country living

"If country life be healthful to the body, it is no less so to the mind. " Ruffini.   

I am still adjusting to the quiet stillness of country living. It has allowed me to create space for my spirit to expand and margin for my soul to grow.  I am enjoying lazy days of exploring and discovering what surrounds me, with days once in a while feeling like Little House in the Prairie when I need to go "into town".  But at day's end, I am loving living here.

A portrait is not made in the camera but on either side of it.”

— Edward Steichen

Gage at 6 months

I have Gage for the day today and he was willing to be bribed in order for me to play around and make a few portrait shots. He has been around cameras all of his brief almost 8 years, and for the most part fairly tolerant. He knew today that Memaw wanted to get at least 5 really awesome prints, and he knew that not every picture would qualify as "awesome".  

So now I am sitting at my computer editing and blogging and he is contentedly sitting next to me with his ipad conquering evil in some imaginary ipad world, and we are both happy. 

2015

“Photography is a way of feeling, of touching, of loving. What you have caught on film is captured forever… It remembers little things, long after you have forgotten everything.— Aaron Siskind

It has taken me time to process my trip to South Sudan with International Aid Services (IAS) that I took in 2014, both as an artist and as a member of the world community. It is one thing to read of the hardships and atrocities that the people of South Sudan have endured and quite another to witness it all first hand. Here are some "little things" I remembered while there.

Nyinbuli, South Sudan

A child doing laundry by hand.
Nyinbuli, South Sudan

13 days

South Sudan States

In thirteen short days, I leave on an amazing trip with three new girl friends (Holly, Jan and Lilly) to  a small village in Nyinbuli, Northern Bahr El Ghazal, South Sudan, with International Aid Services America (www.ias-america.org). Please follow our adventures as I blog about our experiences, the people whose paths we cross and the stories that we will hear! 

Heading Home

I am currently sitting in London Heathrow Airport, killing time before the final leg of my journey home. It always seems a little surreal to think that, only a few short hours ago, I was sitting in Accra, killing time waiting to start this same journey. While every trip to Ghana has been unique and different, this one was particularly so. Waiting for others, waiting for drivers, waiting for interviews, waiting for the internet, waiting for electricity, waiting for hot water...I spent a lot of time feeling alone and isolated. Not necessarily a bad thing, just different. But in the end, it was the relationships forged in previous visits that were the sweetest part of the trip. I have attached pictures of a few Doris' nieces and nephew who share a house with the Donker family.  The older ones remembered me and enveloped me into their lives, regardless of how short the time I was there. The littlest one finally let me hold her by the end of my visit, having spend the majority of time crying every time she saw me! 

Thank you for sharing this part of the journey with me. My hope is that I will continue to blog stories of the pictures that I am processing, both of Ghana and home. 

Doris and Isaac's Wedding

My very first destination wedding! Shot in Sunyani, Ghana, the bride, Doris Donker, is a sweet friend that I visit to do MF survey work with IAS. Today was her wedding day. As is typical of most events here, this one started 3 hours late, much to Doris' frustration! But once the wedding party arrived at the venue, all went well. It was hot and humid and, per tradition, long. I was thrilled to be a part of Doris and Isaac's special day!

Let the Little Ones

While traveling around the region collecting stories of people who are a part of the AAP MF program, I am always struck by how beautiful the little children are. I feel a little like the Pied Piper when I come into a village because the children always seem to follow me, begging me to take their pictures. It amuses me that when they are very young, they are afraid of the camera and cry when I point the camera at them. When they get a little older, and aren't quite so fearful, they still don't understand the concept of smiling for the camera or photographer! But when they are old enough to smile spontaneously, it is amazing! Their entire face light up and what a reward for the photographer!!