Tim Ryan and Water for People Partner on Malawi Photo Exhibit
Earlier this month we were invited to attend a reception at Gallery 910 Arts which is currently exhibiting the work of local photographer Tim Ryan. Tim Ryan and his company (Tim Ryan Pictures) partnered with non-profit organization Water for People (WFP) to produce images of the people in countries where WFP works. The exhibit now on display at Gallery 910 showcases the work Mr. Ryan did in Malawi in 2008.
We were immediately struck not only by the quality of the photos, but by the fact that these photos depicted Malawians differently than many of the images depicting Africans that we see in the U.S. There were no helpless, hopeless people here. These were images of strong and dignified people. Ryan explains, "The people we’re working with are proud; they just happen to be living in poverty. They are not pitiful or helpless. They have goals and aspirations, and that’s what we’re trying to show in the imagery. These are images that instill pride. Photographs can convey that sensibility in a different way than any other form of communication.”
We asked Tim a few questions about his work in Malawi:
MA: How did the partnership with Water for People come about?
TR: I was working with Karambu Ringera's non profit International Peace Initiatives. One of the previous board members went to work for Water for People-we stayed in touch and she contacted me regarding photography they needed shot of their projects in Guatemala.
Did Water for People give you direction about what kind of images they wanted to capture in Malawi?
They did give me a shot list for the first trip to Guatemala but for Malawi they said to shoot they way I did for them in Guatemala.
You have spoken about wanting to capture the dignity of the people with whom you work. How you do you convey such an intangible quality in a photograph?
I think everyone wants to live their lives with dignity. As an outsider I try not to put my interpretation on things. Some of the people and places I've photographed have been in pretty tough situations by the standards that I live in but I try not to impose that and rather see it for what it is. I try to respect the people I'm photographing no matter what their situation
It seems many NGOs choose to use images of helpless, suffering Africans in order to appeal to the sympathy (and perhaps guilt) of donors. How do you think your images of strength and dignity will impact potential supporters of Water for People?
I hope that they will see that the work that WFP does is more than just about water. It's about empowering people and when you do that you create change.
How were you received by the Malawians you photographed?
They were very friendly and eager to be photographed.
Were you able to show your pictures to those you photographed, and how were their reactions?
I would always show them the images on the back of my digital camera and they would always laugh.
If I come to the exhibition at Gallery 910 Arts knowing nothing about Malawi or Water for People, what do you hope I would take away?
I would hope that you would come away with a better understanding of Malawi, the water needs of the people there and the desire to help them help themselves.
To see more images and videos from Tim Ryan's work from around the world, visit www.timryanpictures.com. Or get up close and personal with Tim's photos at Gallery 910 Arts at 910 Santa Fe Drive in Denver. The exhibit will be showing until March 31st.
Purchases of any of the Malawi photographs will benefit Water for People, an organization that helps people in developing countries improve their quality of life by supporting the development of locally sustainable drinking water resources, sanitation facilities and health and hygiene education programs.
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