Serving the Underserved: Dentistry Station

My Scholarship entry - A 'place' I have visited

Ecuador | Monday, January 14, 2013 | 4 photos

Photography has a special power to talk about global poverty.

I first saw the ability of shaping perceptions through the lens of a Canon 550D while building mobile clinics in Ecuador. Each time I snapped a photo, I proliferated a larger image of health development as a whole.

Last year, my wanderlust and zeal for global health promotion led me to 16 different countries and 5 continents. After a while, I realized development work is portrayed in a certain way: images tell a prevailing narrative of help, service, and a direct power relationship between who gives and receives aid.

I want to portray those being served as empowered. For me, a better photo presents a twist on the classic image of college students holding frail children or indigenous elders seen by young physicians. I go the extra mile to find these twists, usually covered in mud or in semi-dangerous locations.

This opportunity will indelibly craft my visual story telling ability. With this, I hope to go back in the field and create compelling narratives to help shape the portrayal of health work in the non-profits I work with. I want my photos to facilitate a dialogue around health and globalization at large.