If A Picture Is Worth a Thousand Words: What is the value of a camera?
This is an unusual blog post for me, as a photographer, to be writing. At the same time, it is only logical, that I be the one writing this. Last summer I traveled to West Africa with the Cameroon Football Development Program. My job was to begin documentation of this sports for development program, as we [...]
Some more from the Soccer Pitch
ITs been a busy past few weeks here in Cameroon working with the Cameroon Football Development Program as we were preparing to run training camps for our new leaders and project coordinators. So after weeks of preparation, on and off the pitch, and the arrival of FSS Salaberry, our training partners/first team of pen pals/ [...]
A trip to Barombi Village
Not long ago, Justin the founder of the Cameroon Football Development Program, lived in a village outside of our hoe base of Kumba. He was working with the University of Dayton, in Ohio, to design and construct a water system for a farming village that is set off of the beautiful Lake Barombi. The project [...]
Inquisitive Eyes: Children
Here in Cameroon nearly every type of event draws a crowd. You could be having a choir practice, and it is pretty much guaranteed that a group will assemble to listen to the singing. Replace singing with soccer, and you could have five people or 100 people watching. The crowd usually consists of kids that hear something [...]
Nothing is quick in Cameroon
Work here in Africa is very different from back home in the U.S. Just preparing a meal takes many hours, and depending on the meal, preparation can begin days in advance. A good way to explain this is through a scene witnessed on Thursday. Mrs. Ngwane, “Momma” (the matriarch of our compound) is heading to [...]
A letter home
Today has been a great day. I was able to meet with the Womens Empowerment Center today, as well as the Delegate and directors of Sports and Physical Education, and I will be meeting with them next week to interview them on tape, and get a better understanding of the issues that face youth in [...]
The First Week in Cameroon
I have been in Cameroon Africa for the past week working with the Cameroon Football Development Program, and I just got internet into the office yesterday. So here is a quick recap. we arrived in Cameroon last Sunday evening. After a flight that was way to long, we got on a bus that was WAY [...]
News from Nicaragua
The Past two days have been pretty intense here in Nicaragua. On Wednesday we went to Chaco Cente, a working farm out in the country, where former captives of La Chureca are living, farming, going to school, and participating in a community where they are able to grow, feel safe, experience redemption through Christ, and [...]
The Dump is Changing- struggle in La Chureca
The dump has continued to get smaller over the past year. Construction is under way to build a recycling center in the dump, which will employ local workers, but the construction which started last year, seems to be going very slow. When we arrived in the dump, we stopped at the local school, and visited [...]
Nicaragua Day 2. Heading to La Chureca (city dump)
Today will be our first day in the dump. It has been what I consider oppressively hot, but everyone who lives here considers it cool. We had a great first day yesterday. We went to a wonderful church service in Managua, and it is amazing how different cultures, speaking different languages, can worship and pray [...]
Our home away from home-A Nica paradise
Late last night, I arrived safely in Nicaragua with the NWCC team. Dan and Jessenia Bain met us at the Managua airport. I had planned this on being a longer introduction, but i wasnt saving often enough, and when I went to publish the post, my internet had kicked out and I lost everything. So [...]
Pittsburgh-Nicaragua-Pittsburgh-Cameroon-nine weeks of travel
Today begins the second trip to Managua, Nicaragua with Northway Christian Community in less than a year. We are going to work with our friends and partners Dan and Jessenia Bain. If you didnt follow along last year, you can catch up with what happend last year HERE and follow the group blog that Pastor [...]
L.A.M.P. changing the city one child at a time
LAMP (Learning Assistance and Mentoring Partnerships) is a collaboration among Pittsburgh Public Schools, Family Guidance and area churches including my church Northway Christian Community to serve high-risk, gang-prone youth from middle and elementary schools. Over the past year, I have been working with program director Bryan McCabe to help tell the story of specific parts [...]
Never Forget. Thoughts on Rwanda
It’s hard to believe that 10 years ago I was In Rwanda. I had just arrived a few days earlier. Now I was participating in Genocide Memorial Week. While parades and ceremonies went on outside, images of murder and hatred flashed on the every tv screen turned to public channels. I still vividly recall mass [...]
Pittsburgh Non Profit Photography|Starzl Foundation|Pittsburgh Steelers
A few weeks ago I was asked to participate in the Annual Pittsburgh Steelers Fashion Show at Heinz Field. This was my second year working with the Steelers for this great event which helped to benefit the Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute. As I begin to make the transition into working more and more with [...]
I love Nicaragua in the morning
Yesterday was our last day in La Chureca. I’m sad to be leaving. While we don’t leave to come home til Saturday the rest of the trip will be spent debriefing, which while totally necessary, puts an end to the trip. Two more weeks here still wouldn’t be enough, but that’s ok. The answers I [...]
Some thoughts on La Chureca
As we walked through La Chureca today, my experience was different than the previous trips in. My eyes are being opened to the reality of the slavery that so heavily holds this village in bondage. Rather than just seeing the homes and people along the pathways, I’m tending to look farther back, reaching deeper into [...]
A week in Review: Or just a brief rundown
Wow what a week. We have seen miraculous things, and built amazing friendships. From Migdonio walking (without pain and crutches for the first time in more than a year), to spending time in the beautiful old city of Grenada, to experiencing the magnitude of this earth at the Masaya Volcano yesterday, this week has burned [...]
Beach bound with a chance of Grenada
Yep, today we are heading to the beach for 24 hours to debrief with group one, and relax so that we can finish out the trip energized. Yesterday was a little bit different for us. Instead of going to La Chureca, we brought more than 60 kids from La Chureca to us, to spend some [...]
Intense Healing-Intense Laughter
After more than a year of walking on crutches, he began to take small baby steps, free of pain, with out crutches! Before I tell that story though, look at the view from where we are staying! Migdonio was sitting on the side of the road talking to his brother when we walked up and [...]
Nicaragua to Date: Just a Pittsburgh photographer trying to capture the life around him.
Wow, its Wednesday already. The days fly by as we spend time in La Chureca (the city dump) and spend time as a group, worshiping, praying, and seeking God, and his purpose of this trip. As the days move on, the intensity of what we see continues to build. Yesterday, on a path in La [...]
Nicaragua day 2
Our first day in Nicaragua was a success! The group leader, Pastor Doug followed a day behind due to some difficulties on the home front, but we are all here now. Yesterday we visited La Chureca for a few hours with Love light and melody director Daniel Baine. Daniel is also a friend, and our [...]
I am a photojournalist working with Non-Profits and NGO's. Telling stories and helping to connect organizations with their donors through social media. 
