesh... http://blog.mattpowellphoto.com/asia-pictures/2009/bangladesh-missionary-doctors/ [caption id="attachment_1149" align="aligncenter" width="849" caption="The tumor was successfully removed from this little girl and she was discharged from the hospital."][/caption] [caption id="attachment_1155" align="aligncenter" width="849" caption="This young boy had a severe liver malfunction but was successfully treated and is now doing well."][/caption] http://blog.mattpowellphoto.com/asia-pictures/2009/bangladesh-bringing-care-to-those-in-need/ Just out the back door... http://blog.mattpowellphoto.com/asia-pictures/2009/bangladesh-scenics/ This was my first visit to Bangladesh.  I stayed at a mission hospital documenting the work of missionary doctors and the need for more volunteers.  Hospitals are always challenging- not because of poor lighting.  I have a lot of pictures from this trip that I want to share, so I'll ... http://blog.mattpowellphoto.com/asia-pictures/2009/bangladesh-people/ Here's my answers to some interview questions I was recently asked for a friend's project on social networking and it's effect on the creative professional. 1. What social networking tools do you use? For professional purposes I use Twitter and I do some blogging. I use Vimeo to post & share my ... http://blog.mattpowellphoto.com/questions-answered/2009/thoughts-on-social-networking/ Here's a project that a good friend of mine is working on called Last Letter.  It's some of the more inspiring work I've seen in a while.  And not only visually.  The point is basically to encourage people, particularly Christians, to consider if they are really living for a cause ... http://blog.mattpowellphoto.com/inspiration/2009/last-letter-props/ I just returned from a quick trip to China.  It was my first time there & I found it impressive in terms of its’ urbanism and sheer mass of humanity.  This trip was all business for me with little time for personal shooting.  So I utilized my new iPhone camera ... http://blog.mattpowellphoto.com/vision/2009/the-china-iphone-challenge/ Some travel shots from Timbuktu that didn't make the portfolio cut.  It was such an amazing location, I just have to post more pictures. http://blog.mattpowellphoto.com/africa-pictures/2009/timbuktu-mali-out-takes/ A big thanks to my colleague Paul Sherar for doing the HDR work on this image. http://blog.mattpowellphoto.com/africa-pictures/2009/african-airstrip-hdr/ As someone who shoots weddings on the side, I've started to believe that really good wedding photographers are some of the best shooters on the planet.  Now here's a project that just might prove me correct.   14 wedding photographers on assignment in Tanzania to document the relief projects of ... http://blog.mattpowellphoto.com/news/2009/wedding-photographers-shooting-relief/ Today I had the opportunity to write a guest article for the blog of my favorite author & photographer David DuChemin.  It's called Dream Globally, Act Locally, & it's about pursuing your passion in photography. Please take a read here. http://blog.mattpowellphoto.com/vision/2009/dream-globally-act-locally/ The first time that I came face-to-face with AIDS was in Uganda.  The year was 2002. With camera in hand, I was winding my way through a dark, muddy village of thatched-roof huts, as a local pastor led us to meet a family.  Or what was left of one, after the ... http://blog.mattpowellphoto.com/stories/2009/aids-what-am-i-to-do/ Here is a GREAT article in the New York Times about how the enormously fashionable relief organization charity: water was started.  Scott Harrison was quite simply a missionary photojournalist for Mercy Ships who had a spiritual awakening.  I LOVE this story because it clearly establishes the direct connection ... http://blog.mattpowellphoto.com/news/2009/what-can-i-do-to-make-a-difference/ Just found this inspiring short-film teaser about clean water for a village in Ethiopia.  Amazing visuals.  Filled with hope.  Shot with a Nikon D90, from the guys at Upstream Visual: Burbax Village in Ethiopia from Upstream Visual on Vimeo. http://blog.mattpowellphoto.com/multimedia/2009/video-burbax-village-in-ethiopia/ In response to the frequent question: " Tell me how you got started?"  I've stepped out on a ledge & written "My Story"- a more in-depth look at how I got started in humanitarian photography.  You can read it here. http://blog.mattpowellphoto.com/vision/2009/my-story/ I'm looking forward to this: PDNPulse: PDN Seeks Submissions For: The Concerned Photographer. http://blog.mattpowellphoto.com/news/2009/pdn-seeks-submissions-for-the-concerned-photographer/ Art & Altruism.   That is my interest.  And Love, Light & Melody is an organization that is doing a fine job of combining the two.   "They use music and the arts to rebuild, restore, and bring healing to communities ravaged by extreme poverty."  When I find an effort ... http://blog.mattpowellphoto.com/multimedia/2009/the-intersection-of-art-altruism/