here some inspiring articles I want to share with you:

Photographers making a difference

I am going to India at the 20th of October to finish the work of our book. The chapter about India still needs some work and especially more material. Our goal is it to spend two weeks working with the poor and we are excited what comes out of it.

If you want to proof your german skills, don’t miss the opportunity to watch the clip about pick a pocket on the german TV. The ERF will broadcast a short video about us at the 24.10.2009 at

ERF show about Pick a Pocket

We were invitet by wnaz-Radio in Nashville and rocked the show. You can live listen to the show at the 03rd of November at WNAZ-Radio

Liz and I went to Nashville to do some pick a pocket promotion work. Together with the Stephanator and friends we organized a art show in the Bonhoeffer Café. Five amazing bands played that evening and a photo exhibition with pictures of our work was there as well. We shared about our projects and motivated the audience to join our mission – helping people out of extreme poverty.

Thanks to all the bands that played with us and thanks to all you guys that showed up and spend the evening with us…

Brian Lee and his orchestra
Brontosaurus

www.pickapocket.net

One day, we found ourselves in the middle of an hostile crowd. Men and women in business attire asked us questions, and then insisted that our answers were not believable. Claiming to work for the government, they told us to show them our identification papers, our license, and where we lived. They claimed they had the right to demand we cooperate. When we refused, they called the police and had us detained at the station.

We had been observed photographing a friend of ours. Our friend lives in a tiny shack built with metal and wood. It sits 20 yards away from the spot on the road where he sits to beg for money.

We met our friend a few days after we moved into our rented house. He smiled at us under his cap and raised both hands in greeting. Unable to speak his language, we could only smile back. Smiles, a few coins, handshakes, conversations aided by our translator, a meal. These were the building blocks of our friendship.

None of this was known to the well-dressed couple who stopped their SUV along the narrow road as we finished our shoot. Perhaps it was the Hasellblad camera, the heavy duty tripod, or the flash equipment that raised their suspicions. We are not professionals; yet, our gear does distinguish us from the ordinary tourist.

They saw a team of photographers shooting a homeless man in his shack.

We were a team of photographers taking a portrait of a man we’d befriended, a human being with dignity despite his circumstances.

“Why would you photograph such a man?”

“You are allowed to take photographs of the historical sites, the cultural places.”

“You need a government license, permission to take pictures of the people.”

We were overwhelmed and intimidated. Our research told us only pictures of soldiers, policemen, or government buildings were forbidden. Why were they harassing us?

Once we were at the police station, they took our film and our passports. We were told we would be arrested if we did not cooperate. Inexperienced and unsure if they could really charge us with a crime, we decided to not risk arrest by angering them with a call to our respective embassies. They released us, but ordered that we return the next morning. After a night of confusion and worry, we were sent with a police escort to have the film developed at a local business down the street. Three hours later (1 Hour Developing is not available for medium format film in that city), our pictures elicited laughter from the assorted policemen working our case.

A kindly-looking old man smiles a toothless grin. The fact that he is laying in a shack is not evident. It looks like a photo someone would treasure of their dear old granddad.

We focus on the people, not their poverty.

So why all the fuss?

Tensions in the country were high. Perhaps the people felt deputized to intervene due to national pride, a desire to prevent the government any embarrassment.

They don’t realize the scope of our vision. It is not enough to tell a single nation’s government that poverty is unacceptable. We want to tell the world.

We couldn’t travel to every country in the world to document poverty. We can’t afford the airfare.

So, this book is not about pointing fingers and assigning blame.

It’s about reaching out a hand and inviting others to join us.

We can’t end poverty by ourselves.

This is about building a movement that capitalizes on and strengthens the good works already underway.

It is about mobilizing a people to make a difference in whatever way they can.

We use our cameras, alongside other tools.

To show that all people deserve dignity and respect.

To insist that no one deserves to live in poverty.