It’s been a long time coming, but i’m finally realising a dream. A dream I have had for many years now. To travel and document the lives and situations of those less fortunate, using my photography and overall creativity to improve the lives of others in circumstances that can be helped by telling their story through photography and videography. It’s a simple goal. To show the world that there is more to life than that which is immediately surrounding you and that problems half a world away can be effected and altered for the better by your actions from afar. Bridging that gap of knowing and believing that people can make a difference in Africa or Sumatra from the very place they sit in Australia or America.
Right now I am basing myself in Sumatra and one project I am focusing on is documenting the lives of the wild captive and critically endangered Sumatran elephants. There is so much wrong with their dire predicament and they share their burden with other amazing and unique animals of Sumatra. Through no fault of their own they find themselves at the mercy of human want and greed. Habitat destruction to further plantation growth for economic gain is the cause. As the jungles are destroyed the elephants find themselves struggling to find space and eventually enter what were once distant villages only to be labeled pests, captured or killed all due to the pursuit of money and a “”better life”. It’s clear to see from this perspective how as a race we have completely lost our way, blinded by the vision of greater things and a happier existense, a dream surely realised with greater wealth, sadly we will realise the truth know after the damage is done.
It’s my hope through sharing my experiences and imagery I can help bring to light their plight to people with opportunities to help these situations. To raise the necessary awareness to help the Sumatran elephant and reverse the trend for the amazing and unique wildlife found throughout Sumatra. There are only 1500 elephants remaining in the wild and more than 500 in captivity and new cases of captures and orphans happening every month. Follow my experiences and share ways to help through this blog and through www.vesswic.com.
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That footage is so beautiful and I look forward to learning more about the Sumatra elephants. I support elephants in tawiann and kenya and will follow your documentation to learn more and hopefully reach my dream of working to protect the elephants!
Go you good thing!
I hear you Bruce Levick.