Shine A Light

This afternoon, on Valentine’s Day, I spent time at the nation’s largest adolescent care agency for homeless, runaway, and at-risk youths: Covenant House in New York City.

I was there to “Do 1 Thing.”

I wrote about Do1Thing after producing a video portrait of Perry, a homeless teen who also happens to be a talented piano player and composer. See it here.

All across the country, award-winning photographers, writers, designers, and editors gathered today to shine a light on the issue of teen homelessness. I made portraits of three people.

Christina, 20, recently moved to Covenant House from another facility in Atlantic City because they couldn’t provide the mental health services that she needs.

(Nikon D3, 70-200 lens, ISO 400, 1/250, f/5.6. One umbrella on an SB-800 strobe.)

Dequan, 19, came to Covenant House to escape a traumatic home life.

(Nikon D3, 70-200 lens, ISO 400, 1/250, f/8. One SB-800 on the floor behind him with an amber gel and one SB-800 in the front with a snoot made on the spot using a black folder.)

Chrystyana, 19, has been in foster care since she was a little girl and was recently kicked out of her latest home.

(Nikon D3, 70-200 lens, ISO 200, 1/250, f/11. One SB-800 with the same homemade snoot.)

These kids and millions of others can use your help. If thousands of people simply “do 1 thing,” we can have an impact. Go to the site to see what you can do to change someone’s life.

While I generally prefer to stay behind the lens, Do1Thing also posted a video clip where I talk about the power of photography and the effect it has on people, including myself.

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