Saso-Leaving a Legacy from gary s chapman on Vimeo.

Juan Tulier, better known a “Saso,” has been playing and coaching soccer in Puerto Rico for more than sixty years. Saso was on the Puerto Rican national team for 28 years, first as a player and later as coach. Today, the physically fit 78-year-old continues coaching young men, mentoring, and helping some get to college on soccer scholarships. Check out the short multi-media piece above.

(Canon 5D2, 50mm , 1/8000 sec, f1.6, ISO1600…yes I made a mistake and shot at 1600 ISO!)

Photo ©Copyright Gary S. Chapman 2010

Stock Photography from gary s chapman on Vimeo.

Photographing spinning gears, happy couples running on a pristine beach, or creating the illusion of birds flying in a perfect arrow formation are a definite departure from my work as an NGO-humanitarian photographer. This is conceptual stock photography and a world apart from the images of human suffering, tragedy and triumphant survival that I also photograph.

Every photographer I know that has had a desire to aid those in need by utilizing his or her photography skill, has had to subsidize that area of work with another. Some photographers shoot weddings and portraits, others lead photo workshops, a few write books. I have chosen to shoot stock images. The NGO market is not known for paying well…or sometimes not at all.

For me, shooting for NGO’s and non-profits is a calling. Like David duChemin describes it in Vision Mongers, “It’s as though there’s a voice beckoning us to distraction, a preoccupying whisper that, at some point, we give in to and follow.” A calling means to me that it is more than just a desire. It is something that resonates deep inside. I can’t NOT shoot this type of work. Stock is a wonderful way to put bread and butter on the table. But more than that, it gives me the freedom to engage a world that is hurting. Click on the link above for a multi-media portfolio of some of my stock photography. For a more in-depth look at my stock photography click on Getty Images.

All photography and multi-media ©Copyright Gary S. Chapman 2010

Click on the video below to see the short promo piece I did to showcase our NGO, Humanitarian work.

Identity-Humanitarian Photography from gary s chapman on Vimeo.

All material ©Copyright Gary S. Chapman

One year, one-hundred portrait sessions, 114 visitors (actually 115 since one was pregnant)!

The first 100 in one year of shooting is over. We had planned to quit, but realize what a fun community has been created. Quitting now is not an option. We thank each and every one of our visitors. It was a blessing and honor to have you in our home. We look forward to many more visits.

Please take a moment to check out the multi-media of the First 100 shoots. Just click on the movie below.

Visitors-The First 100 from gary s chapman on Vimeo.

All photos and video ©Copyright Gary S. Chapman 2010

Gallery Link

Facebook Page Link

“While we were able to keep Benji from prison, it was clearly God’s will that he go back to the refugee camp. His malaria, typhoid and severe malnutrition were treated and he was able to eat many good meals. He went back to the refugee camp, not as a refugee, but as a missionary. Once he is registered and has the UNHCR docs needed, we will try to get him to the U.S to live with us.”

For a multi-media look into Benji’s story, please click on the video below.

Benji from gary s chapman on Vimeo.

Update 3-22-10

Well we have just returned from the far north of Ethiopia. Three plus day drive through some rugged but beautiful terrain. At the end of the road is a refugee camp with my son Benji living in it. He sleeps at night on a bed made from rocks and dirt covered with a thick blanket. He is with a Christian family and they share a stone hut that is roughly 10′ x 10′. The place is hot and rocky and they are not allowed to work outside of the camp or leave it. They are left totally dependent upon the food rations they get via the UNHCR. He is still very thin and is having issues with the years of imprisonment and torture. His faith is strong and he continues to grow in the Lord. One of our staff Stephanie was able to get some much needed funding to him and Beni was able to spend two days with my son Hunter who led him to Christ. It was very difficult to get to him and even more difficult to leave him. Please pray that the Lord will open the doors for him and allow us to get him out of there. The camp he is in has 15,000 people in it and is filled to capacity. The Ethiopian government is in the process of opening up another camp to deal with roughly 50 people a day coming across the border from Eritrea. Things are terrible in Eritrea and the people are really suffering. Please pray for the church as the government has really put down a hard hand on anyone who names the name of Christ and shares the Gospel. We will continue our efforts to help Benji and many others who are suffering for Christ sake. They have a massive need for counselors in the camp as this issue is totally not addressed due to shortage and no staff. I watched with joy as Hunter and Benji toured the camp hand in hand and shared fellowship after so many years. Kevin SWI

Last year David duChemin of www.pixelatedimage.com and I had a great time teaching at the School of Photography, University of the Nations, Hawaii. This year he wasn’t able to make it but, nevertheless, his wisdom is still being imparted to the new students via his book, Within the Frame. It is required reading for all.

Vivian and I had a great week teaching to and learning from the students. We always come away both exhausted and energized from these intense teaching experiences. Click on the Vimeo link below to see a short timelapse created for David’s benefit as a class exercise.

Video and stills  ©www.garyschapman.com

Thanks for the wisdom, David from gary s chapman on Vimeo.

I only have this recording of his words because I was testing a new small recorder I planned to take on the trip. His chilling words of the destruction are ended with his call to pray for the ones who committed the violence. It is only by God’s grace that the violated can forgive their aggressors. We have the example of Jesus who said as He was dying, “Forgive them, they don’t know what they are doing.”

Click on the photo at left or click on Pakistan: Eyewitness to Violence to see the multimedia piece.

Miriam Wanjekeche is 26 years old and giving her life to 10 adoptive children. In this 3-minute video she speaks about her children and the hope she has for them. The still photos were shot at her home as well as three other homes we visited. Click on the photo above to view the hi-resolution video. If you prefer to view a low-resolution version please visit our You-Tube link by clicking here. All video and photos ©Copyright Gary S. Chapman 2008