Why?

A lot of people love to travel, volunteer and do good work abroad. Travel is more and more accessible to those living in developed countries and I know many people of all generations who are taking part. I am always up for a new adventure and hoping to either shoot a good story or do some good work, generally trying to incorporate both. My motivations have been charged by this desire to see the world that is beyond me, it seems like just another part of my life.

But I've been confronted lately to answer some bigger questions. Like why do I want to teach in different communities? And what will it help people attain? Is this project sustainable in the long term? What will it do in the end for my students?

I've been lucky in my current Be1Vision project to partner with some local NGOs (Project Esperanza) that will continue on to sell photographs taken by my students and continue an ongoing relationship with them. The money from this can go to buying a camera to continue the work they've started or helping feed their families.

I have been challenged with these questions and placing them as top priority in future work. While I've always thought about the communities I've worked with in the past, I will now put the thought first, how can I use this work to change their lives, rather than to inspire and effect other people's lives.

Majorie (left to right) selects photographs for her final project while Nancie, Daline and Elias work with Brian Newhouse, writing personal statements to accompany their photos for an upcoming show.

The office

It's been a goal of mine for a long time to travel and work together and hopefully make enough money with my photography work to be sustainable. In my experience the less you talk about and more you do, the more realized goals become. Now my partner and I are exactly where we want to be and present enough in our lives to enjoy the time and the work that we are doing.

My friend Tesla and I have taken time every year to previsualize where we'd like to be in the next few days, months, years. Setting goals like this has propelled me to be exactly where I want to. Always turning inward and asking what do I want and why? Be sure to take the time out for yourself. Your life is exactly what you want it to be.

Working in our apartment in Dominican Republic

Many projects are going on here at Sun Camp. Brian Newhouse is leading the charge with the help of Melanie Gould and a few others. He is working to grow and introduce Moringa (Malunggáy to Filipinos) to the local community. This food could greatly improve nutrition for many people who don't have enough to eat. Read more about medicinal uses among other things, here on wiki. When entering an area that is in great need, it's often a challenge on where to start. Is food more important? Is clean water or education first to tackle? It's seems best to start with what's available and grow from there, one step at a time, and hopefully the solutions unfold.

People often ask me how or why I set out and photograph stories or start a new project like Be1 Vision. I say, think about it less and just start doing.

Brian Newhouse (left) and Gump clear a piece of land to prepare it for seeding at Sun Camp, DR.

Country.

We are staying in Muñoz, which is a small country town situated at the base of Mount Isabel de Torres. The property sits on a river and is surrounding by fruit trees and lots of other tropical plants. Just a few minutes away are the informal settlements and 10 minutes away from tourist attractions and the closest city, Puerto Plata. Sun Camp is a great spot for country livin'.

Gump walks out of the Mango House where we stay in Sun Camp.

Mount Isabela de Torres is just outside the gate of our place.

Things are not always as they seem.

Muñoz, D.R.

I've been here in the Dominican Republic now for a little over a week and today had the 3rd day of class for the Be1Vision workshop. I found 6 students; a few teens and young adults and they are beginning to understand the difference between a snapshot and a photograph. The students speak Haitian creole and some Spanish, so I have had some help from Brian Newhouse of Village12 and Liz (from Montreal), two volunteers staying at Sun Camp. I have also been turning my Portugues into Spanish which is working out pretty well. I heard someone today say that it's 80% body language anyway. So everything is going well, check www.Be1Vision.com for the student photos.

A young girl poses by the Community Center for Sun Camp in the Haitian camp.

Najorie (Left to Right) explains composition to classmates Elias and Nancie in the Community Center.

Miguela takes my portrait with the help of her husband Eria.

Eria photographs a woman in the bate during his first day with the camera.

On the Road Again

I am currently working in the Dominican Republic, teaching photography workshops in a Haitian community (known as a baté) in Muñoz, close to Puerto Plata. I am working with Diana Pellerin of Sun Camp, an organization that offers vacation 'rustic' vacation rentals at a reasonable price and gives regular aid to the nearby baté.

Many programs are being offered by volunteers, as the people need much help from clean water to education and beyond. Over the next few weeks (Dec. 22nd), I will posting projects we do with Be1Vision, an organization I have created to put cameras in the hands of the voiceless and give them a medium to tell their stories through the blog. Any assistance from cameras to funds is appreciated. The photos will also be for sale at www.krystlemarcellus.com in the coming weeks. So please check back here for my experience running the project and my students stories at Be1Vision.

Also, my partner, Gump of Be1Being, is offering a yoga program in conjunction with Be1vision to the overflow of students and other interested people. Another volunteer at Suncamp, Brian Newhouse of Village12, is running many programs and working to organize to meet all needs possible. So check back often, visit partner links and I look forward to another journey with you.