johno back from Katrina relief work

johno

Hey everyone! Hope all is well with each of you. I have missed this community of people... I see Dgrin is growin and Andy has a new camera I would take the one you are trying to sell Andy, but I'm a youth pastor... Oh that I can save up for a Rebel XT :rofl

Anyhow, I hope a picture IS worth a thousand words. I don't think my images will do much for everyone here who has CNN or FOX News in their homes.

However, what my photos have that the others don't are real people who's lives are FOREVER changed. I have to say, it was hard taking pictures. I asked myself several times, "why are you taking pictures? This is horrible."

It was horrific... However, there is HOPE! If anyone would like to help volunteer, (believe me, there is work to do for the next 18 to 24 months) you can get plugged in with Hilltop Rescue and Relief.

http://www.hilltoprescue.org

Whenever you can get there, they will use you.

Well, I won't take up your time with stories... I know you came here to look at pictures, so here is my set of Katrina pictures. Try not to enjoy them. They come with a large price paid.


"America"


"Neverland"


"Looks like a hurricane"


"Lost Treasure"


"Not shot... Killed!"


"Pink"

This event has changed my life. Consider how it has changed yours and never forget.

peace.
johno~

Andy

thanks for posting these
thanks for doing service down there in the gulf
glad your'e back
peace

DavidTO

Thank you.

Skippy

Hi Johno

johno wrote:

Hey everyone! Hope all is well with each of you. I have missed this community of people... I see Dgrin is growin and Andy has a new camera I would take the one you are trying to sell Andy, but I'm a youth pastor... Oh that I can save up for a Rebel XT

Anyhow, I hope a picture IS worth a thousand words. I don't think my images will do much for everyone here who has CNN or FOX News in their homes.

However, what my photos have that the others don't are real people who's lives are FOREVER changed. I have to say, it was hard taking pictures. I asked myself several times, "why are you taking pictures? This is horrible."

It was horrific... However, there is HOPE! If anyone would like to help volunteer, (believe me, there is work to do for the next 18 to 24 months) you can get plugged in with Hilltop Rescue and Relief.

http://www.hilltoprescue.org

Whenever you can get there, they will use you.

Well, I won't take up your time with stories... I know you came here to look at pictures, so here is my set of Katrina pictures. Try not to enjoy them. They come with a large price paid.
"America"
"Neverland"
"Looks like a hurricane"
"Lost Treasure"
"Not shot... Killed!"
"Pink"
This event has changed my life. Consider how it has changed yours and never forget.
peace.
johno~

So many of us have no idea what it's like to suffer or be in real need.
We in the Western world tend to be very materialistic, and we take it for granted that every day when we get up in the morning things will be fine.

Countries that are vulnerable to Natural Disasters, like Floods, Earth Quakes, Fires, Land Slides, Tornado's amaze me how they just get on with their lives.

America is hit so hard with Natural Disasters, as are other countries, but you are lucky that you have the resources to help, and the Medical Treatment available to quickly get in to help these people out, and people like you Johno who quickly jump to freely give of yourself , and bring hope.

Life's too short, and you have seen first hand how easily a life can be taken away and the devestation that is left behind.......may God continue to bless you and all those who give to help those in need.

I cannot begin to imagine what you have seen, while you have been helping out, it must be incredibly emotionally draining for you to see their pain.

Thank you for your story Johno, God Bless you....... Skippy (Australia)

johno

Thanks Skip for the encouragment. You are correct about how much it takes out of you. I have been back for two weeks and this is the first day I have taken on the challenge of posting these pics.

Of the stories I will have for eternity, one comes from an older woman who said, "I have helped with relief work all over the world... I never thought I would be the one in need. Many people here have asked where is God?" She continued, "You are the hands of God and you are His feet." As tears broke she said, "You don't even know me... You don't know my daughter and you have left your families to help me. Thank you."

Ramona, though she lost everything but a small pile of "stuff", prayed for us and bless us. WOW!

peace.
johno~

Sandy

I am blown away by you amazingly graphic shots. "Times they are a changin"

Nikolai

Thank you!
Impressive work!
Glad you're back!

ian408

Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Ian

GraphyFotoz

Great but Sad Photo's
Glad you made it back!
Very sad pics indeed.
The BIG GUY has a way of slapping us with a dose of reality.

Dunno which was more of a shock....the disaster or many of the people afterwards? Looting and such.

Times and the weather patterns are changing are we READY??

Nir

Johnathan,

Your photos scream pain and anguish, as you must have felt there.
Your words shout hope as you must have spread there.

God bless you!

wholenewlight

johno wrote:

I don't think my images will do much for everyone here who has CNN or FOX News in their homes.


"Lost Treasure"

This event has changed my life. Consider how it has changed yours and never forget.

No, Johnathan, your shots are a lot different that CNN and FOX news reports. So many of the reports I've seen from them are about them - about the news stations marketing themselves - not just reporting the news, but inserting themselves into and becoming the news. Not always but often!

Your shots are strong. They convey the feelings of sorrow and struggle felt by the victims and they convey the feelings of compassion that you feel. Like the best photojournalism shots, they do a lot more than just document the event. They cause one to reflect and consider his/her own viewpoint on the event. They move one to action.

Thank you for posting them.

ginger_55

Johno, good photos. After Hugo, we had to take photos for insurance reasons, or we did anyway. They are probably around and if I wanted to tear everything apart in the secretary behind me, I could probably find them. I think your photos are better, but bill took our photos, not me. I think.

I know that is what it looks like, and it smells worse, so I am not shocked.

But I did think, "that is where the dirt is". So, those of you who want to do the "dirty" challenge thing, a week of volunteering could get you lots of "dirty" photos.

Mine, unfortunately, are still just wet.

Thanks for sharing, Johno,
hurricanes are horrendous, not worth the excitement many
feel. They do! Newcomers secretly pine for a good hurricane,
Huh, let them sit in traffic for a day or two. Or worse.

ginger

USAIR

Thank You

And love the photos you brought back

Thanks
Fred

Phil U.

wholenewlight wrote:

Your shots are strong. They convey the feelings of sorrow and struggle felt by the victims and they convey the feelings of compassion that you feel. Like the best photojournalism shots, they do a lot more than just document the event. They cause one to reflect and consider his/her own viewpoint on the event. They move one to action.

Thank you for posting them.

While difficult to view (and I'm sure difficult to take) photos like these may help inspire more people to get involved and start helping - if not down there maybe in their own towns.

Thanks for bringing these to us.

schik13

Moving...
Wow, those pictures have real emotion attached to them. Even if you didn't know how damaging and powerful the situation that brought them about was, just the pictures alone can tell a very terrible story. I know it is hard to shoot stuff like that, but without images that have that much power, most people don't understand just how much of and effect something like Katrina can have on life. Great pictures... And I commend you on going down there to help.