We know that one photograph can change the world. What if an image you made brought clean water to a region that formerly had none or even helped to bring a few dollars to an organization that is improving the lives of a hundred children? This unique Vision Quest workshop is your chance to grow as a photographic storyteller and positively impact an amazing corner of the world.

Kenya is a beautiful country, rich in culture and diverse circumstances. During our workshop we'll go beyond the mainstream images and negative stereotypes by working closely with different communities and truly becoming, for a short time, part of true Kenyan life. There is so much more to this warm and inviting part of the world than one could ever imagine. Join us for the adventure of a lifetime as we explore using our photography, in service to and as a connection with, the inhabitants of communities that represent the financially poorest 6% of the world. Emphasis will be placed on the human and artistic ethics of photographing another culture as “other” by fostering a deeper and direct connection with our subjects.

Our journey begins in Nairobi, at the 5 star Fairview Hotel, which happens to have the most amazing breakfasts anywhere! In this beautiful relaxed atmosphere we will learn about Kenyan history and culture through local guest speakers, with opportunities to make portraits. There will also be day trips to places such as The Animal Orphanage home, the Baby Elephant Rescue and the Kenyan National Museum. We are then invited into Kibera, a vibrant community that is also the second largest slum in Sub Saharan Africa. Elizabeth Barnwell’s long time connections to residents and local NGO’s are your ticket into places tourists and most outsiders are not welcome. Don’t be fooled by the lack of running water or electricity. Many of Kibera’s residents choose to live in this area, which goes largely unrecognized by the Kenyan government, because of the freedom this African version of “living off the grid” affords them. Your notions of family and community are guaranteed to change from this experience as you meet, connect with and tell the visual stories of beautiful people who live very differently than the capitalist world. We will be traveling with small portable printers to ensure that the process is a balanced collaboration, in the sense that we are not “taking” photographs, but rather making images and telling visual stories with willing subjects who will receive prints immediately. A portion of your Vision Quest tuition for this workshop is directly donated to the programs that serve our photographic subjects. While in Nairobi, we will also tour and photograph Kazuri, a “fair trade” bead company which exclusively employs single mothers. Seeing first hand what the label “fair trade” actually means may impact the way you choose to make purchases in the future.

After three days of exploring Nairobi, our group will head to Naivasha, a rural town on the outskirts of the Great Rift Valley, where we will spend the remainder of our time living in a beautiful and authentic Kenyan hacienda and working farm called Bellevue. Our pace will slow as we embrace the rhythm of country life and enjoy Bellevue, a true artist’s retreat in the bush, located a pleasant 10 minute walk from Light of Hope Home and School for Girls. At Light Of Hope, our group will be welcomed by 40 orphaned girls, who have blossomed into sage and playful beings in their refuge of home and school. An experience like no other, you will be welcomed into the lives of the children, where we will document “a day in the life” of an East African orphan and begin to concept and create a personal documentary body of work, which may be done within the orphanage or outside in the larger community of Naivasha. On our final morning before returning to Nairobi for outbound flights (or the optional 3 day safari), you will plant a bottlebrush tree on the orphanage grounds, which two girls will care for in your absence, unless of course, as one of our guides, Miriam so humorously put it, “A cow eats it after you leave.”

3 Day Safari Addition:

Kenya is also rich in exotic animal life. Many first time visitors feel that it would be a shame to miss out on the experience of seeing the “big five” animals (lion, leopard, elephant, rhino & cape buffalo) that live in East Africa. For this reason, we are offering an optional 3 day safari expedition to Amboseli directly following the workshop, April 9th/11th for an additional $850.00 including round trip transportation, lodging, safari, and all meals.

Who Should Attend:

Open to all levels. Both film and digital welcome, in all formats but digital, in some form, is required to share photos with subjects. This workshop is also appropriate for partners of photographers. Writers, artists and humanitarians of all walks are welcome to join us.

Dates:

Friday April 1, 2011 (arrival day) to Saturday April 9th (departure day)
Safari Dates: Saturday April 9th to April 11th

Workshop fee (excluding optional safari):

$3,575.00 includes lodging (double occupancy), breakfasts, some dinners, ground transportation, museum pass, Lake Naivasha boat trip, guides and one pair of black, knee high gum boots. Safari $850 extra (see above).

Class limit:

12

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