Reflection............

September.  A time for review and a restart for many of us.  A transition to a new season.  A transition to a new school year.  A transition for our lives.

In our world, there are so many differences amongst people, yet so many similarities that we seem to forget in the heat of the moment.  As I walked our city's annual Labor Day parade yesterday, I was struck by the many people that were all along the route and although just looking at someone's exterior, one may see differences........I kept on focusing on how much we all had in common.  We were all going through some transitions and as well, preparations for what lay ahead.

Reflect on who we are, what we believe in, what we stand for and what we can all do together.  We can do so much if we just support each other and work together.  This is a transition that I would like many of us to consider..........respect others and recognize our similarities, rather than seeing the many differences.

http://www.rascona.com

Taboo conversations.............

Mental health. 

It's an issue that no one really likes to speak about, but we all are dealing with issues to some extent.  The pressures of our daily lives.  The triggers that can set us off.  The highs and lows and all the range that is in between.  I wish that I knew how to handle it all.  We all wish that we knew the right way to deal with everything that gets thrown at us, but we don't.  We all try and "act" like we have it together because if we didn't act like it, then people would actually know the real truth.

Mental Health. 

We all need support. 

We all need people to listen.  

We all need to not be fearful to ask for help and to be heard.

This is a small taste of a project that Rodney Rascona worked on.  Powerful.

www.rascona.com

It's not about me. It's about us.

It really doesn't matter if we are siblings or family.  To me, there always has seemed to be a responsibility to help each other and overall, mankind.  We all have struggles, we all have needs.  Some needs are greater than others.  Some days provide more challenge than others.  Yet, with each of those challenges and obstacles - we need to persevere.  We persevere by helping and lending a hand to those in need.

I believe that is one reason I like what I get to do for work.  Maybe that sounds odd, but I like to help a group come together for a purpose and make things work.  I like being a part of the fabric or glue.  It's not about me.  It's about us.  Different people that come together for a purpose.

Today is Giving Tuesday.  I really like the premiss of today.  It makes people think and hopefully act, although I really would like all to remember that giving each day can make all of us better and can make our world a little better.  So, hopefully you give to something today and as well, start a trend and think of someone else each day.  What a beautiful concept - working together.

So - think about it.  It's really not just about one, it's about all of us.

www.rascona.com

Full of Hope..........

Each day, there seems to be a new challenge that we face, yet I realize more and more - my challenges are so minimal compared to others.  The last few years - Rodney's photography has been laser sharp, focused on human beings, their struggles, their lives and each person's hope for a brighter future.  Today and each day, I try to appreciate the blessings in my life and to focus on being full of hope.  Positive.  Looking for solutions.

Grateful for my life and those that surround me, in work, in life.

www.rascona.com

Blessed.......

Each day - we are blessed by just being able to wake up, put our feet on the ground, look up to the sky and know the beauty of the world around us.

This innocent little boy starts his day in prayer.  In his best school shirt. Eager for the day ahead and yet not knowing what lies outside his immediate realm.  This shot by Rodney Rascona in Ethiopia, for Food for the Hungry - shows how we should take a moment to really consider how fortunate many of us are.  Say a little prayer of thanks.  We deal with many trials and tribulations, but many pale in comparison to his day with his HIV positive mother who are supported through loving volunteers for medicine and food.

We are blessed.

www.rascona.com

A day to celebrate women.

International Women's Day.

A day to celebrate the women in our lives and all over the world.  

We are a part of everything.  We are a part of the fabric that makes the world sing. 

We are proud.  We are strong.  We will overcome.  We will resist.  We will be loud.  We will be proud.  We will collaborate.  We will be inclusive.  We will work hard.  

We will expect nothing, but the best and accept nothing less.

Rodney's world has always focused on a can do approach for all.  

Justice. Humility. Equality. Pride.

www.Rascona.com

So, DO something about it!!!

What to do?  Do SOMETHING!  And that is what many of us are doing.  We will not stand by watching as the world is changing and that can be quite empowering.

As Advertising professionals journalists, we have the power to report, document and inform people and their lives.  Thank goodness for that.

Rodney Rascona is an example of that - he has worked tirelessly over 17+ years in the oddest of place to bring the harsh realities of lives to light.  I had the pleasure of originally meeting Rodney when he shot for Volkswagen - shooting cars all over the place, in incredible locations at the twilight hours for the golden light was what was necessary.  It was an incredible experience where I learned a lot and a thrill was to be had for the long hours, hard work and beautiful finished product that made us all smile upon completion.  That all said, the work that makes me the proudest of Rodney, is the work he's done under the radar, in many ways.  Traveling in 2004 to document the Southeast Asia Tsunami, the hours spent capturing inner beauty of the Haitians after hit by an earthquake, the Ethiopian famine, women fighting for their rights in the Congo and many, many NGO projects, too many to name.

He has done it all and captured these folks sometimes in their harshest hours, but with dignity.

So, here's my call to action for all of us.  We MUST find a way to live out our passion, while helping others.  Find your calling and make it happen.

You can find out more about Rodney and his incredible work, stills and videos:
http://beakstreetbugle.com/articles/view/565/dont-moan-organise

And Rodney's website:
www.rascona.com

Hope For Haiti: The Pink Door Photographs

EXHIBIT by Rodney Rascona

Location: Big Buoy  1-5 Poland Street, London  W1F 8PR

Opening:  July 27th, 7pm

As the work being displayed is from 2010, it's of great interest to have a voice to share the current condition within Haiti. It's important to Rodney that the photographs continue, since their creation in 2010, continue to educate, inspire and to keep challenges within Haiti - front of mind. This body of images have proven to have the power to be a catalyst for dialogue, to help give life to tired messages, especially as this collection has never been seen in London before.

So in this spirit, we wish to extend an invitation to you, to join us for a short while, to enjoy the collection and one image makers experience 6 weeks post earthquake in Jacmel.  We'd be willing to make the imagery potentially available for other shows, to help increase greater understanding within the international population in which we live in support of press, marketing and communications aspirations.

If you have the opportunity to be at the opening in person, please take the the chance, if not - these images are available online for your personal viewing.

www.rascona.com

Black Inside ~ RASCONA

For years, Rodney Rascona, has devoted a large amount of his time and creative efforts documenting and supporting the United Nations Foundation and other NGO's.  His film, BLACK INSIDE, will be screening at the 4th Global Conference on Women's Health and Well-being.  Quite an honor, for the veteran photographer and director.

We wanted to celebrate this screening and invite you to get involved in support of improvement of women's health and wellness issues.

www.rascona.com

blackinside-thefilm.com

Would you turn your back on me?

Would you turn your back on me?

It's a tough question to struggle with when you let fear creep into your life.  We need to fight the fear.  We need to be ready to accept others and to offer help to those in need.  I do not want to let terrorism and fear take over my life and I won't let it.

I have been so proud of the work that Rodney has done over the years as he gives of himself in so many ways.  He is a true hero to me.  

He works on projects that give of himself to help others.

Offer your hand and help.  Rodney does.  

I will.

Will you?

www.rascona.com

RASCONA........India Tsunami 10 year Anniversary

RASCONA

INDIA: 2004 Tsunami +2..."He sleeps with angels"...
IMAGE NOTES: Nagapattinam India
Two days after the tsunami hit Indonesia, I was sent to document the damage just dawning on India's shoreline. In the early morning hours, walking the beach already littered with absolutely complete destruction, crying women preparing ceremonial offerings for the dead, smoldering funeral pyres and people just staring out to sea. I had just walked past this man, pausing farther ahead to wait for my interpreter to catch up with me.

Abraham stopped, bending down to speak with him when I noticed he was glancing my way, signaling me to wait. Joining me quietly..“That man” he said, “he lost his wife, his house, his family…everything to the sea, but right now he tells me that "he sleeps on the beach with his son." It took me a minute to comprehend what Abraham was saying, that this humble man had just buried his boy in the sand and lay sprawled there, sleeping with him, not wanting to leave his side. We didn’t know what to do so we stood there as silent witnesses and quietly cried.

A Photographer's memory, my memories at times, are kept inside a little box under my bed with it's lid tightly roped shut for things you wished you'd not seen, wished you'd not heard..nor felt.

The 2004 Tsunami was just such a place...

Cookstove Films and Rodney Rascona on assignment

Cookstove Films

Rodney Rascona & Russ & Scott & Chuck & Kendall & Phil & Michael 

and 3 billion people breathing nasty smoke.

Rodney and his production team have been  busily working on an important film for the UN Foundation, Global Alliance for Clean Cook Stoves in Kenya.  Here was a recent post at the close of the first portion of the project.  Good work Team!

Back from Torbi, overnight in Marsabit.

Short post to start, but look for a lot more over the next two days. We’re back from the shoot in Torbi, overnighting in Marsabit on our way back to Nairobi. Though we obviously cannot post much here in Marsabit (super slow internet), I’ll get to it when we’re in Nairobi. But, the shoot was EXCELLENT, the experience unforgettable, and the people we met and who shared their lives with us bring new meaning to the word generous. More soon. And everyone on the the team sends their love and appreciation to their families, friends and all those who helped make this possible.

www.rascona.com