Two weeks in Liberia

bdcolen

I spent two weeks this month in Liberia, documenting the work of two literacy NGOs, CODE, a 50-year-old Canadian organization that promotes literacy, training teachers in teaching reading and critical thinking in the developing world, and Baltimore-based International Book Bank, which publishes books, and has provided schools in the developing world with over 25 million books.

The first gallery, Liberian Schools In Black and White, contains images taken in and around urban and rural schools in the country. The second, Liberia Through My Eyes, contains an assortment of color images that, together, sum up the country I saw. I should note here that it is almost impossible to photograph on the streets of Monrovia, the capital. In my two weeks in the country I did not see a single white face on the street, and most of the 'street' images I shot were made from inside a moving pickup truck.

torags

A wonderful documentary series BD

You did pretty good out the car window...

If I recall ... Liberia was started by former US slaves..

williaes

Great set! Like how you captured each kids personality in the photos!

bdcolen

torags wrote: »

A wonderful documentary series BD

You did pretty good out the car window...

If I recall ... Liberia was started by former US slaves..

Initially black freemen, Rags, and slaves rescued by the British navy from slavers. But, ironically, they established a model of US antebellum Southern society, and lorded it over the native Liberians. The 1980 coup represented the native Liberians finally overthrowing the Americo rule. Unfortunately, all the babies got flushed with the bloody bath water, and most people with education and money left the country. It I'd a real mess now.

bfjr

Nice documentary work.
Got a feel for the place from your images.

Juano

Nice work, sounds like a great opportunity!

black mamba

My hat's off to you, BD. That's some stunning photography that doesn't need any verbiage to tell a powerful, and sad, story. Both the school series and the color series are simply superb.

clap

Tom

bdcolen

Thanks, all. It was quite an experience, and it appears it may lead to similar assignments elsewhere.

RyanS

Rock solid work BD. Way to show us how it's done. There is too much to specifically call out, but the general style reminded me of Life magazines.

torags

bdcolen wrote: »

Thanks, all. It was quite an experience, and it appears it may lead to similar assignments elsewhere.

Hmmmm... similar assignments....

Careful.... some of these places are pretty dangerous for Yanks...

bdcolen

torags wrote: »

Hmmmm... similar assignments....

Careful.... some of these places are pretty dangerous for Yanks...

No kidding.

CloudOnMyTongue

Wow, a lot of great evocative images. Thanks for sharing.

TonyCooper

To paraphrase the late, lamented Pete Seeger: "Any idiot can make
something complex out of something simple, but it takes a genius to
make something complex into something simple.

Earache

Really powerful and evocative... I was reminded how important getting an education is, and how
hard many people have to work to make it happen. Awesome photography!

bdcolen

Thanks Tony, and Eric. And Eric, if that message comes through, the trip was worthwhile - thank you.

mayfly

Both galleries are great! The importance of education really comes across and the moods set in the street scenes range the emotions from joy to sadness. Thanks for sharing these.

bdcolen

mayfly wrote: »

Both galleries are great! The importance of education really comes across and the moods set in the street scenes range the emotions from joy to sadness. Thanks for sharing these.

Thanks, Mayfly.