I woke up in Bogotá this morning, to a city of seven million and to day one of my time in South America. Instead of easing myself in or working myself up to photographing important things, I had the opportunity to jump right in. Thank God.
Manuel, my roommate in Colombia, happens to be an accomplished freelance journalist and offered to let me tag along to an important interview he had downtown today. Turns out the Colombian House and Senate elections that happen every four years will be held in just two short weeks and Manuel was on a hunt to get perspective from one of the underdog candidates. So I wiped the sleep out of my eyes, threw a camera in my bag, and ran out the door behind Manuel. I had only been awake in the country for one hour but I was ready to hit the streets, searching for stories. Why, hello Colombia! Very nice to meet you.
I came to Bogotá because I am a photographer who decided the best way to see South America would be to invent my own project. I’d known for two years that Suramerica would be my next continent of choice, and so I nibbled away at research and reasons to come down. For months I scoured through volunteer organizations and instead of getting excited, I grew frustrated. There were so many organizations and companies and on top of that, many wanted *me* to pay them to come and give my time. I didn’t know whom to trust nor did I really have the type of funds they were asking for. I realized I would need another approach to reaching the southern hemisphere…
Now, I was certain of a few things: 1. I am a good photographer 2. I want to do good things for people who actually need it and 3. I want to be in South America for a full year. I figured all I would need are organizations I care about and an audience to listen to my stories. And so the 25twenty-five project was born.
The purpose of 25twenty-five is to travel through South America, photographing and telling stories for 25 NGO’s while I’m 25 years old. I am blogging my way over the Andes and across the Amazon with the possibility of teaching and informing a larger, interested audience as I myself learn about these people and places.
When I told most people I was leaving for South America, the initial reaction usually consisted of “Why the @#$% would you wanna do that?!”
My response was…please let me show you.
To see more of Leah Giesler’s work, check out her personal blog.
Latest posts by leahgiesler
- One NGO Down, 24 to Go! - August 10th, 2010
Awesome! Keep up the great work!!
Great work Leah. I’m also traveling around S.A., and like you, have felt a bit empty after looking for NGO’s to work with. I’ve just finished my own photo project documenting a small village in Ecuador. Good luck with your project, it’s a motivating way to travel and I’m sure you’ll come out with some great and memorable shots.
Alicia