As a photographer, I've made six trips to Haiti over the last ten year. The longest was two months living in a rural village without electricity and the nearest phone was 15 miles away. Living in a country of abundance and trying to explain to our children what life is like in other parts of the world is tough.
I remember Tony, one of the children living in the Haitian village; he would come and show the toys he made from found objects. I was always amazed by the ingenuity of his creations. One evening, he arrived with a helicopter made from scrap wood and a recycled tin of food-aid cooking oil. The working propellers were made from reused tiny motors and driven by a D sized battery. The helicopter was lit with recycled Christmas lights.
People in the developing world are so often portrayed by the media and aid agencies as helpless and in utter need. I've discovered something different. People are resourceful and inventive. They work hard and care about the same things as you and me. I want to teach my children this.
About the photo...The trails of light coming off the helicopter are from the lights Tony attached to it. I set the camera so the shutter would stay open after the flash lit the scene, capturing the light of the helicopter.
Thanks for reading! Blog and photo by Matt Lester (Matthew Lester Photography), board vice chair.