ShootQ Grant Application and Voices of the Victims Photo Book
Have you heard of the ShootQ yearly grant for photographers? It’s a $12,000 grant given to a photographer to fund a project that raises public awareness about an important social, environmental or economic issue. I applied. Can you guess the topic of my application? Sure you can. Sex trafficking of young girls in Atlanta (and the United States). It was an obvious choice and near to my heart after creating the Voices of the Victims photo series... [Read More...]
Milestone Moment: Images on the Big Screen (D277)
Today was the big day… the Street Grace citywide event and the premiere of the Teen Identity “Take Action” video PSA. The video itself is compelling and gets to me every time I watch it. But, watching it on 3 huge screens tonight was a surreal experience… those are my girls and my images. What a milestone moment! Being the devoted photographer I am, I took images of my images on the big screen… #gallery-1 { margin:... [Read More...]
More Than Just a Number (D276)
Stats are plastered on the white figures of young girls and boys cut out of foam board. The truth is harsh, the statistics hard to read, the reality cruel. No one wants to look at it, but a group of young people are becoming the victims in a drama for just one night… to feel, share, and move the audience to action. They are brave and powerful, willing to step into the shoes of those young girls and boys who lived trapped day in and day... [Read More...]
Voices of the Victims: “Do You See Me?”
Not unlike homeless youth, young girls caught in sex trafficking often feel invisible. According to many laws, it’s considered a victimless crime. Twelve year old girls being arrested for prostitution and treated as criminals is an outrage. If they could ask us all a question, I think it’d be this… For some, they may want to go home. For the vast majority, home is where the abuse began. Did you know that 90% of victims of sexual... [Read More...]
Voices of the Victims: “I’m Afraid of the Dark”
Many girls grow up with a deathly fear of the dark… for some it’s legitimate fears of what happens in the night, for others it’s fear of the unknown… For girls on the street, it’s a fear they may never overcome. Coupled with that fear is a pervading sense of loneliness and isolation. Intimate friendships and relationships are near impossible without the ability to trust. Shame is a constant companion. Even when surrounded... [Read More...]
Photo Series: Voices of the Victims
Injustice is an attack on God’s children. If we do nothing, we stand with the oppressor. Two months ago, we rallied around Street Grace to donate $100 to this organization fighting sex trafficking and child exploitation in the metro Atlanta area. Thank you to those of you who participated and helped us make it happen. Last month, I shot a photo series representing the voices of the victims caught in this life not of their choosing. The series... [Read More...]