Places In The Heart: Troi Anderson

The beauty of Prints For Prints’ idea is that it is not utilitarian in nature.

Human survival in places of impoverishment brings with it a spiritual, mental fortitude that is intangible. It cannot be measured, yet it is key to survival. At the same time the emotional life of a human being in the act of kindness -giving- is regenerative to all.

For the destitute of the world whom remain unrecognized in places like Ethiopia, the simple gift of these photographs takes aim at the human heart.

In my own work in Haiti, what strikes so much is the incredible endurance of the Haitians. From the outside world -the NGO, the UN- there is so much focus on getting clean water, education, medical care, all of the necessary and practical basics so lacking and yet it is often difficult to see it translating into anything of substance.

What comes to mind however, is meeting an elderly woman in one of the nameless slums of Raboteau. After photographing her and showing her the image, she burst nearly to tears exclaiming that she had never before really seen herself, her face, a photograph. To see her own image brought such joy to this woman. It is difficult to explain, but I think in that moment I did more for her than any of my photographs for the NGO could achieve.

These ideas that seek out places in the heart are the ones that are perhaps more lasting in the end.

Troi Anderson, Portland, Oregon, USA