Finally Home

April 30th, 2008

 I am finishing my final post after getting back to the states since we lost internet access the last few days. The final full day of shooting in Africa was filled with adventure, smiling faces and sobering stories. The van got stuck in mud and almost rolled down an eight foot embankment. It took two hours and about thirty people from a local village to get us out. It was truly rewarding to work together as a team to get the van out.

Looking back at these images now as I sit a world away brings mixed emotions. As we move forward to use these photos to bring awareness to the situation in Africa I am hopeful that I can do my small part to make a difference. I guess if each one of us just did a small part we can really change things. 

Brian MacDonald

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Kenya: Day 2

April 29th, 2008

After a night of hard rain and restless sleep I was awakened to the sound of Kenny Rogers music blaring in the complex we are staying at. It made for a surreal moment. During the downpours of the night my thoughts went to the children I had photographed, sleeping in their tiny muddy shacks in the slums.

We spent the morning in Kibera, one of the largest slums in Africa. It is estimated that one million people live there. We were at the heart of where the post-election violence took place just a few months ago and so many people were killed. There was a palatable tension as we walked around visiting some of the people who lived there. We met with some of the pastors involved in the reconciliation program.

The afternoon was a much needed change of scenery as we drove through beautiful countryside to Makueni. I was able to capture some environmental portraits of some of the people involved with the Life In Abundance programs that evening.

Brian MacDonald

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Kenya

April 28th, 2008

Playing Catch-up now that I have internet. 

April 24, 2008

A flight from Ethiopia to Nairobi, Kenya brought us to a city that was much more industrialized. After just a short trip into the city though, we were confronted with more of the desperate poverty that plagues this country. We were brought into a slum and one of the holistic medical projects. I got to see as people received free eye exams and glasses and watch as bad teeth were pulled. The portable clinic was set up in a small church that was really no more than a large shack. It has been raining here. The senses are bombarded as we walk around in the mud of the slums that is mixed with trash and human waste. I was able to photograph some of the children that lived in that slum. It was a humbling experience. The stories of sickness and abuse that is suffered brings a pit to my stomach. I felt in a strange way that I was privileged to capture the faces of these people.

Brian MacDonald

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Ethiopia: Day 3

April 23rd, 2008

After another long day of shooting around Addis we were able to meet some great people and hear some inspiring stories. The kids are amazing. I met so many of these children that were so full of happiness despite the situations they are in. They have a piercing gaze with big beautiful eyes.It was moving to meet an 80 year old blind man that lives in a pile of trash under a tin lean-to. He was so full of energy. He is able to survive thanks to the work of one of the local churches. The stories of need are endless. It is encouraging to see some of these small victories.We are off to Kenya tomorrow. Internet access will be questionable. 

Brian MacDonald

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A Drive Out To Debrebirhan

April 22nd, 2008

Our crew had an early start and drove three hours out of Addis to the town of Debrebirhan. We had a driver who thought that dodging people, livestock and oncoming vehicles at 100 kph was some type of sporting event. The roads were probably the worst I have been on, even worse than my trip to India. We visited several projects that LIA is involved with. Some of the most moving stories were from those suffering with HIV/AIDS. The man that I photographed below was so distressed over his plight that he tried to hang himself. There were stories of hope though. Babies were being born from HIV mothers without getting the disease thanks to drug and vitamin therapies. Malnourished child were getting proper food from feeding programs and had a future. This country is visually rich and the photographs and video footage we are getting will hopefully help with raising the badly needed funds for these projects   

Brian MacDonald

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Former Street Kid

April 21st, 2008

Brian MacDonald

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Justin and Blake

April 21st, 2008

Brian MacDonald

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Burning Trash in the Slums of Addis

April 21st, 2008

Brian MacDonald

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Two Blocks from the White House

April 21st, 2008

Brian MacDonald

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Safley In Addis Ababa

April 21st, 2008

After 16 long hours in an airplane we finally arrived safely in Ethiopia.  The only break was an hour in Rome watching the ground crew remove the trash and bring on new food.  The contrast to yesterday is glaring.  I snapped a shot of our hotel lobby in DC.  The contrast was pushed even further as we ran into Blake Lewis, one of the the American Idol contestants from last year.  I took a photo of him and the art director I am traveling with on this project. It is interesting to go from a place where power and fame are such important parts of our culture to hanging out in the slums of Addis with street kids. 

Brian MacDonald

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