Today we’d like to introduce you to Gary Chapman.
Gary, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
The world is full of good stories. When I started as a photojournalist right after college, I covered local stories, but my eyes and heart have always been drawn to the entire globe and international cultures. That desire is reflected even in my choice of a life partner, Vivian, who is Puerto Rican/Mexican and has helped me become more fluent in Spanish. She hired me as her photographer during her stint as our college magazine editor. We’ve been working on and off together ever since.
Transitioning from photojournalism to the kind of humanitarian photography I do today has been a long and winding road. But the short version is that the skill of capturing truthful moments visually is a powerful tool for advocacy. I’ve covered humanitarian stories now in over 80 countries, helping organizations create awareness and fundraising. I love what I do to help empower communities all over the world.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Every worthwhile path has its challenges. So, yes, learning how to find and connect with organizations that need my skill has been the steepest learning curve.
Please tell us about your work.
Visually documenting humanitarian work is a passion. There are so many organizations doing wonderful work. Whether it’s covering a story about educating underserved communities, or providing safe water solutions, or creating job opportunities, the stories are so compelling. For local assignments, like Atlanta Mission, I take pride in being able to deliver engaging images that inspire people to support transforming work in my community.
For those who hire me for overseas assignments, what sets me apart from others are my years of experience navigating travel snafus and respect for local cultures. I’ve been to countries where no one met me at the airport and was still able to figure out how to do the assignment. I also make it a habit of eating whatever is set before me, even if it is monkey brains or fried duck feet. Communities trust you when you eat what they eat.
Also, I like challenges. There’s never a problem that can’t be surmounted. Most recently, a friend invited me to join him climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro as a fundraiser for children’s education in Kenya. It was probably the toughest physical challenge I’ve yet faced, but thank God, I made it.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
My 5th grade teacher bought a drawing I made. She paid me five dollars. I think that was one of the steps that set me on the path of art and photography. I realized art moves people to do something.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.garyschapman.com
- Email: gary@garyschapman.com
- Instagram: garyschapman
- Twitter: garyschapman
Image Credit:
All photos were taken by me and credited to ©Gary S Chapman
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