Last year I traveled to India with International Justice Mission to shoot a film about sex trafficking and rescue. It turned out to be an epic experience and film. You can watch Ray of Hope below or on the IJM Ray of Hope page.
How a Coke Bottle Can Save Lives
On a recent assignment to Kenya for Compassion International, I wrote a story about how a Coke bottle is the conduit for life. Check out pages 12-14 of their most recent magazine.
Meet Haiti’s New President
On Thursday afternoon, May 12, I got a call to get to Haiti for an assignment that included covering charismatic pop star-turned-president Michel Martelly’s inauguration. He took over the country on Saturday, May 14, 2011, promising to rebuild its earthquake-devastated capital, develop the long-neglected countryside and build a modern army.
The 50-year-old performer known to Haitians as “Sweet Micky” was swept to power in a March 20 presidential runoff by Haitians tired of past leaders who failed to provide even basic services, such as decent roads, water and electricity in the Western Hemisphere’s poorest country.
Martelly was sworn in during a power outage in front of dozens of dignitaries including former U.S. President Bill Clinton, the U.N.’s special envoy to Haiti, and Edmond Mulet, head of the U.N. mission that has maintained order in Haiti since 2004.
Newly minted President Michel Martelly leaves his swearing in ceremony and heads to the national palace.
Martelly waives to a throng of supporters as he leaves his swearing in ceremony and heads to the national palace.
The inaugural begins under sunny skies and in front of the dramatic backdrop of the ruined national palace.
One of the main buildings of the destroyed national palace.
A portico that once had a mirrored ceiling now lies in ruins, reflecting the damage beneath it.
A drape waves in the breeze at the national palace.
Haitians outside the palace gates record Martelly’s speech.
Haitian President Michel Martelly leaves his inaugural activities, Port-au-Prince, Haiti, May 14, 2011.
I was able to follow Martelly from his swearing in ceremony all the way through his public inauguration at the destroyed national palace, getting nice access the entire way. Shot with Nikon D3.
A Peek Inside…
Clinton Carlson did some great design work on my book. Here’s a really nice look inside.
The Cutter
Over the course of three days in April, 2011, modern-day lumberjack Randy Burns singlehandedly takes a 60-foot pine tree to the ground. One of the hardest working men I have ever come across, Burns first cuts all the branches off, cuts three-foot rounds down from the top, trims and hauls the branches, rolls the rounds to a clearing area, then grinds the stump. Although the block has lost a great tree, it is now safer from the high probability of winds blowing the leaning tree onto a neighboring house.
