Guest Post: Photographer Jessie Gladin-Kramer
July 7, 2011
John from Alabama and his silent strength. Zoe’s rambunctious personality as she played in a South Carolina food pantry. Shelby and her prized basket of pears on a hot Tennesse evening. All of these images are among the many pictures captured by freelance photographer Jessie Gladin-Kramer over the last three years. She joined me as I traveled the country, documenting the trials and hope of clients, food banks, and agencies within the Feeding America network. In the pictoral documentary below, she shares her inspiration with Feeding America.
Recently, Nola asked me to contribute to the Feeding America blog to talk a little bit about my experience taking photographs for Feeding America over the past few years, and to pull together a selection of my favorites. I couldn’t be more excited for the opportunity—but my favorite photos? Yikes! Each one of them spurs the memory of an incredible story and place, and it’s had me reflecting on the incredible Americans I’ve met through my work.
I have been traveling with Feeding America since 2008 from my home in Durham, NC, and almost always alongside Nola (Feeding America’s Senior Communications and Editorial Services Specialist), who coordinates visits and conducts interviews. Often the visit includes a food bank, and I get to see the impressive operations it takes to get food out to smaller agencies and programs on a regular basis. We meet tireless staff and always-upbeat volunteers. But it’s photographing the families who depend on local hunger agencies that is simultaneously my favorite and also the hardest part of the job. Sitting in on Nola’s interviews and getting to spend time with people in their homes and neighborhoods, and hearing so many vastly different stories, I’ve gained a deeper understanding of how important the work of food banks is. I try to capture people in the elements that surround them daily—to bring their personalities out and translate something personal—and so it’s endlessly helpful to get to know them and hear about their lives and pasts and dreams. Each time I leave feeling like I’ve made new friends.
The work that Feeding America does speaks to me on a personal level as well. For a period of time when my boyfriend, Matt, was very young, his family had to turn to their church’s food pantry when his father was laid off. Fortunately, the need didn’t last too long — just until his father’s new small business was able to get off the ground and get their family back on its feet. Matt talks about how embarrassed he felt, knowing that they couldn’t get the groceries they needed without help, because he felt like they were the only ones in their position and had failed in some way. But Matt didn’t know as a kid what I know now: that 17 million families across the US are a mere paycheck, a medical emergency or a lost job away from food insecurity. It’s an important realization for both individuals in need and those who believe they’ll never be in the situation to have to ask for help.
Thanks to Feeding America for the opportunity to say hello! It’s been fun to sit down and look back at my work, and remember some of the faces and stories we’re all here to support.
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Wonderful photographs, stories, and what an experience this was for you! You make us proud!
Gates and Sharon
Posted by Sharon Williams | July 17, 2011 at 5:10 PM