Los Angeles SIgnage

It's been four weeks since I had my medical clearance in Washington, DC and given permission to return back to Mozambique with my family, almost three months since I was abruptly uprooted and medevaced to South Africa which seems like ages ago. My life was thrown into a bit of stress and turmoil with photography not exactly being my top priority. Since I've been without a nanny to help out, it's been hard, particularly in Washington, DC, with my two little boys. I've managed to sneak off here and there to explore with my G10 (the only camera I've had all summer), but it's terribly difficult.

We've been in Los Angeles for the past two weeks and are preparing to return to Mozambique in under 40 hours. I've had a hard time sleeping thinking about the work that I need to do when I return on my final project and the exhibit for that project which is tentatively scheduled for the end of October. With that I must raise some funds which I've already had some meetings about before I left Africa. I also have to complete my work-based study internship which I have had horrible luck with. There are many fences to mend.

All in all, I am working out some things in my head after this experience with my health. It sort of shook up my priorities and has left me a bit confused. One thing I've dwelled upon heavily is the death of a very good friend of mine, David Green, an attorney-ex-reporter, who shockingly died while I was in Washington, DC. He was a year younger than me and died of a heart attack leaving behind a wife and little girl.

At his funeral, I was his only newspaper friend there, and I have thought much about the eulogy given by his rabbi who spoke mostly about Dave's short stories and writing. He was much accomplished as a reporter, one of the funniest people I've ever known, was a good father, and had fulfilled his parents' wish to finish law school and get on with a corporate firm. He had a lot going for him but in the end, it was his craft and art that was most celebrated.

I've been cruising (that's what we do in the crazy car culture of LA) tracking down and photographing old art deco and some generally tacky signs designed to attract drivers to businesses. When I return to the U.S., it's something that I'd like to do more of as suburban developers rip more of them down.

Iran

Paul posted on MAPJ about citizen journalism in Iran. Probably like the rest of you, I've been paying a lot of attention to what's coming out from the cloak of censorship. This graphic video was put on the Huffington Post today–very troubling, yet powerful.

Atrial Fibrillation

Thanks to everybody for your notes and best wishes. It cheered me up to get support from the group. I've been released from the hospital here in Pretoria, South Africa where I was medivaced.
I'm still under treatment and am being kept here for another 10 days. Its overwhelming and still a bit surprising dealing with a heart issue with doctors trying to figure out why a young, healthy person has this problem (their words not mine).

When I was given ten minutes to pack a some things upon being sent to South Africa for hospitalization, the nurse accompanying me was a bit baffled as to why I insisted on bringing a camera, but I figure everyone from our group would understand. I took this self portrait hanging out in my room this afternoon after I was released and hopefully will be out soon to take pictures of something other than myself.

Thanks again for your thoughts and I'll keep you updated.–Mike

Work Based Learning Blues

For the past several weeks, I've spent more time photographing my kids than working on projects of substance, although my family abroad find them much more interesting. With the borders and citizen journalism out of the way, I've been working to get my work based learning elective going. My initial plans fell through when the head of the organization (Arco Iris, Inc.) that I had planned on working with left the country for several months and the second in command left for good. In other words, I'm unable to work there, so I tried several other organizations including World Food Program, World Vision and Health Alliance International.

Health Alliance International, or HAI, and I have agreed to move forward, but it's taking much longer than I expected to actually start. There are more hoops to jump through with an NGO as a free worker than I expected. HAI is an NGO that works to support existing project in the country mostly with HIV/AIDS. They are relatively new and have no communications staff in Mozambique, so I have been dealing with a manager in Seattle. The head or the Mozambique office is preparing to leave for Italy for an extended time, so we're still trying to work out logistics and who my supervisor and contacts will be with him out of the picture.

They are excited to have me and I was drawn to them because of the vision that Emily, the person in Seattle, had. They've never really had photographs before, but had great ideas of what we could do. She sent me a powerful story by Carol Guzy of the Washington Post, but in the end, the country coordinator was a bit scared by its strong content. However, she is organized and has vision. I plan on photographing projects within the country and gathering sound and video as well. I will work in the office here and do some local photography and interviews.

Their biggest concern was whether or not I could travel since all of their projects are upcountry. At this point, I'm waiting for more okay's and budgetary approvals––that's for travel (I'm not being paid as is required). It's been much tougher and frustrating a process than I envisioned, and I haven't even started in my workplace yet. I'm starting to sweat a bit since time is a factor and the clock is ticking.

Citizen Photojournalism

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LINKS
Koko the Gorilla Paid $500 for Self Portrait on National Geographic Cover
Koko's National Geographic Cover
Zapruder Film
Abraham Zapruder's Camera in National Archives
Arnold Hardy 1947 Pulitzer Prize Photograph
Arnold Hardy Photo Affected Change in Fire Safety
Oklahoma City Bombing
Charles Porter IV Describes Pulitzer Photograph (audio)
Aftermath of Oklahoma City Bombing
Oklahoma City: Where They Are Today
Rodney King Video
Rodney King Photographer George Holliday's Story
Los Angeles Riot Anniversary
Paul Watson Recalls Pulitzer Photograph
Paul Watson: Witnessing War (NPR Interview)
Steve Ludlum New York Times 911 Citizen Photojournalist
Steve Ludlum
Errol Morris on Abu Graib
Janis Krums: Miracle on the Hudson Tweet Heard Around the World
Low-Lying Plane Frightens New Yorkers (New York TImes)
Low-Lying Plane Photos and Video (Huffington Post)
Michelle McNally on New York Times Photography
Lightstalkers Citizen Journalism Discussion
Spotted: The Sarasota Herald-Tribune Reader Photo Gallery and Upload Page
CNN iReport
iReport Toolkit
MySpace and Fox News Launch Citizen Journalism Venture
F8 and Be There: Weegee
Sebastião Salgado
Paul Martin Lester
Award WInning Photographer Patrick Schneider Fired
Kevin Carter Obituary (New York TImes)
Kevin Carter/Bang Bang Club Film Interview: NPR (audio)