Two Poems from Mom

Mom checking in today with not one, but two poems.

The Last Line

the time to write
is the write time
holding your breath
waiting for an idea
to find a landing pattern
in your webbed brain
is a futile attempt
at grasping at a fleeting
moment in the spin lines
that surround the Earth
Earth Mother why do you
wonder how the words
make their way
to the porch where you
and your best friend wait
label it finished
before you
dance your dance
to the tune you hear
no matter how far
or near
arrows from the world
will find you
lost in the yarn ball
of thoughts
the last line
will find the end



Worry


I worry that no one
will want to read
what I write about
I worry that
they will not be able
to see my world
as I want them to
I worry that they
will not get caught
in the thoughts
that were in my mind
when my words found
their home
I worry that they will not
be able to unlock
the meaning of each word
I worry that I will
not be good enough
to deserve their time
when they have to
transend the page
full of my words
and free fall
into my net
of thoughts
I worry that my
my time is running out
and I am not finished
but, isn't that
the way it always is?
I worry worry worry

Los Perros

I might have posted these babies a long time ago, but I'm too lazy to go back and check. But, was just cleaning up old drives and such and thought I would give them another run.

Just a day at the park. I don't even own a dog.

Update Brendan Bannon MSF/Africa

Hey campers,

I just posted about Brandon, but he checked in yesterday with another link to his latest project, which is slightly different than the rest. He is posting daily, blogging live somewhat, and I wanted to share the link.

Take a minute and take a look.


MSF Africa

Thanksgiving

A friend just sent me this, a reminder of times past.


"I still remember that football crazy Thanksgiving where you practically threw a shoe at the TV when the Longhorns were playing. Or was it the Oilers? Your whole crew was aboard, your mom chawwing on little animals buckshot by her trusty rifle, and your dad waxing poetic on foundries... Good times. Best that could be had in a place called Costa Mesa."

Me

So from time to time I get requests to post about me, which for some reason I have a difficult time doing.

I'm not that interesting. I'm not. I'm just a guy who make pictures from time to time.

I was the guy in middle school who wore parachute pants and white high-tops, matched with an Izod shirt.

I had a mullet.

I thought Miami Vice was the greatest show ever made. And still do.

I'm the kid who caught his pants on fire with a branding iron.

I was never cool, and chances are, unless social rules changes dramatically, never will be.

I'm the guy that knew people in all the different clicks, but never belonged to any particular group.

I didn't go to the prom. Didn't even ask anyone. Never came close.

I'm obsessed with recording things.

I like awkwardness and thinks it makes us stronger, especially when the awkwardness happens to us, or you, or me. When it is personal.

I think humans are lazy and we need to do more. I think we need to share more.

I'm not particularly religious or political. I believe in human beings. I believe in the intangible aspect of being human. I believe we are flawed but burn from a core of general pleasantness, which we have to nurture.

I like nature more than technology.

And I believe in photography. The power of the SINGLE still image. No motion. No sound. No nothing. Just that flat space that makes you confront the contents and deal with it. That is nothing so simple and yet so powerful.

I believe in laughter as a remedy.

I believe in getting better with age.

I don't believe in retouching, or plastic surgery. Women look better with age. They do. Men, I'm not so sure.

I have gray hair now. At least a half dozen, and this makes me laugh.

I'm an uncle an have a responsibility to my nephew to torture him, and also guide him, as an impartial observer.

And I DO believe in tradition, all of them.

And, most importantly, I don't believe I have even begun yet. Begun what? Anything. Everything. Life.

There is much to do, as evidenced by this photo. WAKE UP!

Poem from Mom "Life is Like a River."

Mom checking in with another poem.

"Life is Like a River."


life is like a river
we stand on the bank
and watch it roll by
and never see the end

it is better that
we do not know
how it will end
like the beginning

the future is ours
etched by the past
the present is all
that really matters

the never ending ripples
hold the pace
hidden from each day
loving and laughing

there is no return
from the river
just a ride
the ride of your life!

Wives

So this post is for DH up NoCal way.

I wrote about dad's, and mom's and kids, and everyone else, just about, but not about wives. I've only "got" one, so I can only write from my limited experience, which is par for the course.

My "current" wife, is sitting right next to me, but has no idea I'm writing this, which is fun.

Cell phone glued to her ear, doing her daily routine, which is nearly all-encompassing, she is, as she is now, almost always by my side. Or vice versa, depending on how you look at it.

In short, I owe much of what I have, and much of who I am, in many important ways, to her.

Photography is NOT an easy business, especially when it is so much a part of who I am, and that can be difficult for anyone in close proximity to deal with. I get moody, possessed, deranged, inconsistent and selfish, and like Lt. Dan in Forrest Gump, she often finds herself at the top of the crow's nest, facing down the storm.

I don't think I could be doing what I'm doing without her. And I know for certain it would not be as fun, nor would my life be as fulfilling as it is.

As for photographs of her, I have many. In fact I have entire books, archives of her, which I continue to add to. In fact I just stopped writing and took a photo.

I've got Polaroids, of many sizes and shapes, 4x5 negatives, 6x9, 6x7, 6x6, 645, 35, panoramic, Holga, Lomo and even many strips of photo-booth images. I might have more images of her than anyone else, or anything else.

The images I have included here are a trip we made to Paris in November of last year. I was in Paris to work on a different project, but while I was there I made a second, secret project, of her, while she was following me around the city.

This secret project, "Le Bruit Des Pas," or "Footsteps" is about her. There is actually an 8x10 hardcover book in my office from this shoot.

As you can see, many of the images she knows I'm making, but many others she did not. So, the entire thing was given to her, as a surprise.

Brendan Bannon/MSF/Africa

So I have this friend Brendan, a photographer, who lives in Nairobi. Brendan has been over there for a while, years in fact, and has been doing much work for the NGO world based out of this East Africa region. Kenya, Somalia, etc, BB has traveled many roads and many miles in pursuit of the image, or images that will transcend the expected, images that will force us to ignore our "fatigue" of such places and events and take notice.

In case you were wondering, this isn't easy. Not by any stretch.

First, you have to get there, which in today's world perhaps isn't THAT difficult, at least when it comes to the major cities. But that is where the veiled simplicity ends.

Then you have to REALLY get there.

Planes, trains, automobiles, and then on foot.

Many of the places he works are remote, requiring access through small bush plane, then small transport. Time is limited, people are suffering, consequences are dire.

These situations separate the people with purpose from the tourist.

Brendan has to get in, under difficult circumstances and make pictures. Pictures, not snapshots, not "content" but pictures that convey that life sharing vein of being human.

We all have have this vein, perhaps lose it from time to time, but at the heart of this work is a very, very simple idea, there are certain people who are suffering, and there are certain people who can help.

Brendan's photos are that line in the sand that confront us, when we take the time to notice. It's easy to think of the world as "us" and "them," meaning anyone outside our specific, daily circle, but we really are one place, one people, regardless of categories of convenience.

But there is something else about his work, and him, that I like. Is it his full and bushy beard? Nope? His fondness for running shoes? No. His passion for lugging around a panoramic camera through the mountains of Sicily? No, not that either.

What I like is that he lets his work speak for itself. BB is a thoughtful guy, and is very much an unassuming individual. He doesn't brag about his work, hype himself up, but instead just produces pictures, and stories, and in the end, just gets things done.

He doesn't seem to be concerned about photo-contests or feathers in his cap, although he has a few.

He just makes pictures, makes reports, files stories, podcasts, etc, and lets the work confront those who view it.

In other words, I'm sure he owns a scarf, but he probably doesn't wear it everyday.

There are a lot of photographers out trying to do NGO work, a good thing, but being the jaded individual I am, I always wonder about real motivations, but with Brendan I never do.

All you have to do is look and listen and you'll know why.



Western Kenya Displaced People MSF


The Story of Monica Juma



Treatment Programs Western Kenya

MSF

Reza/Sebastian Junger Speaking in Santa Fe

If anyone is going to be in the Santa Fe area in early December, this event is happening and would be a great thing to attend. Reza, the photographer, and Sebastian Junger, the author of "The Perfect Storm" as well as many other books and editorial pieces.

Poem from Mom

I thought this fitting as I sit in a dark city by the sea, listening to the sound of ships sounding their horn as they near the entrace to the harbor. Winter is here.....


"winter" by mom

skies are gray
the morning air is cold
the north wind
came in the night
and brought Winter
Gypsy and I sat
on the South porch
in the morning darkness
hoping to hang on
to our perch
on the porch
where we find
the words we write
the wind brings the stories
up the hill to us
we simply watch and listen
as the Winter wind blows

"Hey, how old are you?"

When you photograph kids it helps to have as many tricks up your sleeve as possible, especially when they are small, and especially on days, for whatever reason, they might be trying to eat your pants.

This might sound odd, but it's not. Kids are not fully wired yet, there are still loose power lines flapping around there and there, short circuits, which is what makes them so great. Kids are silly. Kids are unpredictable. I think life would be a lot more fun if adults had to get rewired every ten years.

On this particular shoot, when he wasn't trying to attack my clothes, this little guy was on the move. He was trucking around, running, throwing his football, chasing ducks, chasing his sister, jumping, squatting, twirling, laughing, and practicing just about every other fast movement know to the human race.

It was hard to make pictures. The light was good, the location was good, so I had to trick him. Easiest trick in the book.

"Hey, how old are you?"

He froze.

The great internal wheel began to turn and you could just see his mind racing. "I know this one," he thought.

Then suddenly his mind retraced its steps and equated age with fingers and the great show began.

Just look at the concentration!! "How old AM I?" he thought. Three? Four? What is this thumb doing here? Does that count?

I just shot, waited, shot, waited and shot again. It as over in a minute, sealed in time.

And by the looks of it, he was pretty darn happy with himself.

"Hey, do you shoot families?"

I get this question a lot, especially this time of year when the idea of the holiday card suddenly looms.

The answer is yes and no.

I do shoot families, but I'm not a "white shirts and jeans on the beach" person. Nothing wrong with that shot, and there are PLENTY of folks who go that route, clearly evidenced by the multitude of houses where I see this style of image prominently displayed.

This shot is tradition around these parts, so I get it, but as a photographer when I see that shot it just leaves me a little flat. It's predictable. I've seen it, and I've seen it many, many times.

I think "white shirts and jeans" is sometimes the shot that people think they are supposed to do, but perhaps not what they WANT to do. But, any excuse to go to the beach is a good one, so whatever, just next time go for a zebra shirt or a mesh tank top. Or how about the entire family with those fake arrow through the head gags? Mix it up people!

These two images are from two recent family shoots, and I just heard something very interesting. I just spoke to one of the folks in these pictures who happens to have one of these images on their wall at home. Someone asked them today, after seeing the image hanging there, "was that a magazine shoot?"

Ahhhhhh. NOW we are getting somewhere. Not that a magazine shoot is the be all end all, in fact, in today's world, most of the time, magazine shoots are less than sensational, but the IDEA is what interests me.

They also mentioned that it reminded them of pictures of the Kennedy family. Aahhhhhhhh, again, now we are getting somewhere.

As you know if you read this blog, I recently posted about Bill Eppridge and his monumentally powerful reportage of Robert Kennedy and his family, from his political race right up until the minute of his death. So when I heard this...I was pleased to say the least. THAT is what I'm going for.(No, I'm not BE, his work is unique.)

Yes, the family is there, and so am I, but I'm not really there. Know what I mean?

I want real. Plain and simple. I don't always get it, and sometimes I don't even try to get it, depending on what people want, but for me, it is always the ingredient that produces the best image.

And, these pictures are simple. These pictures are straight. A little dodge, a little burn, but VERY little. No need to even sharpen.

Quality of light, framing, layering, etc, that is all I'm going after, but it ain't easy people.

You might look at these images and feel flat, which is fine, to each their own, but for me they are a success.

Not all shoots are a success, something I learned to live with a long time ago. Do documentary work a few years and you realize reality places it's giant foot on your neck from time to time and you leave a shoot with less than nothing.

It's okay. This is how we learn. Don't fight it, it looks bad, and you can't make up for it with layer masks, retouching or soul-glo filters.

Just wait and do it over again.

Moms

So a few weeks ago I did a post about my dad, and another about dads in general, so figured I needed to post about moms, just to balance things out.

Most of the time, when I'm photographing kids, I don't really end up photographing moms unless we end up trying to get a "family" photo.

Now my idea of family photos is perhaps a little outside the bounds of normal. Perhaps my idea of mom photos is too, but when you consider my last post was partly about Afghanistan, war, and photographers being arrested, then nothing should come as a surprise as this point.

I'll post about families when I get a chance.

I know what mom looks like. I've met her many times before, so when I make pictures I'm trying to go a little beyond the standard mom shot, if there is such a thing. Mom shots are normally really safe, but what fun is that? I mean come on, we are talk about MOM here. Mom is the glue that holds the family together.

At our weakest points in life, when we are sick, down, mangled, misguided, moronic, mom is there to bail us out. Mom is a rock, and I think the pictures of mom should go beyond the PTA meeting mug shot we have all come to love and enjoy.

So, I figured I would show a few pictures of what I'm talking about. How can I pass up a mirrored dresser? How can I pass up a veil-like piece of cloth? It's not possible people.

So here is a word out to all moms. Where would we be without you?

Afghan Dreams

I'm in awe of photojournalists.

Those people that put everything on the line to make pictures. The life of a photojournalist is rife with risk, and in many cases, there is little in return other than the actual images and the privilege of being a witness to history.

Tony O'Brien is a photojournalist and has been for several decades. Until recently I had never met Tony, but had heard about him, and seen his work for a long, long while. The mutual friend thing, you know how it is, "Hey, do you know so and so?" "No, but I keep hearing about him," kinda thing.

Well, I finally got to meet him, and luckily for me, I was also able to attend a lecture he presented as well as a gallery opening featuring his work

This lecture and opening revolved around a recent project dealing with Afghanistan.

Now even mention Afghanistan and my palms begin to sweat, not just because this country is an active war zone, but also because I have had an interest in this region and land for quite some time. But, I've never been. Mostly because I'm a total chicken.

Not only has Tony been to Afghanistan, he has been going since 1986, which you history buffs will realize was during the time of the Soviet occupation.

Imagine disguising yourself as a freedom fighter and sneaking across the border into Afghanistan, hiking for miles and miles across some of the most foreboding landscape on Earth, trying to make pictures and praying to any and all gods that you are not spotted by a Soviet chopper or MIG fighter.

Now you know why my hands are sweating.

It takes a certain type of person to do this, flat out, and Tony is one of those people.

I think what carries someone during a mission like this is simply an inner quest they absolutely believe in. They need to see, to record, and nothing will stop them. You can cover different kinds of wars, ones that you can return to a hotel each night, but when you are exposed as this, working perhaps hundreds of miles behind the lines, without support and completely self-reliant, I believe your passion goes beyond being known as a photographer, or winning some prize.

Your there because there is no other place you could be.

Oh, and on a side note, things did not always go as planned for O'Brien. At some point in time, during his travels there, he "got on the wrong bus" as he put it and ended up getting arrested.

This was no simple detainment, and things went from bad to worse, with an eventual outcome of Tony spending six weeks in an Afghan prison. Now I don't know about you, but the word prison conjures up some nasty visuals in my mind, and I'm talking the "nice" kind of prison with TV, three meals a day, and a nice orange jumpsuit.

I can't even imagine what the Afghan's consider prison. Really, I don't know, don't want to know, but the visuals I'm fabricating are not good.

I recently had a small brush with the "authorities" in Mexico, and thought for about one hellish minuted that I was going to see the inside of a cage, inside a van, and then a Mexican prison, and if I HAD seen these things I'm not sure how quickly I would have returned to old Mexico.

Not only did Tony return to Afghanistan, he returned again and again. Remember, internal quest, driven, passion, etc,


His recent lecture and gallery opening were regarding a recent project titled, "Afghan Dreams" which is, of all things, a children's book. The book is a compilation of work that focuses on the children of Afghanistan and their dreams for today and tomorrow.

Imagine what many of these kids have been through, and what they continue to endure. The past saw caravans of Soviet troops and today these children see caravans of American and NATO troops. Many of them have never known a life void of war. When you consider this, the idea of dreams will perhaps take on a different angle.

Tony explained that many of the kids wished and dreamed for things like education and a house. The basics. There were no wishes for Xbox 360 or a Ferrari with a quadraphonic Blaupunkt. Life in Afghanistan is about survival, and these kids just want a chance at a normal life.

The lecture, held at the College of Santa Fe, was standing room only, packed, with several people who stood in the entrance of the building, unable to see the presentation, but still able to hear what he had to say.

Tony's daughter read passages from the book, which she did with great enthusiasm, which was a nice way to present this material.

Oh, on another side note, Tony had not shot color in fifteen years, and had NEVER shot digital. So imagine going to Afghanistan, not sure what is going to happen, and trying to learn digital on the fly! I had to laugh at that one. Somehow he did it.

Several nights later, Verve Gallery of Photography, held an opening for Tony, which was part of a three artist exhibition.

If you get a chance, take a peak at this book.

Afghan Dreams


Verve Gallery.


So after this past week, I'm more than ever in awe of photographers like Tony who do things like this.
I think those of you who read this who are photographers will know what I'm talking about. An iron will is not easy to forge. There are so many reasons NOT to go, but to the benefit of all of us, he went. And if I had to guess, he will continue to go. Again and again.

Fine, Don't Smile

Photographs of kids tend to come with a certain history, a certain expectation.

Happy, smiling, joyous, active, etc, and typically, a shoot will produce this type of image, but these images are just one small piece of the photo pie.

For me, often times, the in between images are my favorite, when I allow the person I'm photographing to drift away somewhat, or quit pretending, acting, posing, etc. The quiet moments reveal just as much as those explosive moments.

Like the non-smiling images. In my book, go ahead, don't smile. When someone stops smiling their feelings seem to concentrate in their eyes, as everything else fades away.

I've photographed this little guy many times, and I have a great range of images that reflect who he is. These are some new pictures, and I believe they reflect his maturation. There is a lot going on in that brain, and I think these pictures shown this.

Webs in the Woods

Poem from mom........Webs in the Woods



just when we thought
the storms were over
a gentle rain fell
with the sun
shining through it
we could find no rainbow
as we checked each porch
but saw the miles of webs
that connect the woods
sparkling as the sun found them
wet from the rain shower
I was amazed that it could rain
and not make a sound
on the metal roof of the cabin
A deer walked down the road
seemingly with no place to go
like us sitting on Gypsys porch
in the cool clear morning air
allowing our minds
to wander and wonder
like the webs in the woods

The District

Just wandering, walking, looking, trying to stay out of the wind. The District is a great place, usually quiet right before election when, which was when I made these pictures.
Winter sky we don't have here in California. You can find this sky if you head toward the desert during January or February, but it isn't really the same, it's never this low.

I'm not sure if anything will ever happen with images like these, but they are as important as any I ever take. Getting out and walking, shooting anything and everything is not a luxury, not at all, it's a necessity.

Washington Monument, Vietnam Memorial and as a tribute to The Griz, the Korean War Memorial.

Mountain 2 Mountain

Okay, I am reposting this so if you see it twice on my blog, my bad.

Hey campers, wanted to bring something to your attention, for those of you are who interested in this sort of thing, which I think is just about everyone.

There is this guy, this crazy photographer, Tony Di Zinno, who I first met, I think, at Art Center in Pasadena. Tony teaches at AC, but spends a lot of his time in the field on...on...adventures shall we say. He shoots people, sports, car racing as well as many of the adventure activities we see on TV. You know, the type of sport that has you writhing in your favorite arm chair as your palms sweat and you talk out loud to yourself, "Oh man, not going to catch me doing that," as you crack open another cold beer or reach for those choco peanuts.

But Tony is involved in a lot more than just snapping pictures. Tony is just involved. One conversation with him and you realize you are speaking with someone who probably isn't watching reality TV. Instead you wonder if he is up at 3am pouring over 3000-year old Tibetan texts, memorizing them and then breaking some secret code. He is wicked smart, and again, involved.

So, he recently sent me a note about a program he is involved in,www.mountain2mountain.com , which is an organization that promotes education and development in mountain communities both at home and abroad.

Tony and M2M have a new project, one that would ring a particular bell with you photo-folks out there, which is a project revolving around the organization, Tony and another photographer, Reza, who is a regular contributor to National Georgraphic. For those of you who don't know Reza, stop what you are doing and go look him up. This guy is the real deal as well, and has produced some of the most epic NG features to date, as well as covered some of the most significant figures in modern times including Shah Massoud, the former leader of the Nothern Alliance. I probably spelled all that wrong, but you get the point.
In fact, his photo, of Massoud," is pasted to the side of my file cabinet which is in the middle of my office!
I was fortunate enough to meet Reza, years ago, at Perpignan, and he spent a long while with me, just talking, and it doesn't take long to realize you are dealing with someone who is committed to what he does beyond the normal call to duty.

Reza started a photojournalism school in Kabul, AINA, and he and Tony are in the process of producing a show from the student work, "Views of Afghanistan" which will go on exhibit in the spring of 2009. This project is based on "Three Cups of Tea" a NYT's best seller by Greg Mortenson. M2M raised over 100k for his foundation that aided in the empowerment of girls in Afghanistan, something not possible under Taliban rule.

If you want to get involved in a grass-roots organization which has a proven track record of effective results, this could be the group for you. There are many ways to get involved so take a peak and learn a little more about this organization. What these folks are doing isn't easy, and it is dangerous to say the least, so take a minute and check out what they are doing.


By the way, the top link is to the blog and this bottom link is to the organization site direct.


Mountain to Mountain
c/o Di Zinno Photography
1246 Huntington Drive
South Pasadena, CA 91030

Nothing Matters

You know, in the end, with photography, nothing really matters. Wait, I don't mean that in a bad way, quite the opposite. Nothing REALLY matters other than what YOU want or need. Selfish? Sure. Idealistic? Si. Confusing? Okay.

Sometimes, when I bang my head, or when I'm took weak to use both hands, sometimes I don't even focus, and you know what, I like these pictures.

Nobody else seems to like them, but it doesn't matter. I do. And that is all that matters.

Who do you shoot for? You? Your kids? An editor? A magazine? Think about it. Parameters on our lives, we all have them, but sometimes you just gotta cut them loose and forget about it.

So, turn that focus knob the wrong way and see what happens.

Los Padres

Dads, an elusive species, are often difficult to find in their native environment. Every so often...I'm able, through trackers, GPS and government help, find a dad and make a few pictures.

Mi Padre

As you know, I photograph a lot of kids. Most of the time, as expected, the focus of the shoot is the kid, or kids. And most of the time the shoots are arranged by mom. Dad, somewhere along the way, often times, get lost in the shuffle. Dad is doing something else. Dad doesn't want to be photographed. Dad is in a foreign land.

I know for one, my dad never liked to be photographed. On a side note, after my dad died, while we were going through his truck, we found a camera, a camera that we didn't know he had. I don't remember what it was exactly, but it was a camera unlike anything I have seen. Imagine buying a camera off the TV, from a a country that now has a different name, only this camera was not that good. It was the strangest thing I have ever seen. Inside was a roll of film with the classic multiple year shoot. Dad would pop off maybe a frame a year, so you could say he was a tight shooter. But this was his view of imagery in general. He had little time for it.

So I wanted to write, and post a few images that salute the dad. I think about my padre all the time, and see things around me that constantly remind me of his life, and his influence on me. I miss going fishing, those super early mornings, freezing cold as we raced the boat across black water to some secret location he had mapped out. Or walking into the mountains, flyrods tucked behind us as we made noise and laughed to try to scare the bears away. Or when I was very young and he took me duck hunting. I had my BB gun and he brought candy for me that he kept secret until I was so cold and about to cry.

I'm lucky, cause I work with some dads that remind me of my dad. Dads who are really devoted, regardless of where that call comes in from, London, Rio or Tokyo, the call always comes in.


Okay, so after this somewhat sad post I'll follow with an upbeat one! This photo is of my dad's boots which I took back to Wyoming after he died.

Mountain 2 Mountain

Hey campers, wanted to bring something to your attention, for those of you are who interested in this sort of thing, which I think is just about everyone.

There is this guy, this crazy photographer, Tony Di Zinno, who I first met, I think, at Art Center in Pasadena. Tony teaches at AC, but spends a lot of his time in the field on...on...adventures shall we say. He shoots people, sports, car racing as well as many of the adventure activities we see on TV. You know, the type of sport that has you writhing in your favorite arm chair as your palms sweat and you talk out loud to yourself, "Oh man, not going to catch me doing that," as you crack open another cold beer or reach for those choco peanuts.

But Tony is involved in a lot more than just snapping pictures. Tony is just involved. One conversation with him and you realize you are speaking with someone who probably isn't watching reality TV. Instead you wonder if he is up at 3am pouring over 3000-year old Tibetan texts, memorizing them and then breaking some secret code. He is wicked smart, and again, involved.

So, he recently sent me a note about a program he is involved in,www.mountain2mountain.com , which is an organization that promotes education and development in mountain communities both at home and abroad.

Tony and M2M have a new project, one that would ring a particular bell with you photo-folks out there, which is a project revolving around the organization, Tony and another photographer, Reza, who is a regular contributor to National Georgraphic. For those of you who don't know Reza, stop what you are doing and go look him up. This guy is the real deal as well, and has produced some of the most epic NG features to date, as well as covered some of the most significant figures in modern times including Shah Massoud, the former leader of the Nothern Alliance. I probably spelled all that wrong, but you get the point.
In fact, his photo, of Massoud," is pasted to the side of my file cabinet which is in the middle of my office!
I was fortunate enough to meet Reza, years ago, at Perpignan, and he spent a long while with me, just talking, and it doesn't take long to realize you are dealing with someone who is committed to what he does beyond the normal call to duty.

Reza started a photojournalism school in Kabul, AINA, and he and Tony are in the process of producing a show from the student work, "Views of Afghanistan" which will go on exhibit in the spring of 2009. This project is based on "Three Cups of Tea" a NYT's best seller by Greg Mortenson. M2M raised over 100k for his foundation that aided in the empowerment of girls in Afghanistan, something not possible under Taliban rule.

If you want to get involved in a grass-roots organization which has a proven track record of effective results, this could be the group for you. There are many ways to get involved so take a peak and learn a little more about this organization. What these folks are doing isn't easy, and it is dangerous to say the least, so take a minute and check out what they are doing.


By the way, the top link is to the blog and this bottom link is to the organization site direct.


Mountain to Mountain
c/o Di Zinno Photography
1246 Huntington Drive
South Pasadena, CA 91030

Poem from Mom

Mom checking in with another poem as the fall descends on the cabin. Who knows what winter will bring, and what odd country habits will emerge. If they are too odd, I'll not post, as they are a reflection of just how "hick" our family can be. And believe me, we can get alarming "country."





the Autumn leaves
dazzle us today
catching our eyes
enjoying in everyway

keeping us in their spell
so we do not look away
seeing what they tell
adding beauty to our day

floating in space
carrying their hues
to yet another place
that make up our views

this year is the best
the Hill Countries brighter
more than the rest
it's a real delighter

Thankful we are
for beauty abounding
wherever we find it
we find it astounding