Nebulous Idea - travel photography
Discussion
Bit of background:
I've traveled a fair bit to places such as Japan, Cambodia and Rwanda, it's usually the highlight of my year. I usually go on small group tours and take loads of okay, but maybe not pro quality photos (check http://www.pbase.com/duncan_c/indianepalfavourites and decide for yourself!). The main reasons I do this is for photography and to meet / interact with the locals. Sharing a train carriage overnight with a couple of Viet Cong or drinking tea with the local Marharaga in a field surrounded by Gazelles for instance. I'm not that bothered by temples and palaces tbh.
What I'm wondering is if theres a way I could combine this love with maybe taking pictures for a cause, like a charity. I've visited "traditional villages" that were a blatant set up to cash in on tourists, and whislt photographing poverty in other countries might help spread the message, it does feel quite exploitative. I'm thinking along the lines of an assignment taking photos for a charity. Kinda like war photography without the high risk, or becoming a pro without giving up my job!
Does this sound like a good idea or crazy talk? Surely theres a charity out there that would appreciate some photos in exchange for some support on the ground?
I've traveled a fair bit to places such as Japan, Cambodia and Rwanda, it's usually the highlight of my year. I usually go on small group tours and take loads of okay, but maybe not pro quality photos (check http://www.pbase.com/duncan_c/indianepalfavourites and decide for yourself!). The main reasons I do this is for photography and to meet / interact with the locals. Sharing a train carriage overnight with a couple of Viet Cong or drinking tea with the local Marharaga in a field surrounded by Gazelles for instance. I'm not that bothered by temples and palaces tbh.
What I'm wondering is if theres a way I could combine this love with maybe taking pictures for a cause, like a charity. I've visited "traditional villages" that were a blatant set up to cash in on tourists, and whislt photographing poverty in other countries might help spread the message, it does feel quite exploitative. I'm thinking along the lines of an assignment taking photos for a charity. Kinda like war photography without the high risk, or becoming a pro without giving up my job!
Does this sound like a good idea or crazy talk? Surely theres a charity out there that would appreciate some photos in exchange for some support on the ground?
Simpo Two said:
You could take the £1,000 you were going to spend on air tickets and just give it to the poor villagers?
You could say that about any charity work: there will always be expenses but the benefit gained from doing whatever the expenses allow you to do is judged to be greater than the benefit of just giving the expenses money to the beneficiaries and not doing anything. I'm not saying that's always the case; I'm sure that sometimes it would be better to give the air fare (or whatever) to the beneficiaries and stay at home.Anyway, Duncan, I'm not sure how difficult it would be but I was reading this the other day and he's managed to do something similar to what you're talking about:
http://www.nurburgring.org.uk/benlovejoy/journeys/...
I'm not suggesting that you'd want to go to Chernobyl but maybe it'll give you some inspiration.
Edited by SamHH on Thursday 1st May 10:40
Simpo Two said:
You could take the £1,000 you were going to spend on air tickets and just give it to the poor villagers?
The problem with that is that it is very hard to direct the cash in such a way so that you can be sure that the right people benefit. I choose to support my chosen charities by donating my time. By doing so I can be sure that the time cannot be misused or appropriated for any purpose I do not approve of.Whilst doing voluntary work abroad may seem like you spend a lot of money getting there on "bad things" like aviation fuel and posh hotels at least that benefitted the giver and the time given cannot easily be misused or redirected anywhere or spent in any way against the wishes of the person donating.
I do not trust the majority of modern charities. Whilst there may be many that are honest, decent, have a minimum of overheads and so on I cannot tell in any individual instance if this is true since the details of their accounts are as (if not more) difficult to obtain as anyone else's. And even if I could peruse the accounts at leisure they can be so opaque I would be none the wiser.
It's not that I do not make charitable donations. It's just that I believe we *all* should be very careful about those we make - we have a personal reponsibility to see that our donation is used wisely. If more people were concerned about where the cash went more people in need would benefit.
stigmundfreud said:
indeed when you see charities spending millions on IT and offices and consultants and staff wages you kind of have to question the meaning of the word charity, bit of a tax break for some of these money making machines?
What Don said, dedicated time is better than money
It's what I prefer to do. For some people time will be impossible - all I would ask them to do is be sure that when they DO make a cash donation they are as certain as they can reasonably be that their donation is being used in a manner of which they approve.What Don said, dedicated time is better than money
I think this is a good idea and I'm sure you would have no problem finding a charity willing to let you take some photographs to help with their promotion.
Along with a few friends, I run a small charity with a few projects in Lugazi, Uganda and I know that our supporters like to see how the people are doing and where their money is being spent. Good quality images help tell their story and I always put together a presentation when I get back to let everyone see the progress we are making (and mine aren't even that good!)
I understand the point made about just sending the money out there and at first I often asked myself this question too. But having spoken at length with the locals about it, they all say that they want to see you there in person as knowing they have someone thinking about them and working hard on their behalf, really does make a difference and brings them hope for the future.
Contact a few of the smaller ones who are working in countries you fancy visiting and I'm sure you'll get want you are after. Good luck.
Nice photos by the way
Along with a few friends, I run a small charity with a few projects in Lugazi, Uganda and I know that our supporters like to see how the people are doing and where their money is being spent. Good quality images help tell their story and I always put together a presentation when I get back to let everyone see the progress we are making (and mine aren't even that good!)
I understand the point made about just sending the money out there and at first I often asked myself this question too. But having spoken at length with the locals about it, they all say that they want to see you there in person as knowing they have someone thinking about them and working hard on their behalf, really does make a difference and brings them hope for the future.
Contact a few of the smaller ones who are working in countries you fancy visiting and I'm sure you'll get want you are after. Good luck.
Nice photos by the way
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