Haitian born Phil Anglade has a dream. For ten years he has been intrigued with the idea of producing a photo book about the Haiti. Unlike most photography that we see from Haiti however, Phil’s book would be full of positive images, of natural beauty, of a rich culture, ….all of which are very much a part of of Haitian life, but dwarfed by the epic problems of the country. Why, one might ask, should photographers go to Haiti and portray the island as a the kind of destination that one might see in a glossy travel magazine? Anyone who is familiar with the kinds of images I shoot knows I like work that is hard-hitting and doesn’t flinch from showing the hard pictures, including my own horrific images from Haiti. So you maybe surprised to learn that Phil has won me over. In fact I am going to be with him in Haiti next February shooting images for “A Week in the Life of Haiti Cherie.” Why? Because I think just as we need photography to tell the incredible story of the struggles of Haiti, we also need to show the other side of Haiti, and encourage travelers to bring themselves and their dollars through Mais Gate– and experience Haitian life for themselves.
So far Phil has lined up 20 photographers from around the world to shoot all over Haiti from February 13th to the 21st, and he says that he could easily get twenty more. What has been a somewhat harder sell is the signing up sponsors, from airlines to car rental companies, and hotels, who find it difficult to see the value in a glossy book that puts a positive spin on Haiti. The hundreds of NGOs that are now located there, the most of any country in the world, are less interested in promoting tourism than showing the faces of those who need to be fed–and rightfully so, of course. Yet the fact remains that in highlighting the neediness of the poor, or the violence of the elections, one also diminishes the opportunity for possible development, not only of light industry, but of tourism as well, at least tourism of the non-disaster variety. It just so happens that I am organizing a photo workshop and gathering in Jacmel, Haiti the week before Phil’s project, from February 2nd-9th, and although I had very different reasons for choosing Jacmel and Carnival for the subject of the workshop, the two projects have in common that they are looking at another side of Haitian life.
I am the first to say that I am not certain that Haiti is ready for mass tourism, or that the typical tourist, or even the typical photographer is ready to deal with Haiti alone, as she can be a somewhat problematic place to work in. But we are going to give it a shot and after the successful 360 Degree workshop in Jacmel, I will be off to Port au Prince for the festivities there, and to donate my own photographic talents to realize Phil’s dream…..I may have to sacrifice my persona of the “concerned photographer” for a moment, but thats OK. Things in Haiti aren’t going to change that fast, but lets all hope that they change for the better, and I want to be part that change. I know that we can do it, and that Phil would his way. Now if only Digicell, American Airlines, Satellite Network Solution, Babancourt Rum, the Montana, Haitian Tourism would extend some much needed support…..
Contact info for sponsors:
Phil Anglade
weekinhaiti@gmail.com
PSC 450 Box 435
APO, AP 96206
Ph: +8210-6696-8323,
Skype: angladep
website: http://members.tripod.com/~HaitiPhoto/
Bio: Phil Anglade is many things. As a strategic planner, he envisioned several projects to attract college and university students and others worldwide, to the wealth of opportunities available in Haiti, both as contributing volunteers in community service projects and for personal growth. Lastly as a marketing and media subject matter expert, he is concentrating his efforts to promoting the story of Haiti in positive ways from soccer to photography and everything in between, using all available venues. Mr Anglade retired from serving as an officer with the US Navy in 2000 and currently resides and works as a civilian contractor in Seoul, South Korea. He additionally teaches as an adjunct faculty for the University of Phoenix MBA program.