Archive for the 'Charity' Category

Old Pictures from Kenya / II

22/09/2009 / in Charity, Shortcut and Travel. 0 Comments

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MOSOCHO


This image link leads to some impressions in black&white from Mosocho and it’s people during celebrations.

The image shows young Kenyan girls who are watching the open rehearsals for a celebration, where marriageable females are introduced into the Kisii community in the town of Mosocho. While this traditionally means that these girls have to be circumcised, organizations in Mosocho are now trying to overcome this ritual through education, and by providing certificates that display the girl’s names and declare them full members of the community – whithout the necessity of being circumcized.

The image above was one of the editor’s choices of NatGeo’s “the daily dozen” on May 7, 2008. It was the only image I have ever sent in for that contest.

(click here or on the image to see more)


Old Pictures from Kenya / I

22/09/2009 / in Charity, Shortcut and Travel. 0 Comments

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INSIDE THE MASAI MARA


Hearing in the news that the present draught is killing large amounts of animals in Kenya’s Masai Mara Reservation, I went back in my archives to find some pictures I did there in December 2006. A friend and I passed through the region while awaiting access to a NGO, where we were set to make some charity photographs. I had never photographed wildlife before and I was not set out to do it – but I could not help pressing the shutter once or twice when the animals stood right in front of me on these two or three short jeep trips we did. Most of the photographs on this trip to Mosocho dealt with the landscape: the sky fascinated me!

I grew up with the reportages of Cousteau … In fact I remember my very first dreamjob being influence by him – that was even before I wanted to become an astronaut – and I do not seem to remember what made me lose the focus back then. Maybe the spaceships did it. Today I do not know if I should be happy to not have jumped onto that train or not: Having talked to so many people who do invest their lives in favor of wildlife, you just feel the sadness and helplessness in the air …

Like most of my old pictures, these were made with a very simple point&shoot camera from Nikon. I had taken two of them with me on this trip. It was a time where I still thought Magnum was nothing but an ice cream. I had no knowledge about photography whatsoever and less even about photographers and their issues. This is straight from the gut as practically everything before early summer 2008, which also explains some of the wilder crops in here. I will go back to the original archives, that are stored somewhere else, to check on the original formats and replace these asap.

(click here or on the image to see more)


Postcards for Kursk

06/04/2008 / in Charity, Postcards and Shortcut. 0 Comments

postcards kurskHandprinted, handmade cardboardbox with a set of 12 A6 postcards.
Edition: 75 (numbered and signed)
Size: 16 x 11,5 x 2 cm


Exhibition in the EU-Parliament in Brussels /2

13/12/2007 / in Charity, Exhibitions, Exhibitions / own and Shortcut. 0 Comments

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It came and it went and it was a very special time with a lot of people I had not seen for a year or so. Memorable also for finding out that no matter who you meet and where, somehow you will always have common friends. The world is small, indeed.

The exhibition is now apparently going on to Spain, France and Italy. But I do not know anything specific up to this moment.

And… yes: I did in fact choose these two pictures in this article on purpose!

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Exhibition in the European Parliament in Brussels

05/10/2007 / in Charity, Exhibitions, Exhibitions / own and Shortcut. 0 Comments

Where:
European Parliament, Brussels

When:
November 5-9, 2007
Opening reception on 6. November (18:30h)
Welcome address by Marcos Kyprianou, Commissioner for Health
Organised by Alexander Alvaro MEP

Why:
In December 2006 a friend and I took some personal time to visit a modest village in Kenya, Mosocho, to do some documentary work for a small NGO, the Fulda-Mosocho Project, whose mission is, amongst others, to fight Female Genital Mutilation.

Right away the people of Mosocho impressed me immensely! Other than commonly perceived in Europe, they were not passively waiting for help from outside – they were ready to do whatever necessary to help themselves. No work was too hard, no road too long – every second person I met was a teacher of some kind and everyone, regardless if child or adult, outdid themselves in courtesy and friendliness. I felt a deep necessity to portrait these people in my photographs as people of extreme dignity, strength … and hope!

As the Fulda-Mosocho Project was nominated for the Sakharov Price 2006, we received an invitation of Alexander Alvaro, FDP Member of the European Parliament, to show part of our material in an exhibition organized in and for the European Parliament.

The Sakharov Prize, the Prize for Freedom of Thought, is awarded annually as a means to honor individuals or organizations who have dedicated their lives to the defence of human rights and freedom.

Further Links:
Alexander Alvaro
Fulda-Mosocho Project
European Parliament
Sakharov Prize