Posts Tagged ‘Project’

Bondye Beni Ayiti – Photo essay of my trip to Haiti

October 5th, 2010

Last year I traveled to Tanzania with Thirst Relief to document photos for their organization. It was trip that I will never forget and this past week, I had an opportunity to go on another unforgettable trip – this time to Port-Au-Prince, Haiti. As we most of you all know, Haiti was hit by a [...]
 

Last year I traveled to Tanzania with Thirst Relief to document photos for their organization. It was trip that I will never forget and this past week, I had an opportunity to go on another unforgettable trip – this time to Port-Au-Prince, Haiti. As we most of you all know, Haiti was hit by a devastating earthquake on January 12, 2010 that nearly destroyed the entire capital city of Haiti in Port-Au-Prince. Many already-established organizations around the globe stepped up to help the Haitians recover from this tragedy. Some organizations were created in response to this disaster. One of those NGO was Harvest Bible Chapel in Chicago and Mark Driscoll of Mars Hill Church in Seattle. These two individuals believed that the hope of any country that has been hit with natural disaster should come from their own community and by empowering the local churches within that disaster area, you empower the local people within that community internally. My college friend, Thomas Kim was hired by them to be the executive director for this project. Since this past March, we have been trying to organize a time where we can go out there together to document photos to help convey the message to people back home in the U.S.

We were finally able to pencil out a week to make this trip possible. I also teamed with my other photographer buddy Kenny Nakai (acting as a videographer) to travel 2000 miles down to the Caribbean to meet up with Thomas who has already there for two weeks.

To be honest, I was a bit hesitant to go down there at first because it had been over 8 months since the disaster. I thought to myself that there would be nothing left to document since all the debris and rubble have been surely cleaned up by now. Boy was I wrong! The country looked like it was hit by an earthquake last week! During our four days in the heart of Haiti, Thomas, Kenny Nakai and I, along with Jacque & Johny (the local pastors that acted as our guide) traveled to different parts of Port-Au-Prince and visited various ministries and local groups. While Thomas was in meetings, Kenny and I got to document the condition of Haiti. Later on this year, we plan to come out with a book and a video presentation which Churches Helping Churches will be using to help convey the message of Haiti to the people here in the U.S.

Here are some photos that I captured during my time in Haiti. For sake of download time, I have chosen to put about 20 photos here on my blog. To view my entire 80+ images, please visit my facebook gallery. I have mentioned this before, but going on trips like this benefits in both ways. I am thankful that I can give my time and services to better help this country. But more than that, I return a better person learning so much more from their Haitians about various life lessons. I’m so thankful that I got to go on this trip and I hope you can experience what I saw through these photos.

I would love to hear your thoughts, comments and questions after viewing these images. May you continue to pray for Haiti and the people there. Thank you.

Im standing on top of a hill that was created by rubbles piled on from destroyed buildings to get this shot of Port-Au-Prince.

I'm standing on top of a hill that was created by rubbles piled on from destroyed buildings to get this shot of Port-Au-Prince. Click on the images to visit my facebook gallery which contains more images from Haiti.

Almost all the buildings had some type of structural damages from the earthquake that has not been fixed or altered since January. It looked like the quake happened last week.

Almost all the buildings had some type of structural damages from the earthquake that has not been fixed or altered since January. It looks like the quake happened last week. Click on the images to visit my facebook gallery which contains more images from Haiti.

Almost all the buildings had some type of structural damages from the earthquake that has not been fixed or altered since January. It looks like the quake happened last week.

Click on the images to visit my facebook gallery which contains more images from Haiti

Click on the images to visit my facebook gallery which contains more images from Haiti

Click on the images to visit my facebook gallery which contains more images from Haiti

Click on the images to visit my facebook gallery which contains more images from Haiti

Click on the images to visit my facebook gallery which contains more images from Haiti

Click on the images to visit my facebook gallery which contains more images from Haiti

Click on the images to visit my facebook gallery which contains more images from Haiti

Click on the images to visit my facebook gallery which contains more images from Haiti

Click on the images to visit my facebook gallery which contains more images from Haiti

Click on the images to visit my facebook gallery which contains more images from Haiti

Click on the images to visit my facebook gallery which contains more images from Haiti

Click on the images to visit my facebook gallery which contains more images from Haiti

Click on the images to visit my facebook gallery which contains more images from Haiti

Click on the images to visit my facebook gallery which contains more images from Haiti

Click on the images to visit my facebook gallery which contains more images from Haiti

Click on the images to visit my facebook gallery which contains more images from Haiti

Click on the images to visit my facebook gallery which contains more images from Haiti

Camp Corail - just outside of Port-Au-Prince. Click on the images to visit my facebook gallery which contains more images from Haiti

Camp Corail - just outside of Port-Au-Prince. Click on the images to visit my facebook gallery which contains more images from Haiti

Camp Corail - just outside of Port-Au-Prince. Click on the images to visit my facebook gallery which contains more images from Haiti

Camp Corail - just outside of Port-Au-Prince. Click on the images to visit my facebook gallery which contains more images from Haiti

Camp Corail - just outside of Port-Au-Prince. Click on the images to visit my facebook gallery which contains more images from Haiti

Camp Corail - just outside of Port-Au-Prince. Click on the images to visit my facebook gallery which contains more images from Haiti

Camp Corail - just outside of Port-Au-Prince. Click on the images to visit my facebook gallery which contains more images from Haiti

Camp Corail - just outside of Port-Au-Prince. Click on the images to visit my facebook gallery which contains more images from Haiti

Camp Corail - just outside of Port-Au-Prince. Click on the images to visit my facebook gallery which contains more images from Haiti

Camp Corail - just outside of Port-Au-Prince. Click on the images to visit my facebook gallery which contains more images from Haiti

Camp Corail - just outside of Port-Au-Prince. Click on the images to visit my facebook gallery which contains more images from Haiti

Camp Corail - just outside of Port-Au-Prince. Click on the images to visit my facebook gallery which contains more images from Haiti

Camp Corail - just outside of Port-Au-Prince. Click on the images to visit my facebook gallery which contains more images from Haiti

Spending a week with these guys has been an awesome experience. Looking forward to doing it again in the near future. Click on the images to visit my facebook gallery which contains more images from Haiti

Bondye Beni Ayiti means God bless Haiti in Creole, their official language. If you are interested in finding out more about Churches Helping Churches, please visit their website at: http://www.churcheshelpingchurches.org. You can also follow them on twitter @churcheshelping.

I also like to take this time to thank the following sponsors that have stepped up to help support this project: Asuka books, Photographer’s Edit and Pixel2Canvas. An impact of a project is always greater when others partner up for things like this.

My Portfolio | Facebook Page | contact@kennykim.com | 800-539-1294
Follow kennykim on Twitter

Photographer's Edit

Pixel 2 Canvas

Tags / Categories / Comments

breaker

Tanzania Thirst Relief Documentary Video

February 24th, 2010

In November of 2009 4 people, Bob Davis, Anton Lorimer, Kenny Kim and Jim Davis-Hicks journeyed to the East African country of Tanzania. The goal of the trip was to document and create a compelling film that captured the clean water needs of the region and the efforts of Thirst Relief International. Cinematographers Anton Lorimer [...]
 

In November of 2009 4 people, Bob Davis, Anton Lorimer, Kenny Kim and Jim Davis-Hicks journeyed to the East African country of Tanzania. The goal of the trip was to document and create a compelling film that captured the clean water needs of the region and the efforts of Thirst Relief International. Cinematographers Anton Lorimer and Bob Davis shot the project in a documentary style that attempts to capture the real struggles and efforts of the people in Africa. Kenny Kim was the designated photographer and blogger that relayed the day to day progress to the rest of the world. Jim Davis-Hicks, Founder and President of Thirst Relief International acted as guide and spokesperson of Thirst Relief. Post production/editing was performed by Lorimerworks.

On a personal note, it was a life changing experience that we all hope to share with everyone. Please take 15 minutes of your day to view this video and pass the word out to others. Visit this site to find out more information.

Thirst Relief Video

Tags / Categories / Comments

breaker

Trailer for Thirst Relief Project in Tanzania

December 14th, 2009

As most of you know from my previous blog entry, I had the privilege of going on a special project for Thirst Relief International last month to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania in Africa. Bob Davis (Video Stud 1), Anton Lorimer (Video Stud 2), Jim Davis Hicks (President/Boss Man) & I all agree that we had [...]
 

As most of you know from my previous blog entry, I had the privilege of going on a special project for Thirst Relief International last month to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania in Africa. Bob Davis (Video Stud 1), Anton Lorimer (Video Stud 2), Jim Davis Hicks (President/Boss Man) & I all agree that we had a trip of a lifetime capturing video & photo footage to use to help promote what Thirst Relief is doing around the world to face the water crisis. I wanted to share (hot off the press) the trailer that Anton has just posted to wet our appetite. The three of us were all armed with our Canon gears (5D & 7D for video & Mark 1D III for photos) and were able to capture some amazing footage of what’s going on in Tanzania.

Perhaps you can consider giving Thirst Relief a donation this holiday season in the midst of all our busy shopping season. It takes $5 dollars to impact a life by giving them access to clean drinking water that we take for granted. Together, we can make a difference in this world.

For more, visit: My Portfolio | Resources For Photographers | Twitter: KennyKim | Facebook Page
contact@kennykim.com | 800-539-1294

Tags / Categories / Comments

breaker

Leaving for Africa…A Benefit Project for Thirst Relief

November 2nd, 2009

I couldn’t fall asleep last night as I sat in front of my computer pinching myself to see if this is still true. Ever since college, one of my dream/goal was to go to Africa. Many of my friends who have visited there have told me that you owe it to yourself to visit this [...]
 

I couldn’t fall asleep last night as I sat in front of my computer pinching myself to see if this is still true. Ever since college, one of my dream/goal was to go to Africa. Many of my friends who have visited there have told me that you owe it to yourself to visit this place. I am going there today and am thrilled and excited like a child going to Disneyland for the first time. I can’t wait to see how God is going to use me on this trip to open my eyes. I’m praying that through this trip my vision will broaden to see the world with clearer eyes and come back a changed man. Here’s a brief description of what I will be doing in Tanzania:

Nov. 2-11, 2009: Four photographers, one purpose . . . to document the work of Thirst Relief International and show how life saving Bio-Sand Water Filters and wells can save lives! Join Bob Davis, Anton Lorimer, Jim Davis-Hicks and me Kenny Kim as we embark on a storytelling journey that will forever impact your life and ours! Follow us online as we tell the story of pastor Mwambungoo who makes a living building and installing thirst relief filters while caring for the needs of his fellow villagers. See how one filter, one well, one person can impact the lives of so many!

Throughout this trip, I will attempt to blog about our experience there as well as some other insights. Follow us on twitter for more quick/brief updates:
Jim Davis Hicks (http://www.twitter.com/jimdavishicks)
Bob Davis (http://www.twitter.com/bobdavis_1)
Anton Lorimer (http://www.twitter.com/antonlorimer)
Kenny Kim (http://www.twitter.com/kennykim)

I have never been to Tanzania so I do not have any images to share with you. So I visited the blog of previous Thirs Relief team that visited there. I found two of these beautiful images by my friend/super-talented photographer Ben Harrison and I hope he does not mind that I am using them here. :)
Ben Harrison's Africa Image

Ben Harrison's Africa Image

By the way, I feel extremely thankful today for all the wonderful people that surround me. Thank you to my family, friends & colleagues that have supported me all the way leading up to this trip. I am also grateful for my sponsors that have went above and beyond in partnering with me to see this project grow. Thank you.

Tags / Categories / Comments