Testimony African Fine Art Prints

With gallery showings, radio shows, and signing events this week, I have been asked to put a “primer” up on my book Testimony Africa. Here goes:

–It is a 150-page coffee table book with 60 black and white photographs. It reads very much like the classic National Geographic magazine feature article (only longer and, hopefully, better!). To my knowledge, there is not another book out there like it.

–Through the eyes of three young people, the large issues of AIDS, hunger and war become personal.

–The “miracle” of transformational development is the “glue” that runs through the entire book. Despite difficult topics, it is HOPEFUL and ENGAGING!

I’d love to put a signed copy in your hands. To learn more or to order, go to the book home page. You can also see all the Testimony Africa posts on this blog by going to the category page–it contains reviews, movies, and all kinds of cool updates if you are interested.

I don’t shoot many landscapes. But last weekend I spent a hour or so walking around the amazing property of The Navigators’ Glen Eyrie with my camera. I really try to shoot things that I wouldn’t find in a place’s brochure or calendar or something like that, and hopefully with the limited time I had there I managed to grab a few that haven’t already been shot a million times. If not, I had fun anyway. What a cool place–and to think it’s very nearly in my own backyard!

Just a few photos from the Burkina trip. Nikon F5 with Tri-X film.

Recent assignment: Burkina Faso. Shot a roll of color (and a roll or two of black and white–will show a few of those in another post). Here are a couple that I like on the color roll:

Stopped by Paris on my way to an assignment in Africa; saw a couple of cool shots. Nikon F5 with Tri-X; gritty! I never seem to get tired of shooting in this city…

Catching up on posting a few images from 2010 trips, which proved to be a busy year. These are a few shots of various people and places around Guatemala from a May 2010 assignment. I used my trusty Nikon F5 and Tri-X 400 film. Still really love doing that. Next post will likely be film from latest trips to  Paris, Burkina Faso, and Kenya. Stay tuned for that.

Rhoda Yar Bol and her daughter, Hannah, stand on the curb outside Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi. They are on their way out of Sudan and heading to Nakuru when they run into Sean Sheridan, who takes this photograph. May 25th, 2008.

The Testimony vision is that the development work will continue and live on long after my involvement in it is done. Isn’t that the true mark of sustainable development, that it is not dependent upon those, or the money, who initiate it? That it lives on through the recipients?

Anyhow, a good example of this is Rhoda, one of the people in the book. A few years ago I had a massive layover at the airport in Nairobi. I went outside to get some air. I heard a voice call my name and turned around. It was Rhoda. Total chance meeting (described in the book). After the “Testimony Africa is more than a book post” and after I had sent a check from book sales to support the work Rhoda helped started in Southern Sudan, I got an email from her:

“I heard that ALARM is going to hire a  Lady to work with the Lietnhom women for the time being. I am really happy that your gift for them is going to work. I have a heart to visit them some days if I got some money for transport because they are very important in my life and I hope one day I will return to help them.”

And then another:

“Thank you a lot for the cooperation and hospitality you have shown and the love of God you have for all people. You have a waken my hope and my life and I got a courage that I can do good things in life.”

People, making a difference is possible. It may not be much or change the world overnight. BUT, any time you help someone move forward in a good, better way in life, you tilt the pendulum in the direction of good. And for that, no one can find fault with what you do. So go for it!

A girl along the river in Kolkata, India

One of the highlights of 2010 for me was going to India with International Justice Mission (with Amy Roth and Amy Lucia—the Amys—so fun) to make a film about their work in Mumbai and Kolkata (the film is nearly done and will be posted here in the near future). I had been to India before and was not all that impressed (dirty, smoggy, hot, crowded, forced to eat sheep brain, etc.) but let me tell you this trip changed all that for me, especially being in Kolkata (I even managed to pray with the Sisters of Charity at Mother Teresa’s “Mother House”). I found Kolkata to be the keeper of all things cool and vintage India—Kolkata was, in a word, AWESOME.

At any rate, I put together a little slideshow of images and hope that you find it revealing, both in terms of IJM’s combating forced-sex-trade work and of India herself. Oh, and for a detailed trip report (probably the finest trip report of any trip I have ever been on) check out Amy Lucia’s blog on her experience. Very cool. And I think I would be remiss without thanking the IJM India staff—you were great. Thanks IJM. I love you guys (especially the driver in Kolkata). Stay classy!

The Winter 2011 University of Kansas Alumni Magazine Features Sean Sheridan and Testimony Africa

We also will be having a series of book signing / gallery events in the coming months this year. The first will be at Yobel Market in Colorado Springs later this month (stay tuned for details!) with shows likely to follow in Denver, Seattle, and Portland.

Anyone interested in hitting the road with Testimony Africa? Anyone want to donate a big old bus to make that happen?!?

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As all of you know by know, it’s the one-year anniversary of the Haiti earthquake. I went there a few times in 2010 and had a lot to say, think, show and feel about it. Compassion asked me to blog about it, which I have done. I’d be happy for you to read First Glimpse, Yes, It Was As Bad As They All Said It Was, and Moving Again. Barely. So read, and please don’t forget what those folks are dealing with down there…