A Photographer Changing the World In Africa

Everyone knows that photographs can capture a moment for eternity. Something that only lasts a second can be caught, shared online, and viewed by millions. A picture can create a beautiful memory from a split instant.

However, some photographers can do more than use a photograph to capture a story - some can use a picture to create a story.

Following are a variety of ways the people create stories using photographs - with my personal favorite at the end.

Newspapers around the world use the word bubble to create a story. Even though pictures are worth a thousand words, it appears that some people need to add a few extra to make the picture complete.

I love comics as much as the next guy (almost), and I believe that reading what Dilbert is thinking at work is an incredibly funny thing. However, there might be an even better story that can be told with photographs.

We all sincerely enjoy looking at old family photos. The nostalgia of pondering years past is saddening yet comforting - simultaneously. Plus, there is always the opportunity to point out how ridiculous all of your family and friends looked 15 years ago.

"You thought THOSE glasses where cool?!"

"What happened to that handlebar mustache? Did it go through the wash?"

While family photographs can bring back many laughs and fond memories, they are still simply reminding us of a story that has already taken place, not creating a new story. So how do we go about using photography to develop a future tail?

To learn how to create a story out of photographs, we need to take a look at Karl Lindsay - an Australian friend of mine who is not only using photography to capture memories for the future, but using photography to provide a future for others.

As you are reading this article, Karl is a boys dean at a boarding school in Africa. He is volunteering his time to connect with kids, experience life to the fullest, and learn how he can spend his life improving the lives of others.

How does this tie into photography you might ask? Well, Karl, besides for being a passionate lover of God and people, is an incredible photographer. He takes pictures regularly and posts them online, occasionally selling some to help support himself while in Africa.

Karl's goal is to create an organization in Africa that focuses on developing healthcare, schools, and livelihoods for people who are living on very little. Some of the most impoverished and poorly treated children in the world are from Africa.

Although his photographs are taken to save and share memories just like every other photograph, the money he makes from these photographs helps him toward his goal of eventual work in Africa. Essentially creating stories, and maybe even a new way of life, for the under-privileged on the beautiful continent of Africa.

If you are interested in following some of Karl's amazing photographs such as the ones below, check out his photography page on Facebook at Karl Lindsay Photography. If you feel inspired to follow along with Karl's journey (one I am confident will lead to a great book someday), you can follow his blog at KarlLindsay.com, and even buy the photo book that the pictures below are a part of - check it out On Safari in Kenya.

Photography is an incredible art form. Although art is already beautiful, when it is used to make the world a better place it gains a beauty that can ultimately never be captured.

Thank you Karl for dedicating your life and your artwork to revealing the awesomeness in the world and bringing out the awesome potential in others.

If you know of other people that are making a difference in the world with art, let the rest of us know. I would love to read your comments and thoughts below. Additionally, share this story of Karl with others and maybe we'll be able to motivate more people to use art to improve this beautiful, hurting planet of ours.