Colby Brown Photography » Lespwa Haiti

Pazapa – Helping The Disabled Children of Haiti

CBphotography — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 19:13:46 +0000

“Pazapa” – Jacmel, Haiti – 2011

Pazapa is one of those amazing organizations that every humanitarian photographer hopes to work with at some point in time. They have been in the business of helping Haitian children with disabilities since 1987. Located in the much more relaxed city of Jacmel, they have been doing unbelievable work with children with special needs. While their main office was demolished in the earthquake, they have set up a new school just off one of the main roads on a beautiful plot of land. I spent an entire day documenting the kids and teachers, which ended up being one of the highlights of my last trip to Haiti. In this photo, this little girl is practicing her english in front of her entire class, certainly no easy feat!

CAMERA: Canon 5D Mark II
LENS: Canon 24-70 2.8L
ISO: 1250
EXPOSURE: f / 5.6 at 1/100 sec

*Click on the above image to view a high resolution version

You can purchase this print HERE

You can inquire about licensing this print HERE

You can view more of my photography work from Haiti HERE

Face’s of Haiti Photography Exhibition

CBphotography — Thu, 05 May 2011 00:29:37 +0000

If you live in or around Denver, Colorado and are looking for something to do this Friday, stop by the 910arts Gallery and check out my new “Face’s of Haiti” photography exhibition. Open through June 13th, the exhibition showcases photography and art work from the island nation of Haiti that conveys the struggle and perseverance of the Haitian people as they continue to attempt to rebuild their country. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask.

*a small preview of a few pieces from the exhibition is below

Haitian Artist Sketches Free Hand Designs

CBphotography — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 00:18:19 +0000

“Exuleun” – Port au Prince, Haiti – 2011

On my last trip to Haiti, I dedicated some of my time and energy into documenting many of the amazing artisans that are spread throughout Port au Prince. This photo is of Exuleun Exuma who is working through an apprenticeship with the famous Serge Jolimeu, who is actually a featured artist in a gallery in Santa Fe, New Mexico next month. Serge is a metal work artist and he runs a large organization just outside of Port au Prince. Exuleun is one of a small number of talented up and coming artists that has the ability to sketch free hand designs that will ultimately become beautiful and unique metal work that is showcased through Haiti.

CAMERA: Canon 5D Mark II
LENS: Canon 100mm 2.8L IS Macro
ISO: 1000
EXPOSURE: 1/160 sec at f / 4.5

*Click on the above image to view a high resolution version

You can inquire about licensing this image HERE

You can view more photography work from Haiti HERE

Haitian Awareness Event in Denver, Colorado

CBphotography — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 18:13:40 +0000

Event Date: September 25th, 2010
Time: 3pm – 5pm

Contact: Denise Robert
303-368-5208

Haitian Awareness Panel
at EventGallery 910Arts
Kicks-Off Haitian Exhibition

A surprising number of organizations with Colorado roots are working in Haiti to offer earthquake relief and improve the lives of the Haitian people. Six of those organizations will participate in a panel discussion at the EventGallery 910Arts, at 910 Santa Fe Drive in Denver, on Saturday, September 25, from 3 to 5 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

Colorado Haiti Project; Lespwa Haiti; Renewal 4 Haiti; The Lambi Fund of Haiti;Trees, Water & People; and Wish 4 Haiti are represented on a panel designed to introduce Colorado organizations working in Haiti, bring awareness to their efforts and invite the public to get involved. This will be the kick-off event for an exhibition of Haitian art and culture scheduled in the EventGallery 910Arts for summer 2011.

A discussion of how earthquake relief work transitions into rebuilding in Haiti and creation of the model for long term sustainability is led by Paul Casey, Executive Director of Colorado Haiti Project; photographers Colby Brown and Ray Tollison from Lespwa Haiti; Jodel Charles, Haitian immigrant and founder of Renewal 4 Haiti; Godson Beaugelin, Community Outreach Coordinator of The Lambi Fund of Haiti; Sebastian Africano, Deputy International Director, and Claudia Menendez, International Program Consultant, from Trees, Water & People; and Leslie Christensen from Wish 4 Haiti. And, the Colorado Committee on Africa and the Caribbean is a co-sponsor of the event.

Committed to demonstrating how art can inspire change, the EventGallery 910Arts is a gallery space that often offers exhibitions with a social or environmental message. Located in the heart of Denver’s Art District on Santa Fe, the EventGallery 910Arts and Gallery Gifts are housed within the creative community known as 910Arts. It is a complex of 17 artists’ studios and galleries, 8 live-work lofts and the Studio 6 Coffee House, anchored by a colorful open-air courtyard. The EventGallery 910Arts is a venue for meetings, parties, workshops and retreats and it hosts music, literary and film events. For more information, please visit www.910Arts.com.

Lespwa Haiti – How Photography Can Making a Difference

CBphotography — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 03:42:00 +0000

“Shanti Town” – Port Au Prince, Haiti – 2010

“Lespwa Haiti – A Work in Progress,” a five-year photographic project about Haiti and the efforts to rebuild in the wake of the January 12, 2010 earthquake. My goal along with Ray Tollison and Melissa Basta is to use visual imagery and stories to keep Haiti in the spotlight by featuring the efforts of smaller non-governmental organizations, like Trees, Water & People and H.E.L.P that are working tirelessly to provide relief and rebuild the country.

“Child Friendly Spaces” – Cineas IDP Camp – Port Au Prince, Haiti – 2010

We are tirelessly to get the newly design Lespwa Haiti website launched, but unfortunately you will have to bear with us for just a little while longer.

“Caribean Market” – Port Au Prince, Haiti – 2010

Until then you can see some of my work from our initial trip to Haiti HERE.

“Innocent Eyes” – Port Au Prince, Haiti – 2010

You can also learn more about the Rocket Stove project that Trees, Water & People are working on with StoveTec here.

[Show as slideshow]

Lespwa fe Viv – Hope Makes Life. A Photographic Exploration of Haiti…

CBphotography — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 00:33:32 +0000

As we continue to work hard on redesigning the new website for Lespwa Haiti, I decided to give you a sneak peak at some more photography work from the project. I hope you enjoy and I would love to hear your thoughts.

“Haitian Innocence” – Vialet, Haiti – 2010

“Searching for Coconuts” – Vialet, Haiti -2010

“Mango Farmer” – Haiti – 2010

“Peace for Haiti” – Vialet, Haiti – 2010

“Lean on Me” – Vialet, Haiti – 2010

“Striking a Pose” – Carfu, Haiti – 2010

“Back at Work” – Carfu, Haiti – 2010

“UN” – Petonville – Port Au Prince, Haiti – 2010

The Sunday Denver Post Highlights Lespwa Haiti!

CBphotography — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 16:22:42 +0000

The June 27th Sunday Edition of the Denver Post

Yesterday, The Denver Post published an article that showcased the “Lespwa Haiti” project. Written by Kristen Kidd, it did a great job of summarizing the details of the project and it gave us the opportunity to reach millions of Colorado residents. You can click HERE to see a digital copy of the article. Thank you Denver Post.

[Show as slideshow]

To celebrate the media coverage of Lespwa Haiti, here are 3 more previously unreleased images

Cash for Work Program in Carfu, Haiti

Cineas IDP Camp – Port Au Prince, Haiti

Village of Vialet, Haiti

We Need Change! Haiti’s Call for Help…

CBphotography — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 22:44:39 +0000

“We Need Change” was a phrase I heard often on the streets of Port Au Price, Haiti. While shooting photography for “Lespwa Haiti“, a photo documentary project that I am collaborating on with Ray Tollison, it was difficult not to pick up on the sentiments of the Haitian people .

It has been over 6 months since the January 12th earthquake decimated the island nation of Haiti and yet there is still so much to be done. IDP camps litter the capital of Port Au Prince, effectively making over 1,000,000 Haitians vulnerable to what appears to be a very bad hurricane season. However the Haitian people still have hope and optimism in their hearts. Haitians are a hard working people and trust me…there is plenty of work that needs to be done. In the coming weeks, I hope you join Ray and I as we redesign the Lespwa Haiti website and bring to light touching stories, compelling photography and a glimpse into the amazing and resilient people of Haiti.

The Haiti We Have Forgotten About…

CBphotography — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 15:39:20 +0000

On June 2nd, professional photography Ray Tollison and myself travled to the island nation of Haiti for a photo documentary project called “Lespwa Haiti“. After spending 7 days documenting the life, struggle and hope of the Haitian people, we have returned here to Colorado to put things together. Here is a quick glimpse of the Haitian world we explored and documented. Stay tuned for a plethora of stories, photos and videos that have captured our hearts and have us looking forward to returning in the near future.

Want live GPS tracking of my Haitian Photo Documentary?

CBphotography — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 20:43:12 +0000

Tomorrow, Ray Tollison and I leave for Haiti to launch our new photo documentary, Lespwa Haiti – A Work In Progress. We are going to try to send back updates about the trip and our experience along the way, but as some of you may know, electricity…let alone having an internet connection, is never guaranteed in the developing world. We will however have a live GPS feed set up here on the Colby Brown Photography website which will allow you to follow along with us step by step. Every 15 minutes, starting tomorrow morning as I leave Denver, my SPOT GPS device will send out my gps coordinates as I travel throughout the nation of Haiti.

Just click on the “I am currently in” link that is located at the top right of every page on this website.

You will then be taken to a new page that will showcase a track of my GPS coordinates that is updated every 15 minutes (except when I sleep).

This trip is going to be an amazing experience and I am looking forward to sharing the photography work and stories that come out of this project. Enjoy!