Shoot Cameras Not Guns Photography Book Available Now!

It's here! The book of our photography exhibit "Breaking Free" is available now on Blurb.

CLICK HERE TO PREVIEW OR ORDER THE BOOK. 

Feature Story on The Medes

Another great Shoot Cameras Not Guns article by The Medes today, featuring work by Hong Sar, Diana Sabreen, Aue Mon, and Linn Wattain.

VIEW THE PHOTOS AND ARTICLE HERE

"Breaking Free" | Opening Reception & Camera Drive

The Shoot Cameras Not Guns student photography exhibit, "Breaking Free," is now up at the Posner Center for International Development at 1031 33rd Street in Denver, Colorado.

Join us this Thursday, March 13 for an Opening Reception including snacks and drinks.
Bring your new and used (working) digital cameras and accessories to donate to the cause!

The event will be from 4:30pm-7:00pm and is co-hosted by the Chinook Fund, who will also be having their open house.

As this is not a public space, this is the only public time for viewing.
Hope to see you there, but if we don't, you'll get to see the exhibit at Helikon Gallery and BEERS FOR BURMA!!!

Yangon Show this Friday! l Yangon, Burma (Myanmar)

We're pleased to present the first ever Shoot Cameras Not Guns Photographers exhibit in Yangon, Burma (Myanmar)!!

This is an opportunity that we have been working towards for years. 

Public gatherings, art, and truthful dialogue are becoming more accepted and legal in Burma. We're excited and honored to be an active part in both the change, and the results.

Come by if you're in town!

First Sangklahburi workshop finished!

 

*Note: Some specific names of individuals and organizations are not included, to protect them as they carry out sensitive journalism inside Burma (Myanmar).

Our first week-long workshop has finished, and it was a great success! For the last week we had 20 students learning about photography mechanics, shooting photo essays, and learning about photojournalism ethics.

Our students are all from Mon State inside Burma, and are in Sangklahburi, Thai side of the border, participating in a variety of capacity-building classes and workshops hosted by the Human Rights Foundation of Monland (HURFOM.) The students represented 6 different NGOs that are working on behalf of the Mon people in their homeland, and on behalf of Mon refugees residing in the border area. These nationless people have fled violence and oppression over the last 25 years.

The students were all enthusiastic and worked hard to learn the skills and professional practices that we taught. In turn, we learned more about the Mon people, the dynamic political situation within Monland, and what life is like for short-term and long-term refugees stuck in the border region.

                    

Despite language hurdles we were able to help every last student put together and present a photo essay with well-composed photos and captions; and about half of them were able to publish their essays on their brand new blogs. This was a very exciting thing for individuals who have been working to tell the world their stories for years, and who now feel like they can in a meaningful way.

A very big "Thank you!" to Aue Mon, a former student of Diana's from 2006 who is now helping run HURFOM. He coordinated our workshop before we arrived in Thailand, and served as a translator throughout the entire week of class, while participating in all of the class activities as a student as well! We could have not done this workshop without his help, and for that we are very grateful.

As is sometimes the case, many of the rewards of teaching come after the final class has ended. For us this was the case our last night in Sangklahburi. Our students hosted a dinner party because we are moving on to the Chiang MaiDocumentary Arts Festival, and one of their english teachers, Ben, is moving on as well. We had a wonderful traditional Mon dinner, followed by some impromptu singing, dancing and even improv comedy on the part of two of our more outgoing students. Diana and I were coaxed up on stage at one point, where we entertained our students with our dancing, singing and beat-boxing skills to a song that neither of us knew, and that seemed to last for ever. As we sat there recovering, watching the unbridled merriment, Diana pointed out to me that what we were witnessing was even more amazing when you consider that a party like this would literally be illegal in their homeland, just 30 kilometers to the west over the Thai/Burma border. With this idea, my smile deepened as I watched our students take photo after photo of each other capturing their temporary reality forever.         

You're invited!

Beers for Burma is a craft beer festival & fundraising event for the Shoot Cameras Not Guns upcoming workshops in Burma and Thailand.

For more info, to RSVP and invite your friends, visit the event on Facebook.

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE TICKETS.

When:            First Friday, December 7, 2012

                        6pm-2am

Where:           ArtHaus Gallery

                        3340 Larimer St.

                        Denver, Colorado

The Event:

Featuring Colorado craft beers, live music, circus

style aerial acrobatic performances, and local art, the

first annual “Beers for Burma” is not to be missed!

This fundraiser for the Denver-based project, Shoot 

Cameras Not Guns, will  highlight RiNo businesses,

and have a great party for an even greater cause!

Get tickets early and your first beer is free!

Non-beer beverages available as well!

All ages welcome. 21+ to drink. 

We're Coming Back! Shoot Cameras Not Guns in Thailand & Burma

In celebration of our upcoming workshops in Burma and Thailand, here are some of our favorite photos from founder Diana Sabreen's first visit to the area.

A Shining Past Student

One of Shoot Cameras Not Guns' first students and good friends (before we were even called Shoot Cameras Not Guns, actually) has really become an amazing photographer. His work is beautiful and intimate and best of all, he lives in the area he shoots. He understands the people and therefore can gain trust and access with some very interesting and significant cultures.

Hong Sar primarily documents the lives of migrant workers along the Thai/Burma (Myanmar) border. YOU CAN SEE HIS WORK HERE

And here are some of my recent favorites. If you need a photographer in Southeast Asia, make sure to hire him. Keep documenting, Hong Sar!

The Inspiration for Shoot Cameras Not Guns

This is an amazingly done multimedia piece from The New Yorker online about the lives of Burmese citizens and refugees. The lives of Burmese people, students, journalists and refugees were the original inspiration for Shoot Cameras Not Guns.

Check out the video about journalists....

http://www.newyorker.com/video?videoID=629320453001