I saw a post on a friend's wall, a couple of months back, looking for photographers & videographers to come along on a mission trip to Haiti in February to document the progress that this organization out of Nolensville, TN "HOW" (Heart of Worship Ministries) had been making and thus provide some better imagery so that they could begin to share to a larger audience the differences that you can make in the world...outside of your own. Well, as you can imagine, I jumped at the chance. I leave Saturday.
As our departure day draws closer and closer I already feel my life changing....shifting...growing. This will be my very first mission trip. While I've done much for the Starkey Hearing Foundation, I've not journeyed with them on any mission trips. Not that I hadn't made myself available or my intentions known...it just never came about. I believe because God was wanting to use me for this one.
Once I sealed the deal, I reached out to my friend Tracy to see if she would be willing to join me on this trip and to my delight, she said "Yes!" An accomplished photographer and lover of life & adventure, she too had not yet been on any sort of mission but had always wished for the right one to come along. There will be much to document so I'm grateful for Tracy's availability, ability AND her camping prowess! You see, we will be pitching tents on the floor of the library of the very school that HOW has been building! Did I mention that this is a grass roots mission!? Here is more on HOW and what they are & do!
Thinking beyond our mission there, I thought it might be fun to teach some basics in picture making with some of the 180 students at this school so I asked for donations and many of my friends and colleagues answered. They are still coming in! Tracy and I will, with the help of a translator (Haitian Creole!), communicate how to compose a photo and how important light is to photography! Going to keep it simple but effective so that they can add more creativity to their lives! Please reach out if you have any working digital point and shoots (cords a must and SD cards or sticks a plus!). I'll continue to collect them as I'm certain this won't be the only trip I make to this school! :)
I may not get much opportunity to post while I'm there in that, I'm
told, the electricity is sketchy but when it does work...there is wifi!
I'll do my best to keep you informed of all that I do and see there.
Please follow and share as I welcome you along on this journey. I'm so honored to play a part in this mission and more so humbled that God is giving me this opportunity to use my photography skills that he has instilled in me to better others' lives. God is great.
"Like" and follow HOW on ----> Facebook! <----
“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31
Tuesday, February 4, 2014
Wednesday, October 16, 2013
I can't believe it's Thursday. Day 2 in Alba Piemonte, Italy
For those of you wondering "why isn't sue blogging?"....or "where are all the beautiful pictures she promised?"....or "Sure, she's just out eating indescribable Italian dishes and delicacies, running from gelato vendor to gelato vendor, trying on Italian leather shoes and swirling, smelling and tasting the local Barolo, Babaresco and Nebiollo wines!" Well, while much of this it true (thanks to Max and Cristiana!), it's just a portion of what's going on here in Italy on this trip!
Kevin & Clare have been keeping us busy too! The assignments are both challenging and rewarding (not to mention keeping some of us up into the weeee hours in our rooms working on our images for uploading to the class server for submission)!
Averaging about 5 hours of sleep a night, walking all day and shooting our surroundings keeping a watchful eye for our daily/weekly and personal assignments AND my life may never be the same as we are also challenged to find and capture all the letters of the alphabet in everyday objects say for instance the donuts I instagrammed, the other day, could be "O's" or the ornate leg of a chair or table, an "S"...you get the picture..so NOW I just see letters everywhere! ;)
The city of Torino was amazing. A city nestled on the river "Po" with views that kept me spinning like a top with my camera! Churches, Palazzos, Piazzas, People, Pets, shopping, bicycles, perfomers..CRAZY with activity! We toured the town with a tour guide who gave detailed history of the area...sadly, much was lost on this group as we are 'creatives' and wanted to photograph the details around us. I listened intently between shutter clicks! ;)
Kevin & Clare have been keeping us busy too! The assignments are both challenging and rewarding (not to mention keeping some of us up into the weeee hours in our rooms working on our images for uploading to the class server for submission)!
Averaging about 5 hours of sleep a night, walking all day and shooting our surroundings keeping a watchful eye for our daily/weekly and personal assignments AND my life may never be the same as we are also challenged to find and capture all the letters of the alphabet in everyday objects say for instance the donuts I instagrammed, the other day, could be "O's" or the ornate leg of a chair or table, an "S"...you get the picture..so NOW I just see letters everywhere! ;)
The city of Torino was amazing. A city nestled on the river "Po" with views that kept me spinning like a top with my camera! Churches, Palazzos, Piazzas, People, Pets, shopping, bicycles, perfomers..CRAZY with activity! We toured the town with a tour guide who gave detailed history of the area...sadly, much was lost on this group as we are 'creatives' and wanted to photograph the details around us. I listened intently between shutter clicks! ;)
There is still so much to share and get you caught up on but if I don't get to breakfast NOW, I'l be late for class! After class, today, we are visiting 2 castles: Grinzane & Manforte. This area is home to small villas of Roman origin. Then to La Morra which has (I'm told) a perfect terrace to overlook the vineyards! We will be on our own for lunch there the reconvene to have a sunset dinner. I know...sucks to suck, right? If you'd like to get more up to the minute pix and details, follow me on Instagram at "@susanlcraig" some of the pix there I do NOT post to facebook as I hate to innendate everyone! Gotta run....ciao tutti!
Saturday, October 12, 2013
woke up in Milano!
Let me just start by confessing that I am NOT a world traveler....I'm just playing one this week! What I am is human with some basic, God given, travel needs. Get me from here to there...don't screw me and certainly don't screw with me. Easy enough...or so I thought. For those of you bookmarking this page and looking for a fluffy story with some amazing imagery..check back on Monday as this is not the post you're looking for as I arrived nearly 10 hours after my scheduled flight was to get me here missing the 'planned' opportunity to run around and capture some Italian flavor right off the plane.
Don't get me wrong...I am not the least bit bitter and I refuse to go into any sort of detail about the trail that lead me here (and you're welcome). Because after all this trip will undoubtedly be marked with many self discoveries...some I'll share...some....well, I will not...and again...you're welcome!
Getting in to Milan in the dark was a disappointment (as you can imagine) but lovely as it would have been to see it in the daylight it rather paled in comparison to the fact that the Sheraton Malpensa was actually aTTACHED to the airport making my final leg a dream come true!
24 hours after my journey to this country began I arrived, safely, with my luggage. God is great!
Navigation was simple and for someone who doesn't travel alone much this was sort of a testament to my nerves, my patience and my wit! Learning to 'let go' of so many things these days made much of what occurred in those 24 hours a little easier, albeit frustrating to some degree.
Okay, so I'm sitting here on my bed watching the sky brighten (after my 3rd cappuccino), contemplating what is sure to be the greatest shower EVER, thinking "Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs" best describes the day ahead and ramping up for day 1 of this trip. I'll be traveling to Stresa on Lake Maggiore to wander the streets and have lunch with the rest of my colleagues then we'll head to our hotel in Torino (Principe di Piemonte) where we will all meet and have a session with Kevin and enjoy dinner together at a nearby restaurant. Sure to be a day full of amazingness. As I close this entry I have to say that had it not been for my sister, I would have arrived to Italy BALD for having pulled all my hair out. Thank you, Anne, for keeping me sane! I love you! Oh, and Jessica...please keep the pix of Betsy coming!
Ciao
Don't get me wrong...I am not the least bit bitter and I refuse to go into any sort of detail about the trail that lead me here (and you're welcome). Because after all this trip will undoubtedly be marked with many self discoveries...some I'll share...some....well, I will not...and again...you're welcome!
Getting in to Milan in the dark was a disappointment (as you can imagine) but lovely as it would have been to see it in the daylight it rather paled in comparison to the fact that the Sheraton Malpensa was actually aTTACHED to the airport making my final leg a dream come true!
24 hours after my journey to this country began I arrived, safely, with my luggage. God is great!
Navigation was simple and for someone who doesn't travel alone much this was sort of a testament to my nerves, my patience and my wit! Learning to 'let go' of so many things these days made much of what occurred in those 24 hours a little easier, albeit frustrating to some degree.
Okay, so I'm sitting here on my bed watching the sky brighten (after my 3rd cappuccino), contemplating what is sure to be the greatest shower EVER, thinking "Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs" best describes the day ahead and ramping up for day 1 of this trip. I'll be traveling to Stresa on Lake Maggiore to wander the streets and have lunch with the rest of my colleagues then we'll head to our hotel in Torino (Principe di Piemonte) where we will all meet and have a session with Kevin and enjoy dinner together at a nearby restaurant. Sure to be a day full of amazingness. As I close this entry I have to say that had it not been for my sister, I would have arrived to Italy BALD for having pulled all my hair out. Thank you, Anne, for keeping me sane! I love you! Oh, and Jessica...please keep the pix of Betsy coming!
Ciao
Friday, October 11, 2013
head to northern Italy
Buongiorno !
Back when I "pulled the trigger" on this trip my sister said, "Who are you?" (with a smile on her face) and I replied, "I don't know, guess I thought I'd travel to a place I've never been, where I don't speak the language, with 20 strangers!" (with a smile on my face).
Been packing and re-packing in my mind for months...heck, maybe years..but for the past few weeks my apartment has become strewn with all the potential essentials for someone who has never been to Italy (worth mentioning is that my bag weighs less than 40 pounds!). So far, Betsy has no idea that I am leaving her (though she'll be in good hands while I'm away...thanks, Jess!), she just liked all the new hiding and napping places that my piles created!
This trip is being touted "Secret Italy", by Kevin Kubota..his 9th tour of this kind and I am pretty excited to get there and get started...as you can imagine! The idea behind these trips is to travel to locations in Italy that are rarely visited and capture the beauty and culture in these 'lesser traveled' gems. We'll be covering the northwestern portion on the country.
20 photographers, 20 different perspectives. So no Venice, Florence, Rome or Vienna but in the end I am treating myself to Lake Como (just north of Milan) to wind down before my journey home (worth an entire trip on it's own!) where I'll spend some time scouting out a location for a new Brightwater (that I will, of course, manage!) for Bill Damberg! ;)
First stop...JFK then fly through the night to the Malpensa airport in Milan. I'm arriving an entire day early for the departure with the group so the plan is to meet up with them, talk shop and begin what is sure to be life long bonding!
From here, I will share my experiences with you through words and imagery, hopefully daily, at the very least as often as I am afforded the opportunity so feel free to bookmark & stay tuned.
Ciao tutti!
Back when I "pulled the trigger" on this trip my sister said, "Who are you?" (with a smile on her face) and I replied, "I don't know, guess I thought I'd travel to a place I've never been, where I don't speak the language, with 20 strangers!" (with a smile on my face).
Been packing and re-packing in my mind for months...heck, maybe years..but for the past few weeks my apartment has become strewn with all the potential essentials for someone who has never been to Italy (worth mentioning is that my bag weighs less than 40 pounds!). So far, Betsy has no idea that I am leaving her (though she'll be in good hands while I'm away...thanks, Jess!), she just liked all the new hiding and napping places that my piles created!
This trip is being touted "Secret Italy", by Kevin Kubota..his 9th tour of this kind and I am pretty excited to get there and get started...as you can imagine! The idea behind these trips is to travel to locations in Italy that are rarely visited and capture the beauty and culture in these 'lesser traveled' gems. We'll be covering the northwestern portion on the country.
20 photographers, 20 different perspectives. So no Venice, Florence, Rome or Vienna but in the end I am treating myself to Lake Como (just north of Milan) to wind down before my journey home (worth an entire trip on it's own!) where I'll spend some time scouting out a location for a new Brightwater (that I will, of course, manage!) for Bill Damberg! ;)
First stop...JFK then fly through the night to the Malpensa airport in Milan. I'm arriving an entire day early for the departure with the group so the plan is to meet up with them, talk shop and begin what is sure to be life long bonding!
From here, I will share my experiences with you through words and imagery, hopefully daily, at the very least as often as I am afforded the opportunity so feel free to bookmark & stay tuned.
Ciao tutti!
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)