Monday, October 29, 2007

South Africa

The whole PhotogenX Track School is made up of 23 students (6 boys and 17 girls), 4 staff, and Paul and Susi Childers, the leaders over the whole school. We are from 8 countries (America, Canada, South Africa, Costa Rica, South Korea, Australia, Holland, and Denmark) and all have the same common vision to reach the nations using photography.

(Selcuk, Turkey. Photo: John Paul Vicory)

The first month we were in South Africa was all about taking our photography to a new level and learning about photojournalism. I was really able to redefine some of the technical styles I learned back in college and put them to better use. It really stretched me to not hold back and to go out there and find that story/pictures that I want to tell. I was stretched to not just be satisfied with the photo I can get but to be willing to ask people on the street to move around for me so I can get a better photo. All of it was really good for me and stretched me to be better at what I do.


The last week we were in South Africa we separated into groups and went on outreach. My team of 5 went into a township called Guguletu, where we worked alongside a soccer coach named Eric that is linked with an organization called These Faces for Numbers. It is an organization to minister to some of the old kids within the township. The organization supports the team financial for soccer equipment and challenges the kids in the area of academics because they have to have good enough grade to be on the team. We were able to minister to the boys and take pictures for the organization to continue to raise support for them. Along with that we were also able to work with the locate church there that helps people with HIV/AID. They give them food and have become a big support to these people, going into their homes and taking care of them when they are too sick to get out of bed, and praying with them. We also spent time just walking around the community and hanging out with the kids. It was an amazing opportunity to reach out and really be able to see into the lives they live.