Comments on: Can Your Photography Change The World?

By: Kate Wilcox

Kate Wilcox — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 18:54:05 +0000

Last summer while I was out of work I volunteered at a Children’s Camp. While there I took photos of everything and anything and created a video at the end of the season that the kids could take home and that the camp can use in promotional materials. Did I change the world? No. Did I change my part of it? I think so.

By: Aisha

Aisha — Mon, 09 May 2011 22:31:38 +0000

Im late in the game, but wanted to thank you for this inspiration piece. I have taken on photography professionally a little over a year or so, but had trouble figuring who I was as a photographer. I have done weddings, portraits, etc. I really enjoy special events, events that bring about social change. And finding this post today really puts a smile on my face because it was just this morning that I was really able to look deeply in to why I take photos, and more importantly what can I do by doing so.

thanks so much
Aisha
www. ohsnaap.com
Photography For Social Change

By: Jessica Watson

Jessica Watson — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 02:38:01 +0000

Thank you so much for highlighting our organization in your thoughtful piece!

For all the fellow photographers out there that believe that we can change the world one photo at a time, I encourage you all to enter the 2010 Activist Awards.

The PhotoPhilanthropy Activist Award identifies outstanding work done by photographers in collaboration with non-profit organizations worldwide and awards prizes ranging from $1,000-$15,000. In our first year, over 200 photographers from 63 different countries submitted work.

This year, PhotoPhilanthropy will be honoring professional, amateur, and student photographers, and a new category for community-based organizations. Each photographer whose work is accepted receives a page on our website and exposure to a growing audience of concerned and committed global citizens.

The 2010 submissions are now open and close October 1, 2010—we encourage you to apply!

More information is available here: http://www.photophilanthropy.org/sub1-submission_form.php

By: Heba

Heba — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 20:27:47 +0000

wandrfull words .

I’m Egyptian lady , and I am interesting on this idea , I need to contact with you because I started an idea with Arabian youth people about photography to change , and positive affect of the committee

Thank you

By: Lisa

Lisa — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 06:17:16 +0000

Hi Peter,

I just happened to stumble upon this article of your’s while researching for my honours thesis topic. I am an anthropology student, who also has a passion for photography. I am writing my thesis on this very idea that images can be used as a catalyst for social change! I like to believe that they can be, and it is wonderful to see so many others who feel the same way! Your project sounds amazing!! An idea I wish I had thought of! Something I think about though is that we live in a society where we are bombarded with so many kinds of images everyday…do you ever wonder if collectively people are just too desensitized, and that what may seem to be a powerful image looses its ability to shock, motivate, or inspire?

I guess that every photograph is different, and every moment in time is different from the last – so one thing photographs will always be able to do is inform, in one way or another. Can that transfered knowledge change peoples beliefs and attitudes, maybe…but can they change the world, perhaps not on their own, but they will surely contribute!

By: Charity

Charity — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 21:42:15 +0000

Peter,
I have enjoyed several of your articles so far and you grabbed my attention when you titled this one. This has been something that has plagued my heart for years.

I firmly believe that change comes from the inside, but to touch that inside of people you must see beyond the surface. I try in all my photography work to see what others don’t. To look beyond, to capture the essence and bring it to life. In doing this it creates a photo that evokes emotions in the viewer. It is my hope that this will touch many as I keep up my work.

I would dearly love to touch many lives, enrich them and stimulate them to change their own lives and worlds just as others have done for me. Thank you for your inspiration Peter.

Charity

By: Gbenga Loveeyes Images

Gbenga Loveeyes Images — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 13:12:54 +0000

Wao! what can we say or what have not been said. in all the talks, how many would start their project now. Just 1 image can change our world.
@ Peter you are an inspiration to your world. We are moved to start up something today. We can affect our world, only if we try.

By: Adrian Lowe

Adrian Lowe — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 02:35:40 +0000

Your idea sounds great Peter. Our club, The Masters’ Apprentices Photography Club in Brisbane, Qld, Australia, is about to embark on an ongoing project to find non profit organizations who need photos for whatever reason, posters, leaflets, presentations etc, and we’ll provide the photos and team up with labs to produce them. It’s a way of helping others who help communities do it more economically. I doubt we’ll take jobs away from professionals but hope we fill a niche.

By: Bull Rhino

Bull Rhino — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 05:21:29 +0000

Very interesting timing on this. I’m reminded of the story of the man walking along the beach picking up star fish and tossing them back into the water when he was approached by a stranger asking why he was wasting his time when he couldn’t make a difference to the thousands of star fish stranded on the beach. As the man picked up another star fish and tossed it into the water he responded with “No, but I can make a difference for this one.”

It is interesting that just this evening I scheduled a post for my blog that will appear this coming Sunday morning telling about how I was privileged to take some portraits of a woman who was recently diagnosed with terminal cancer. I am honored and humbled to be able to make what they claim is a huge difference in her and her husband’s and children’s lives. When tragedy strikes in someones lives so many times I have said something like “Call me if there is anything I can do.” And of course they never called. Thank heaven for a cousin of mine who challenged me to do something. This time I decided to determine something I could do and then do it.

By: Pernille Sue Winton

Pernille Sue Winton — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 14:51:13 +0000

First of all thanks for bringing up this topic.
My humble contribution here will be to point to a pretty simple way of improving socalled integration, which I would really prefere was called interaction..
I live in Denmark and one of our national charachteristics is to pretty much keep to ourselves (sic!) plus a large part of our culture and the majority of our government is very preoccupied w “foreigner vs Dane problems”. Not surprisingly a mix that creates racism or attitudes bordering on this – and definitely does not fertile the grounds of a more healthy relationship between Danes and refugees/imported labour/immigrants. Our society is based upon protestant christian values though hardly anyone goes to church or has any kind of ritualistic relationship to religion, and hence any form of orthodox behaviour/look/lifestyle seems exotic bordering on angstprovoking to most. So though the kids have peers and friends in school from other cultural backgrounds, they dont often interact outside school, and if so not in each others homes where the real closeness and confidence is based – you know, the biggest vote of confidence from a kid you can get is “will you come visit me and see my room?” So I read abt this project where kids were given disposable cameras, and a basic teaching in light and composition, and was asked to document their home and family and doings during two weeks I think. Then the projectleader saw to the development and supervising an exhibition where every kids works were presented seperately but side by side with the others. This spurred on many laughs, questions and talks and led to a very natural way of connection, as I am sure you can imagine. Details that would be as natural as breething to one child, would be amazing to others and so forth, and the whole project was deemed very successful by all parties involved, including authorities and municipal. Should anyone want to adapt and spread this idea I believe it could be used in other areas where differences between individuals create obstacles to interaction and understanding. To me that is definitely improving the world, which absolutely files under changing too : )
I am onto the “start with yourself” and “being a part of the solution” models and believe we all can contribute with our little share to lift the task of improving this world with our unique talents and gifts – and know from experience that grand schemes and plans much more often end up in nothing done, than one little step each day. This was my daily step so far : )