humanitarian photographer in uganda

Well, I found it, the photo I eluded to four months ago of me walking the streets in Kampala surrounded by kids yelling, “Mzungu!” It warms my heart, not only because it brings me back to that trip and more specifically that day, but because these kids that just met me acted like we had been besties for life.

Maybe it is my stellar personality, but honestly, the camera has a way of drawing kids in. When they see their mug on the back screen, they laugh hysterically which makes me laugh. It’s a connection, and we become instant friends.

Somehow I find the patience for the constant crowding and bumps that want to interrupt my “perfect shot” because you see, it’s not even about the perfect shot. It’s about offering love and hope. It’s about telling their story, but in order to tell it, you have to also put the camera down and listen with your heart. The shot below was taken while I captured the 3rd photo in this post. Sseguya was the mastermind behind that silliness.

I loved that my time in Uganda was not only about capturing the stories but also about teaching and encouraging others to tell the stories. Below is a pow wow in Dino with fellow teammate, Joshua, on basic camera use. He was my unofficial assistant during the trip.

And finally the celebrity a.k.a. white woman (of which there were two on the team) shaking hands with the kids who weren’t scared out of their mind at the sight of me. This is in Arut where I met my forever friend, Leah. She recently had a birthday of which she invited me to. I would have loved to make it to that one.

I am currently seeking opportunities for next year to go and tell the stories of hope through photography. It’s my favorite kind of storytelling.

A huge thanks to Elsie for sending me these photos!

Linking up with The Anderson Crew for Embrace the Camera.