Rick Smolan is one of the world's most famous photographers and has worked with TIME, Life and National Geographic magazines as well as creating the best selling One Day In The Life photography series.
In his recent TED talk , Rick tells the story of a an assignment through South Korea in 1978 where he was investigating the lost generation of illegitimate Amerasian children fathered by American soldiers for TIME magazine. Afterwards, he was so unhappy with the published product that he set out to tell a better story through his pictures on his own time. In hopes that he his photographs would actually have an effect on a situation, rather than just documenting one.
In the trip back to South Korea he would meet an Amerasian girl and her grandmother who agreed to let him tell her story through his pictures. What would eventually come is as great a story as could ever be written. As Smolan inspires the audience in telling this first hand account he developes a personal connection with us as if including us in his journey over hurdles of changing a little girl’s life forever. It’s as if it were a script written in Hollywood when he describes the adversity encountered while trying to help her, yet he’s not making this up. He shares the pictures to prove it. He goes on to tell how he used his professional skills and connections to help him though his mission that became much more than photography.
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| Photo by Rick Smolan, 1978 |
Ricks personal journey is a reminder to me of why I got into the entertainment business in the first place. Not just to take pictures or make films, but to make a difference in the lives of others and impact them in a way that makes a personal connection in turn making the world a better place.
Listen to Rick tell his amazing story here.
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