Category Archives: Current Affairs

Honesty in NGO portraits

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Two weeks ago, I spent five days traveling from Jacmel in Southeastern Haiti to Limonade near Cap-Haitian. The purpose of the shoot was to document many of the Community Coalition for Haiti projects. CCH is an NGO based in Northern Virginia and I serve on their board of directors. My primary responsibility to CCH is to photograph the people and communities that we serve in Haiti. We (CCH) run a Rehab and Primary care in Jacmel plus send physicians and nurses into remote areas as mobile medical clinics.

In the northern plateau, CCH has several goat and pig projects plus a strong interest in helping communities develop their own agricultural projects. We also sent medical teams to a small hospital in Pignon.Most of the shoots happen pretty fast. We are traveling by truck on difficult roads and our time in each community is limited to a couple of hours. The goal on this trip was to shoot several projects in the north in two days. Besides shooting the projects, I try to capture moments that convey our work and the spirit of the Haitian people.


(Young girl who attends the school we build near Pignon. The school features a community garden where the children learn to grow vegetables.)

(Elder near Pignon)

(Near Pignon)

Many children ask to have their photograph taken. They tend to grab the camera as soon as you shoot and laugh at their image son the LCD screen. It always throws them for a lop when I shoot with my film Leicas. They are confused and feel cheated. Most of them have only known digital cameras and it is a big surprise when their is no image to see.

My goal when shooting portraits in Haiti is not direct the people but to feel and photograph an honest exchange between myself and the subject.

(Young girl at the Campbell orphanage)

(Woman who is participating in a micro-finance project near Bayi)

(This young man attends a school where CCH intends to place a well that is funded by an American teenager who was part of this trip.)

Sometimes you just can not resist. Great hair!

Turkey in the morning

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This morning I decided to drive to my local bagel bakery and have my standard road fare breakfast – a Pumpernickel Bagel, Boars Head Turkey and mustard. At the last minute, I changed my mind and headed to Atlantis, a nearby pizzeria and breakfast joint known for basted eggs, Greek soups, killer chili and tasty sandwiches.

I live in an old neighborhood that is known for its lofty trees and several streams that wind through the woods between the homes. For the past few months, my local list serve has been a twitter about fox sightings and small flocks of turkeys. A couple of months ago, a male fox took up residence in my front yard while braying for a mate – always at midnight and usually for an hour or so. There are two Coopers Hawks that frequent my bird feeder, occasionally swooping in and dining on a Mourning Dove that was too slow to take flight or a Grackle that did not take heed of the warning squeals from the nearby squirrels.

A few weeks ago, three hen turkeys were feeding in my yard. Of course when I saw them, from the inside of my truck, I realized I had left my go-everywhere Lumix GF-1 camera in the house. I photographed them with my telephone. Not good for much other than showing my neighbors who missed the action.

This morning, Rhiannon, the goddess of birds, graced me with the presence of two hen turkeys on Old Dominion Drive. I parked my truck, grabbed my camera and slowly walked toward them. Every few steps, I would stop and allow them to become use to my presence. Both of these pictures were shot with the normal 20mm lens on the GF-1 and they are full-frame.

To learn more about the Turkey in Virginia, please click here or here.

A day of inspiration – NGS Seminar

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One-day a year, I block out my schedule so that I am near DC and not shooting. It is the yearly National Geographic Photography Seminar held in January. It is always stimulating, inspiring and motivating. The seminar was held this past Thursday and as always, was Standing Room Only and the Voice of Photography, Mr. Vince Musi was the man to make the introductions on stage.

Great work all day long! Mark Leong’s work was scary and incredible to behold. His photographs of the illegal trade in wildlife for medicine and food in Asia was depicted from behind the scenes and the images told the story of a savage and barbaric world. Kathy Moran edited the story and it is an powerful piece.

Lynsey Addario’s work on Women in Afghanistan and their challenges was an out of this world exceptional story.

Both stories left an incredible impression on me.

Hany Farid showed the behind the scenes numbers of how RAW and jpegs work. His eloquent presentation was interesting and informative. Abelardo Morell’s outrageous Camera Obscura photographs of rooms in Italy and New York City were a delight to view. Lovely work.

Hank Willis Thomas presented a collection of images and a short film about his cousin’s murder. Powerful work with a humorous bent followed by serious commentary.

A day of inspiration. I am always grateful to be invited to the seminar. Thanks NGS.

The Night Burnett left town

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David moved back to the Big Apple last month. Of course, he has always had a presence there with Contact Press and an apartment. Iris and David sold their house in Arlington within a few days of being placed on the market. Iris headed north and David stayed for the movers.

Chris Usher organized a little get together of photo-friends at Rocklands, a local Bar B Que joint of renown. It was a dark and chilly night……

Matthew Gerard was also there…but he hates long goodbyes and left early. A lot of photo friends were out of town on assignments so the next time Burnett is in town for more than a day…. it will be time for Pho 75.

Of course, he is back in town shooting fairly often. I saw him at the Geographic Seminar on Thursday chatting away.

David is a good guy, a fantastic photographer and I am honored to be his friend.

The BBQ was great by the way. If you’re ever in North Arlington…...http://www.rocklands.com/
3471 Washington Blvd, Arlington, VA……. it is worth a visit.

Adrienne Usher, Gary Putnam, Burnetti, Kit Putnam, Chris Usher and Me. I forgot who shot this picture on my Lumix. (sorry)

Kit Putnam and Chris Usher

David photographing Gary and Kit Putnam.

David outside of Rocklands

Burnett and Gary

Haiti Images – a collection from the past five years

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For the past 12 years, I have shot in Haiti at least twice a year with the exception of 2004 when we cancelled our trips. Every shoot has been in support of the Community Coalition for Haiti, a faith-based NGO in Northern Virginia. I serve on the CCH board as the resident photographer and web master. CCH has been involved in Haiti since 1987, primarily sending medical teams to the Central Highlands. These teams were accompanied by missionaries, lay people and a wide array of specialized talent such as well diggers, water specialists, carpenters and electricians. The first few years I shot primarily with my Leicas and a mix of Tri-X at 800 and Fuji Provia or Kodak EPP. Since 2005, I’ve shot digital with the Canons and for the past two years with Nikons.

This afternoon, I processed 371 images from these shoots as a master collection to be used for CCH print advertising, Powerpoint/Keynote presentations, emails to donors, our web site (cchaiti.org) and for prints.

These are a few of my favorites from the collection. I hope you enjoy them.

Children in a grove outside of Pignon, Haiti


In the clinic at Saint-Raphaël


This young man was collecting puddle water for drinking and cooking.


Nuns dancing and singing with children from Port au Prince after the earthquake


Man carrying sugar cane stalks near Cayes Jacmel


Young boy in the Seguin Clinic holding his older sister's hands


Young man with malnutrition.


This young baby was near death from dehydration when we arrived at her mothers home. A CCH volunteer doctor and nurse took the child and mother to the Cayes Jacmel hospital. The baby made a full recovery.


A young boy suffering from severe malnutrition near Sequin.


A young girl was admitted to the Cayes Jacmel hospital suffering from dehydration. Within 24 hours she was on her way a full recovery.


Earthquake survivors camp in Jacmel.