LightSource | July 2nd, 2009
Through the internet I have been able to come in contact with people and resources that never would have been available to me even 5 years ago. One of the invaluable resources I have found is getting in the mind of photographers, and early on I was so excited to find LightSource. It’s a podcast interviewing some of the greats of our industry. Needless to say I was completely honored and excited when they wanted to interview me. I hope it provides some encouragement and insight to someone walking this same road that I have. And I also hope I don’t sound like an idiot, but hey I probably do…. Enjoy!
Kenya - Compassion International | July 2nd, 2009
*somehow this didn’t get published when I thought it was a week ago, sorry.
I have started this post in my mind several times, and all of the eloquent beginnings have been forgotten. 2 weeks ago today I re-entered American life for the second time this year. This re-entry proved to be much smoother than from India. In fact, it was 2 days before I left for Kenya, that I felt back to normal for the first time since being in India. The trip to Kenya was equally impacting on me. I am falling in love with the work and people of the church in developing nations. I am starting to understand the meaning of “it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God”. May I say that if you read this from the comfort of your American home, you are RICH. What is normal worldwide, is the way in which most of these people live. But, of course as I re-enter, I enjoy and type this from the comfort of my air conditioned home and my privacy and my latte and my…. So, I am conflicted. I am astounded at how much impact even one American dollar can have in the economy of a poverty stricken area. I wrote earlier about my sponsored child Athuman. $38 affects change, real change, in not only his life but the life of his entire family. Wow. Forget about your faith or lack there of, or non-belief in God, just do something for someone who can’t do anything for themselves.
I don’t want to rant, I want to inspire, so I will quit now. I think if I continue I will probably piss you off. I can promise this, I have been more blessed by being a part of this kind of work, a very small and insignificant part, I think you would be too.
This is Mathare. As defined by Wikipedia: Mathare is a collection of slums in Nairobi, Kenya with a population of approximately 500,000 people; the population of Mathare Valley alone, the oldest of the slums that make up Mathare, is 180,000 people.
We visited a Compassion International project in Mathare. It was truly a light in the darkest of places. I have updated my web site with a gallery of portraits of people that Compassion International serves. In the gallery you will see school children that are part of the Child. This program takes ladies that are pregnant and makes sure they have prenatal care, and education on how to correctly nourish their children once they enter the world. I will talk about the Leadership Development Program soon. Until then, enjoy these images:
http://www.jasonwallis.com/#/PORTFOLIO/KENYA/1
Road Trip | June 16th, 2009
An Africa post is coming soon. I hit the ground running off the plane, haven’t stopped yet. Here is the current road trip I am in the middle of….
Compassion International | June 10th, 2009
I am in London on a long layover returning from Nairobi, and Mombasa, Kenya. To say my life has been changed over the last 3 months is probably an understatement. I have seen things in India and Africa, that few people get to see. Things that are the most extreme on both sides of good and bad. It’s the conditions that people in third world survive, live, and even thrive in that will prompt the most change…I hope. I hope that I don’t return to America and live the American Dream. Life is too short to be that self absorbed. I love America and the opportunities it provides. The greatest of which, is that we have the power to affect change in the world. Places where living on less than $1.00 USD, is the normal way of life. One of the ways I have the privilege to change a life is through my new sponsored child Athuman Mbili. He lives in Mombasa Kenya, the eastern coast of Africa, and for $38 per month, Compassion International will make sure he is healthy, has clothes, and food, and an education. Here is the controversial part: they do it through a local Christian church. That is the part that I love the most. I thoroughly believe that Jesus Christ is the only true hope. I also believe that a hungry man woman or child has no ears. Completely motivated by love, Compassion International, feeds, and clothes Athuman, and gives him eternal hope through Jesus. I am so privileged to be a part of that. Again, I have seen things, that can not be communicated through pictures, or video, or stories. You have to experience it yourself. One way I want to encourage helping the children is through an art giveaway. If you go to www.compassion.com, and sponsor a child for the first time, or a second or third child, and forward me the receipt email, I will send you a free 8×12 limited edition print from one of the photos from Africa. I will be uploading some photos over the next couple of weeks. So, sponsor a child, have your life changed, and get a free picture. Here is a picture of my new sponsored child that I got to meet, play cars, with, eat lunch with, and play futbol with. I can’t explain how incredible it was…
Hey man,
this is so encouraging to here. So happy to hear how the Gospel is changing your life.
Can’t wait to hear more.
Bj
4 new wells in Northern India | May 24th, 2009
That is the result of our event on May 21st. We had an incredible turnout, and so many great and generous people. Together we raised over $6,000 which will translate to $12,000 due to a dollar for dollar matching donor. That translates in to at minimum 4 new wells in Northern India. Since www.neverthirstwater.org, raises all of the administration costs through different avenues, every dollar that we raised translates into actual clean water in the lives of people who currently have no access to it. What an honor to be a part of that.
A few years back I was introduced to a documentary that I blogged about, Born Into Brothels. That movie impacted me in ways that I am still understanding. It showed me that my camera can affect change. I am humbled to see that come true. I had always hoped that I could be a part of something like Zana Brisky did by using photography to bring about change in the lives of children living in the midst of prostitution. That so moved me, that I bought a print online. By buying that print I knew that I got an incredible piece of art with an incredible story, and I was a part of providing an education for the little girl that took that picture. Now, I am able to do a similar thing. I have posted a gallery of the images that we sold from the India trip. You can peruse that gallery on my website here. As you look through, click on the info tab directly below each image to see prices and sizes available. Please consider buying a print, every dollar goes to providing clean water to those who don’t have it…EVERY dollar.
I also want to thank Greg Wingo, a professional art curator that I met just days before the show, who came in and donated his time to hang the show for us. There’s no way we could have done it without him. There’s no way we can repay him, but we thank him so much for making the show happen. My friend Jamie Warren shot an amazing video edited by Chuck Chambliss with custom music by Danny Dunlap, who both came in and completely blew us away with their talent and generosity. Take a look at their hard work….
Neverthirst Show | May 21st, 2009
Tonight is the show, please join us. 5:30-8:30 at Second Row Studio, 212 24th STreet North, Birmingham, AL 35203.
Lightsource and Wonderful Machine | May 15th, 2009
A couple of cool shout outs today. My marketing partners at Wonderful Machine posted a shout out on their blog today here. And I recently recorded an interview with the guys at LightSource Podcast, the posted a follow friday link on twitter. Keep an eye out, I will let you know as soon as they post the interview so you can hear how smart I am not…
Also, if you are near Birmingham don’t forget our opening of the NeverThirst Art and Film exhibit next Thursday night at Second Row Studio from 5:30 to 8:30, come as long as you want. Prints will be for sale at the show, and any we don’t sell will be up for grabs online. All money goes to drill wells in Northern India. Here are a couple of available light portraits from my trip.
Neverthirst Art and Film exhibit | May 6th, 2009
Besides being my muse’s birthday, May 21st will mark the first art exhibit to open at Second Row Studio. We will exhibit images from my recent trip to India with Neverthirst, as well, debut the video that my good friend Jamie Warren tirelessly shot and is finishing the editing on now. Please join us for a night benefiting the people of the world that have no access to clean water. We will have prints for sale, with all money (not just the profits), going to drill deep water wells in developing nations such as Northern India, and Sudan. Admission is free, and you don’t have to give or buy anything, we would just like for you to come. We are hoping this will raise awareness among our circle of influence, as to the problem that so many face by not having access to clean water. It is a very big but fixable problem. Join us May 21st from 5:30-8:30, come and stay as long as you like, at Second Row Studio, 212 24th Street North, Birmingham AL, 35203. I am so honored to be a part of this and work alongside other people that desire to impact the world. Take a look at the trailer for the video that Jamie Warren shot, I promise you won’t want to miss this. If you are reading this in an RSS reader, you will have to go to the actual blog to see the video, here.
Neverthirst - May 21 Art and Film Exhibition from Neverthirst on Vimeo.
Wonderful Machine and Feature Shoot and NY Times! | April 17th, 2009
A couple of cool things happening lately. A few weeks before I left for India, I joined forces with a cool promo website called Wonderful Machine. They are the nicest people, and really helpful. I look forward to alot of success with these guys. They basically show my work alongside several other incredible photographers and help market my work to people that could use me! And then today, I got a Google alert that Feature Shoot posted my India images. Check it out here! Good day already.
Edit - Just found out this was published in the NY Times, here. Bottom left of the page.
Congratulations on all! I am an avid subscriber of Feature Shoot (and this blog) and think it’s so cool that your wonderful India photos were posted…
India | April 15th, 2009
Words fail me often, and there are so many things that I should say about my trip. India is such a paradoxical place for me. It is one of the dirtiest places I have ever been, with the most vibrant colors and people I have ever met. I was so encouraged by the people that I met there. People that I couldn’t communicate with through words, but were so inviting that I was able to connect with. I met villagers that had never seen white men before. The Indian people are a curious sort, we drew crowds everytime we showed up in a village and pulled out our gear. I can only imagine what they were thinking seeing these ghosts of men pulling out the flashing lights! Despite the fact I brought back an extra unwanted souvenir that has stripped me of about 10 lbs due to not being able to eat normally, it was a trip that will affect my life forever. I know that I will reference that trip in many moments of introspection in the future. Our mission was to document the work done byNever Thirst. This was the first trip that my friend Spencer, and many of the board members, were able to see that actual work done by his organization. We saw the faces of people that had clean water for the first time in their life. We saw and met villagers that sacrificed their livelihood, by allowing large vehicles to crush their crops in the fields where they had to make a path to bring in the machinery to drill a well. We saw people who have lived in darkness all of their life spiritually, given new eyes, and new hearts, and eternal life. I am forever changed by this trip and these people. Knowing that, I will be peeling back the layers of understanding for months and years to come. The nugget from this trip for me is this: I was struck by the joy I saw in these people in the village. They had nothing, literally nothing, especially compared to this american life I lead. Despite that, they were happy. Understanding I had a very limited and short sighted view, only being there a week, it was still a consistent theme, joy. I felt that I was probably more envious of their quality of life than they would be of mine. They loved their kids, spent time with family, worked hard - not overworked though, and seemed to really enjoy life. They lived in community. Even though they lived among people of different faiths, they lived in community, true community. At least from an outsiders perspective.
So, at a date still to be determined, please come and see an exhibit celebrating the people of India that we met. We will have an art show displaying images that we made while on our trip. This will be my first foray into the fine art world. Limited edition prints will be available for purchase with 100% of the money given going to drill wells in Northern India. Now some of you have read on my twitter that I said I made some of the best pictures I have ever made. I started to regret saying that because it tends to build expectations, and I really don’t like to disappoint. But, upon further reflection, I will say this, they are some of my favorite images I have made. Saying that, I guess it makes it more my opinion than a statement of fact, and I guess it’s hard to argue an opinion right? So, here are a few of my favorites. Enjoy. Please come to our event (TBA) and experience the sights, the sounds, and even the tastes of India.
Absolutely breath-taking images, composition & light.
Joan WatkinsAmazing! Looking forward to the TBA event!
J.Vijaycool pictures brother,
we need to step up our collaboration and start ur office here too
love ur work
VJ
LoriGreat pictures! I would love to attend the exhibit, but I live too far away. Maybe I could convince you to post a few more pictures from the trip? I forwarded this post to some friends who have made mission trips or are planning mission trips to india. I know they will love it!
Susan MeadowsHey Jason, I’m Spencer’s sister and he has really been talking about how amazing your pictures were. He was not kidding. I definitely want to be able to attend your exhibit. I am glad you were able to go and understand how the native Indians made an impact on your life, the Venezuela’s did to me. Hope to meet you.
Susan
these are so good jason. i love the colors & lighting. what kind of travel light rig are you using?
Estherfantastic!
Ruth GordonHi. These are National Geographic quality. When is the exhibit and where?
Betsy KopeckyJason, Though I don’t know you, I know and love Forrest. What amazing pictures…I had to stop and catch my breath as I saw them. I see the Image of God in each face and I am challenged and convicted and that is a good thing. Blessings, Betsy Kopecky
Alene Gamel, I Do, I Do!Jason, not sure if you know this, but I am a very close friend of Ricky and Marjean. I followed you guys, through Marjean, with prayer for the duration and received many updates. I knew your images would be spectacular, and I am not disappointed!
Cant wait to see the rest!
Jeremy Carterbeautiful.
MarcyJason- you not only take some of the most beautiful photos I have ever seen (and I have quite a few coffee table books!), but you are also a very good writer. Sounded like an amazing trip. It makes my heart happy to read your blog and see your photos!
Marcy
AmyQBeautiful. Words and pics.
libby spainTHANKS. When my housekeeper met my friend Paul Devakumar from India at my condeminium a few years ago, she said “…meeting him was like looking at God”. Libby Spain
Arthur & Gloria MurphyHi Jason what beautiful pictures, you are very talented, may the Lord continue to bless you and your family.
God Bless,
Arthur & Gloria
Betty GuthrieThe pictures send a powerful message with no words…I am praying for the success of your future mission efforts in India…We will be held accountable for the way we have used our resources, and you are sharing with others! God bless!
Liz EntrekinWOW!! These pictures are incredible!! I have a out of town engagement on Thursday night, but I would like to stop by your studio that afternoon on my way out of town if that would be okay. Will it be open in the afternoon?
Again congratulations on capturing all of our hearts through these amazing pictures.
Liz Entrekin