So, being unemployed for almost three months allowed me more time...working two jobs on top of trying to do Themba and Triple S Booking and spend time with the man I'm madly in love with...well..let's just say there isn't much time anymore! Phew! So my apologies for the lack of updates in Themba world, but I'm finally settling down with a more concrete schedule and hoping that it allows me more "me" time :)
Since my last blog I've really just been working overtime, which has paid of financially and I feel like I can finally breathe again! I've got a wedding coming up next weekend of a good friend of mine, Kristin, and am prepping for the big month of October (a wedding every weekend, YIKES!). Keeping fingers crossed :)
On a more personal note...for those that do follow me on twitter (@thembaimagery), you know I don't "tweet" that much but that I do "follow" some great fellow photographers and local businesses. One of my favorite photographers, Jeremy Cowart, has recently created a project known as @help_portrait. Watch the below quick video for a synopsis:
This is a project I'm excited about and am excited to be a supporter of, because it was created for the exact same reason I created Themba Imagery upon returning home from Africa...It recognizes that a photograph can help those in need.
This morning I came across a tweet from Jeremy Cowart saying "It's disturbing to hear people say that people in need don't "need" photos. It's exactly like saying 'Nah, people don't need to be loved.'" His tweet says it all; some are viewing it as unnecessary or unable to help....But what those people don't understand is that it is projects like Help Portrait that will help those in need. How you ask?
Well..for starters, let me tell you my personal experience....On my last day in South Africa I gave the children I worked with each a booklet with blank pages for drawing, a personal note I had written to each one and their mothers, as well as two photographs: One of the cover of them, and one on the inside of me and them. The children's reactions were breathtaking and confusing at the same time. I didn't understand at first why some of the mothers were crying when I was handing the children their gifts...until one explained to me that their children had never even seen a photo of themselves and that these were the first photographs of the children that the mothers had to hold onto.
Wow.
For those of you who think Help Portrait won't "help", let me assure you, you're wrong.
I've seen first hand the power of a single photograph.
So has Jeremy Cowart.
And we hope you will too.
So pick up your camera.
Snap a few photos for anyone in need.
Then soak in the emotion of the person you photographed during and after the photo is taken.
You'll see.
