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

If you’re a HarmonyWishes follower, I think we can assume you have good taste, no?  ☺  We may also assume that you have some interest in quality images. I’ve got you pegged, right?

I’ve been hard at work on a multimedia project here in my neighborhood in Oaxaca. Gathering a group of local illustrators, photographers, graphic designers, animators, musician and audio makers (to name a few), we’ve been creating a multimedia portrait of one of the oldest neighborhoods in Oaxaca—Xochimilco.  It’s fun to say!  Here, let me help you: soh-chee-MĒL-koh.

It’s been exciting and challenging to find ways to characterize and narrate the story of these cobblestone streets.  The process has made me think about how images are used to tell different stories. I’ve been hunting down examples where photography and  sound are used to convey a variety of messages.  I thought I might share a few of those sites with this “image-engaged” crowd. Here’s the first of several posts on my findings.

Screenshot, One in 8 Million, Photo: Todd Heisler, Text: Sarah Kramer

One in 8 Million

This is one of my favorite multi-media offerings on the NY Times website. The series was produced by Sarah Kramer and Alexis Mainland, with photographs from Todd Heisler. Here’s how they describe the project:

New York is a city of characters. On the subway and in its streets, from the intensity of Midtown to the intimacy of neighborhood blocks, is a 305-square-mile parade of people with something to say.  This is a collection of a few of their passions and problems, relationships and routines, vocations and obsessions. A new story will be added weekly.

So often these local stories don’t make it to the inked pages of national papers like the Times. I would wager that expanded reader use of online versions of newspapers has made it possible, and even necessary, for them to spotlight feature stories on the small scale, with personal character and universal appeal.  These are stories about people like you and me—told with quality. You’ll hear about Henrique Prince, the subway busker, or Alexandra Elman, the blind wine taster. Check out their depository; it is immense (but easy to sift through) and fascinating. I’m a fan!

I encourage you to think about the many ways the images in HarmonyWishes’ collection tell a story.  By sharing that image you extend the story past the lens or paintbrush, and into the lives of your own community. Are you curious to know from where a particular image was drawn, or what the story is behind it?

Well, let us know! We’re happy to share.

Cheers,
Megan