Help-Portrait

Today I was lucky enough to have my schedule fall into place so that I could take part in something that I really wanted to do, but didn't think my schedule would allow. The project was Help-Portrait. The official website can be found at Help-Portrait.com. The notion was to go out into the world and find someone who could benefit in a small or great way from having their portrait taken. Then take their portraits, make prints and deliver them. All for free. All in the name of helping out, in some small way through the skills we have as photographers, another person.

Fortunately for me (as I was very late to the party), arrangements had already been set by some photographers to work with groups at the Bethesda Mission men's and women's shelters. I walked away with a lot of great photographs but agreed not to share them here for the sake of privacy of those photographed. I also walked away with respect for these gentlemen who are trying to put their lives together despite the rough hand dealt to them by society. Here are some photos of the group of photographers who also were part of the project.

A week of mentoring young minds

Today marks the end of a week of mentoring children as part of the Harrisburg Parks and Recreation Department's Photography For Kids Camp. The camp is a collaboration between the Parks and Recs department and the Harrisburg Camera Club and was the brain child of club member Charlie Smith.

This was the second year in a row for the camp and my second year as a mentor. Its a lot of fun getting out with these young people and it is also encouraging at the quality of their work by the end of the week.