look at that grin

Look at that grin, what a cutie!

tres belle

One of my favorite parts about our portrait project in Camp Hope was how the interaction evolved from something formal and awkward into something natural and easy. Once people get comfortable around you they let their guard down and their real smiles come out. They don't always, but when they do, it's so worth it.

Beautiful Smile

"belle souri"

My most used Haitian Creole phrase while I was in Haiti.

I swear I saw the most beautiful smiles in the world.

So much joy and so much beauty, no words necessary.

sweetness

This little girl was such a cutie. We tried to get a good shot of the family and the first several of the shots she shyly looked at the ground with a half smile. I like this one and the half smile she's got going on. It's sweet.

strength

I usually like portraits of smiling children but I as I was editing this evening, I was so taken with this little girl. So much strength in her eyes. I usually equate strength in older faces but man, this little girl, she's got it.

Sunset (Fond Parisien, Haiti)

Colored Pencil Project

Carly, Thomas and I participated in The Colored Pencil Project on our last full day in Haiti. We gave out colored pencils and paper for the kids to keep. We gave them the assignment to draw a portrait of themselves and then a portrait of their world, whatever that might look like i.e. family, school, house, tent, church etc. Some of the drawings were comical. Some were pretty. Some were heartbreaking. All of them were very telling of their experience this past year since the earthquake. I was grateful to have participated in this project and with kids that we knew already.

unicef

This is Peton.

He was our security guard and good friend while we were in Haiti.

He's a crazy amazing soccer player and pretty hilarious.

He would come hang out on our patio at night and chat. This was a little difficult because he doesn't speak English and most of us speak little to no Creole. We still managed to communicate quite a bit via an odd form of charades.

Highlight of one of our chats: When Dustin was showing Peton how to make it look like your thumb was magically cut in half. Peton laughed and pulled a fake plastic thumb out of his pocket. What?! Who carries a fake plastic thumb around in their pocket? Oh that's right, Peton...because he's awesome.

Become Legendary

Spotted this pair of Air Jordans on the side of the basketball court while the kids were playing one day. I love this shot with the worn shoe and Camp Hope and the rebuilding happening in the background.

I was looking up the slogan for Air Jordans and apparently the new campaign for 25 years of Air Jordans is "Become Legendary"

I love it.

These kids are already legendary.

Everyone loves a beautiful smile

I absolutely loved this woman’s smile. We were out in one of the rural villages of Haiti one afternoon helping with a food distribution and while I was wandering and taking pictures of the beautiful scenery, this woman was interested in what I taking pictures of. I showed her a few of the pictures and her face lit up with this same smile and I asked if I could take a picture of her; she smiled and nodded her head. When I showed her the picture of herself, she lit up once again.

I remember that most Haitians don’t have their picture taken often and less often get to see the pictures that are taken of them. It was a gift for me to see this woman’s face light up in seeing her smile on my camera. I love taking pictures but I love sharing them even more for this very reason.

at sea

I took this from a crumbling and open air church building that was half in the water. This is a little fishing village near Camp Hope. Love a Child has food distributions here because everyone is nervous about the water. Something has been mysteriously killing the fish. The village was beautiful with straw homes and beautiful vibrant colors of the boats and water. Carly and I had so much fun wandering around with our cameras.

light

“I stand on the edge of these wetlands, a place of renewal, an oasis in the desert, as an act of faith, believing the sun has completed the southern end of its journey and is now contemplating its return toward light.” –Terry Tempest Williams

(note: this is one of my favorite spots on bainbridge island, thought i would add in a little glimpse of home)

Haiti fashion

Haiti fashion is all about wearing your shirts over your head.

Just kidding.

Well, this little boy is the only one I saw wearing his shirt this way, but maybe that means he'll be the next trend-setter at Camp Hope.

kind eyes

‎"the eyes are the mirror to the soul"

cuteness

This little girl was so darn cute she distracted us during the church service at camp hope. Her faces and her attitude were a crack up.

What-a-cutie.

grandmother and grandson

I loved that we got to capture this little guy and his grandmother.

She was so sweet and let us take a bunch of pictures of them both.

We came back later and snapped some of the mother and son. I'll have to edit and post those soon for you all to see.

I love the lighting in these and I love how strong and sweet this woman was.

those eyes..

look at those eyes...

how can you resist those eyes?

Calling all volunteers

Hands of Light in Action, the organization I went to Haiti with the past couple times is planning another trip in June...

Perhaps you've thought about going to Haiti yourself or you know someone who is interested in going...I really encourage you to entertain the thought; it will change your life.

I am hoping to go for the last week of the three week time frame.

From the Hands of Light in Action facebook page:

We are accepting past volunteers, first time volunteers and awesome 16 year olds and older. We need volunteers willing to teach basketball, volleyball and soccer drills plus so much more. We could use anyone with sports medicine background, PTs and even an RN plus many many non medical volunteers. We are estimating that we will be teaching about 300-500 children!!! I will post more about our trip but if you are interested email me at handsoflightinaction@gmail.com. You are welcome to come for 1, 2 or 3 weeks. If there is a great response, we will be looking into extending the camp for 3 more additional weeks. At this time, the dates are June 5-26. This trip will be an experience like NO other! Dig out and update your passport, update your shots if needed, sign up, start looking for flights and start to fundraise for your trip! JOIN US!!!

father and son

I took this family's picture last September when I was in Haiti. We ran into them again and I was thrilled to hear that they received their portrait print from Nancy and they wanted to take more pictures! We gladly took a few more. They have a family of six or seven but I liked this candid of the father and son while we were rounding up the rest of the kiddos.

joyful girl

This little gal truly is a joyful girl.

Her smile makes me smile.

father and son

This is the same cute little boy I posted a picture of yesterday.

Father and son.

I love how the boy is looking up at the sky.

I see hope in this little boy's face.

The Penguin Cafe Orchestra-Perpetuum mobile

This song came on my pandora playlist today as I was packing and I thought it was a fun little song, very soundtrack-ish. I thought I would youtube it to share it with you all and found this little ditty of a video. I guess they used it as a soundtrack for the series or dvd called Earth. It was far too beautiful not to share, but boy, it makes me want to quit my job, travel all around the world and take pictures...and maybe chase some penguins around.

Enjoy.

most beautiful baby

This could very well be the cutest baby I have ever seen.

This is Patrick's son.

Patrick is the president of Camp Hope and a wonderful dad to this little one.

Oh man, just look at those eyes and that smile.

So beautiful.

hoop dreams

I love this.

I did a google search for some inspirational basketball quote to include with this but ended up just reading through the lot of them and reflecting on my own (non-basketball related) dreams and how I can work up the courage to pursue them.

Try this: think about your dreams and what you want to achieve.

Got it?

Now read these.

“If you are afraid of failure you don’t deserve to be successful!”
--Charles Barkley

“Love never fails; Character never quits; and with patience and persistence; Dreams do come true.”
--Pete Maravich

“Never underestimate the power of dreams and the influence of the human spirit. We are all the same in this notion: the potential for greatness lives within each of us.” – Wilma Rudolph

“Have a vision and then create your own reality. Otherwise, someone else may create it for you.” – Tony DiCicco

“I have learned that if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life he has imagined, he will meet with success unexpected in common hours.” – Henry David Thoreau

“I am determined not to allow anyone to steal my dreams.” – Dexter R. Yager, Sr.

“A dream is not something that you wake up from but something that wakes you up.” – Charlie Hedges

"Tell me, what is it you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life?"
— Mary Oliver

Smiles are contagious