In our continuing series on images that tell great stories, I’m adding to the mix two distinct organizations this round; one is an NGO, the other a multi-media publication and consultancy. Both utilize images in dynamic ways to tell oft-untold stories. Take a look!

Charity:Water – Charity:Water is a non-profit organization that sets up freshwater wells, rainwater catchments and sand filters in communities in need across the globe. As they say on their site, “We are not offering grand solutions or billion dollar schemes…[but] for about $20 a person, we know how to help millions of people.” Charity:Water began when photographer Scott Harrison, unhappy in his lucrative career, asked himself, “What would the opposite of my life look like?” Months later he found himself as the ship photojournalist on one of the Mercy Ships surgery boats, documenting the work of volunteer surgeons, meeting the people of West Africa and witnessing up-close the  very real inequity and need across the ocean from his home. And thus, his project was born—helping give access to fresh, potable water for villages in Asia, Africa and beyond. Harrison states on his site: “[Charity is] taken from the word ‘caritas,’ or simply, love. In Colossians 3, the Bible instructs readers to ‘put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.’… I love the idea. To wear charity.”

Simple ideas can have great ripple effects. And I think the great success of Charity:Water is how well they communicate the stories of those they affect, those who have taken part in the effort, and the numbers that shape their success. Harrison is a photographer by trade; so clearly he knew that his images could tell a strong story. Likewise Charity:Water’s website, with a mixture of graphs, photo essays, videos and stories—helps take that message further.

Can you remember the last image that had a great impact on you? Share it with us!

Onto our second find…

MediaStorm – MediaStorm is a multi-media consultancy and online publication that utilizes “animation, audio, video and the power of still photography, to publish the diverse narratives that speak to the heart of the human condition.” I am a great admirer of MediaStorm’s archive of work from talented photographers and audio producers. MediaStorm stories aren’t your mom’s media stories. We’re used to our news in 1-minute sound bites, with text scrolling underneath the newscaster, and quick edits to keep our eye moving. But MediaStorm’s pieces take their time. They are the stories that journalists are never given the opportunity to tell; and yet, they are infinitely fascinating and important. They are the stories that take place in small towns, or urban high rises—but are absent from the news. I encourage you to go over to their site and take a look. Two of my favorite pieces are Common Ground, a photo-audio essay created by Scott Strazzante that follows the transformation of a cattle farm to a subdivision—juxtaposing photos taken over the course of several years; my second favorite is Iraqi Kurdistan by Ed Kashi, using original music and thousands of still photos to create a (literally) moving story—you’ll forget you’re not watching an actual video.

Enjoy!

Megan