Welcome to 10.Q Interviews.This section usually features interviews to Humanitarian, Cultural & Travel Photographers, their work and photography.

This week in 10.Q Interviews, Tony Cece:

“As a humanitarian photographer and video producer for Operation Blessing International, I’ve been able to travel the globe telling stories of hope in adverse circumstances. My goal is to preserve the dignity of the people I meet, while simultaneously documenting their needs. I believe that photographs say much about the person who took them and that they are a glimpse into their world through the photographer’s eye. “ [More about Tony...]

1. Tell us about you and your photography. What kinds of shooting have you done? Have you worked for any humanitarian organizations/magazines etc.?
Could you name any current or former clients?

In many ways I was late getting into the field of photography. Both of my brothers picked it up in high school, but I wasn’t interested back then. I liked to be in their photos whether they were shooting me jumping my bike or playing in the numerous bands I was in. Even though I wasn’t yet interested in photography, I was interested in art. My dad was an art teacher and I’ve always said that I look at the way everyday things are framed or how they would look if they were in a frame. It wasn’t until 8 years ago that I became interested in video and photography. I was working with middle school students at a church and started doing video and photo projects with them to help keep them engaged. Like me, they enjoyed being in front of the camera. The enjoyment that I found behind the camera and interacting with those youth was the turning point in my career. I decided to go back to school and achieved a Masters Degree in Communication Arts with an emphasis on Cinema Television. During my education I did what many photographers have suggested in their 10.Q and made myself available for any work I could find doing photography or making short films. One highlight was directing a NeedToBreathe music video for their song, Washed By The Water, this was also the direction that I saw myself heading towards.

After graduating I went a different direction than I had planned, when I was hired and continue to serve as a video producer with Operation Blessing International. My eyes were opened to a world that my mind had been sugarcoating for too many years. I immediately became passionate about telling stories about the needs there are in our country and around the world. Because of my love for photography, I also took a still camera with me on my first trip with Operation Blessing and now shoot both video and photography on all trips. The release of the Canon 5D Mark II has made it much easier for me to capture both types of media on my trips. I have really enjoyed that it has allowed me to focus more energy on photography when I go on relief trips.

We partner with many other NGO’s, so I am able to provide my services to them to meet their photography needs. Immediately after the devastating 2010 Haiti earthquake, I was on the ground with a team from Operation Blessing documenting the response efforts and had the privilege of helping our partner Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) document the great work they were doing as well with arial shots of the devastation in the remote areas outside of Port Au Prince. The humanitarian goals are the same and far bigger across organizations – we want to see cycles of suffering broken and the world a better place. I am happiest knowing that I have a small role in helping.

2. We all know that you don’t get into humanitarian photography to become rich, so what does humanitarian photography means to you? What’s your vision for it?

When I was first presented with the idea of working as a humanitarian videographer/photographer, I was amazed by the potential impact it could have. The fact that I can make any living doing this type of work is an extreme blessing because I know that I can not only provide for my family but for many others as well. My goal in life has never been to become rich or famous, but to be a compassionate influencer. What better way to influence than to tell a good story. One that is grounded in reality and truth. The conditions that some must face are absolutely heart-wrenching to witness, let alone live with every day. My vision is to share stories of hope because things can be better. Things must get better. I am very careful to make sure that I don’t strip someone of their dignity to take what some might consider an award-winning photo. For me, it is about sharing moments with people and presenting their reality to the world in a way that allows them to keep their dignity while still capturing their need.

The Haiti earthquake is a prime example of this vision. As a humanitarian photographer, my vision is different than that of a photojournalist. Searching out piles of dead bodies is not the picture I go looking for. However, someone bringing a casket to give their loved one a proper burial is a different picture and story for me altogether and one worth telling. It has a human element and shows the dignity that still remains. When I landed in Haiti I found my stories by looking directly into the eyes of the people all around me and seeing what stories their eyes conveyed. It was these stories that I tried to capture – confusion, grief, pain, resolve, strength, and hope. A month before the earthquake I started putting together a photo book based on the hope in the midst of despair that I had seen on my previous relief trips to Haiti. As we made our way in just 3 days after the quake, I was entering with vision and looking to find the hope that remained. The photo book turned into a much larger project that documents the hope I found – it was the people of Haiti. It is available on Blurb. The purchase price of the book includes an inflated price so that the sale of the book could raise funds for on-going relief efforts in Haiti. We all promised to remain faithfully ready to help Haitians in the long-term during those days and weeks after the quake in January but we don’t hear much about it anymore. This book is my small effort to keep the people of Haiti and their needs in our minds and hearts. All proceeds go back to the Haitians and relief efforts there.

3. How did you get into humanitarian photography? Where did you get the idea to shoot these kinds of people and groups?

I didn’t particularly choose this path-it chose me. It wasn’t because I didn’t care about living conditions around the world, I just didn’t know how to care. My first international trip was a relief effort in Haiti after they were hit by 3 hurricanes in 2008. This trip didn’t get me into humanitarian photography, but it is what has kept me in this field. I had never in my life experienced poverty and need on such extreme levels, nor had I experienced such joy and hope under such adverse circumstances. It changed the way I look at life and the goals I thought were important to achieve. I am now dedicated to this work both on the job and off.

4. What are the challenges of shooting for NGO’s or non- profit organizations?

There are a lot of ways that you could go with this question. You could take the route of small budgets, the language & cultural barriers, long hours, long drives, lack-of or no assistants, but I will focus on getting the image when everything is working against you. There are days or entire trips when you are sent out to tell a story and everything seems to be working against you. Gear fails, weather is treacherous, you don’t have a translator, or you don’t feel well and yet you are spending money from the NGO that has to be recovered from some of the images you take and stories you tell. If you don’t capture the story and get usable images, you have wasted money that could’ve gone to help someone in need. That can be a heavy burden to carry, especially on deadlines of short trips. You have to be dedicated to your work and the mission of the NGO to be able to overcome these and find stories to tell. This means working harder and digging deeper to find stories that don’t easily present themselves.

5. How much do you travel every year? How do you manage your family time?

I travel somewhere between 2 and 3 months a year. I have a very supportive wife, but things are getting more difficult now that I have two children under the age of 2. Operation Blessing is very supportive of me and my family and works with me to break up the travel time. It is important to me to not only focus on getting the images, but taking time to tell the stories properly when I get home. It is nice to have that time between trips to edit the photos and videos.

6. Who’s been an inspiration for your photography? How do you stay inspired? Do you read blogs? If so, which ones would you recommend?

I find inspiration in the work of Jeremy Cowart and Esther Havens. I enjoy looking through their work and being inspired by their creativity and heart. I also love the photography of my co-worker, David Darg. He is the Director of International Disaster Relief and Special Projects at Operation Blessing, but is an amazing photographer, videographer, storyteller, and someone I really admire. My favorite photography blogs are David Hobby’s Strobist, David DuChemin’s PixelatedImage, Chase Jarvis’ blog, and most recently this blog since being introduced to it two months ago. I read them all for different knowledge and inspiration. I read Strobist to learn new techniques using flash photography, PixelatedImage offers a wealth of information, Chase Jarvis’ is fun to read to see what can be done with large crews and money, and your blog is a fresh new look from people that are working in the same field as me.

7. How do you normally approach people from other cultures? What are your limits at the moment of shooting people in need, or in a complicated situation?

This question is one of the hardest for me to answer because I know that many people have different convictions regarding it. I try to picture myself in the shoes of the person whose photograph I am taking. If I would be uncomfortable with having my picture taken, then I always ask. You can sense when someone doesn’t want their photo taken and when I see that, I put my camera down, smile, and acknowledge their request with a gesture. I try not to find myself in that situation by spending time with people first and then gesturing that I would like to take their photo or having an interpreter ask them for me. Many complicated situations are diffused for me because I travel with Operation Blessing relief teams and they are thankful for the services we are offering them. We stop to meet the people and then I focus on pictures after they are comfortable with who we are and what we are doing. I don’t want to ever be in a place where I am exploiting people with my photographs and work extra hard to make sure that the photos are used properly. Most people have been really receptive to having their photos taken when asked first, so I try to stick with that principle.

8. What are the characteristic that a good humanitarian photographer needs to have? What would be your advice for a photographer who is just starting out in this field?

First and foremost you have to be dedicated to the cause. This will bring vision to photos you take and the stories you tell. It will also help you overcome some of the tragic things you will witness and push you to work harder to make sure that things will change. The job can be emotionally draining, but it can also serve as your inspiration. I work to prepare myself physically, emotionally, and spiritually before every trip I take because you never know what to expect when you are in the field. Compassion is another great characteristic. Allow yourself to genuinely love the people you get to meet and both of you will be better off for having met and spent time getting to know each other. It is the best way to tell someone’s story and get to the reality of what their needs are. You can take a whole lot less photos when you stop to understand what really is important the story. Never let your gear be a limitation. I have to laugh when someone says that they need a longer lens to get a great shot of someone. While you can get great shots with long lenses, why not get in close and meet the person instead of trying to snag a shot from an impersonal distance?

9. Tell us about the last piece of gear that you deemed important enough to buy. How about the one that’s been most important in your career?

I recently purchased a PhotoFlex LiteDome XS softbox. In January, I attended a Jeremy Cowart workshop and really like the portability of his one flash setup. I don’t have the same gear as him, but I found this portable solution that can work with my 580EXII unit mounted on a monopod and held by an assistant. It is very portable and am hopeful that it will add a new element to my photography in the field (I have been using off-camera flash in the field, but it has been on an extension cable in my left hand). I have already used this unit for corporate freelance work and am very happy with the purchase.

The most important piece of equipment has been the Canon 5D Mark II. Before I was carrying a video camera and a Canon 1D Mark II and all of the accessories for each. Not only am I happier with the footage shot on the 5D, but it has allowed me to spend more time taking photographs as well. Sometimes I’ll be shooting video and realize that it would make a better photo and can snap the shot instantly. Because I have been taking more photographs each trip, I have found that I am back to carrying two cameras so that I can cut down on lens changes and have a backup if something were to break.

10. How important is social media for you? How do you manage it in your work? Any tips to share?

Social media is very important to me. It helps keep me connected to friends when I travel, but I’ve also met many others as I use social media to help bring awareness to needs I see around the world. There is a lot of give and take in it for me. Even when I don’t travel I spend time sharing photographs and looking at others’ for inspiration. I am a huge fan of iPhone photography and use it in the field to be able to share photos over social media in real time. Social media can be hard to manage. I spend more time on it when I travel because I spend a lot of time in airports and driving to remote locations. I found an unlimited international data plan offered by AT&T that allows me to keep connected in most parts of the world. My biggest tip is to make it a conversation. We all can learn from each other and grow together when there is a conversation.

Social Media

Tony in Twitter: @tonycece

Tony in Facebook

Tony in Flickr