Goodbye to the village
Matt and I had a quieter morning staying in the compound, working out if we'd got everything we'd needed, and also writing a script for Steve to say to camera. Another absolutely sweltering day, reaching 49 C again, so we were well pleased to be able to sit in the breakfast room of the compound. I ate a little bit of bread and egg, which made me feel better too.
Steve, Pete and Brad returned late in the morning, having taken some interesting shots. A spot of lunch, and presenting to Steve what Matt and I had done in the morning. Then back into the Toyotas for one last session at the village.
Pete was zooming about shooting a variety of subjects, and Matt, Brad and I were mopping up the last things. Shots of the Chief and some villagers saying thank-you, (needed to be done several times as the Chief kept extemporising lengthily) a final drone shot, with the drone moving away from the village back into the sky starting just in front of the chief. And a shot of Fatima inside her hut with her family, contrasting what she had to eat today, with the kind of aid that would be supplied. We left her with money for her time, and the extra food. And a piece with Steve talking to camera that, through dehydration and exhaustion, he kept fluffing. But it had a kind of desperate energy.
The children in the village harvesting our empty plastic water bottles all the time too as they are a useful commodity here.
The final shots achieved just before sundown, and Matt and I found ourselves in the central area, which is next to a square outline of bricks about a foot high, which is the village mosque, where folks pray.
Everyone in our team tired, but happy we had got some excellent stuff photographed and in the can. We had to wait about a bit before taking leave of the chief who was at prayer. He told us we had become brothers to him in the leaving ceremony.
Driving off from the village I felt very mixed emotions. Tomorrow we were going to start our journey home, and I was longing to be home. But I also feel an enormous responsibility to write materials that will move people to give, and possibly enable a change the destiny of these people whose futures are precarious at best.
Home to the compound, and a cheery but shattered mood among us all. We all packed up ready for a six thirty start tomorrow morning. We had not counted on a feedback session, which was made up of lengthy speeches. All of us were exhausted, but the speeches went on for almost two excruciating hours.
Below the breakfast room, one of many lizards skittering about the compound. This one particularly handsome; Brad organising the final shoot; Steve and Matt doing drone work; the village members gathering to see the drone and be in the shot; sunset in the village; selfies with me, and me and Matt once the last shot was done; Pete Caton. A good shot but it had been better a split second before when a large cricket was sitting on his head.
Steve, Pete and Brad returned late in the morning, having taken some interesting shots. A spot of lunch, and presenting to Steve what Matt and I had done in the morning. Then back into the Toyotas for one last session at the village.
Pete was zooming about shooting a variety of subjects, and Matt, Brad and I were mopping up the last things. Shots of the Chief and some villagers saying thank-you, (needed to be done several times as the Chief kept extemporising lengthily) a final drone shot, with the drone moving away from the village back into the sky starting just in front of the chief. And a shot of Fatima inside her hut with her family, contrasting what she had to eat today, with the kind of aid that would be supplied. We left her with money for her time, and the extra food. And a piece with Steve talking to camera that, through dehydration and exhaustion, he kept fluffing. But it had a kind of desperate energy.
The children in the village harvesting our empty plastic water bottles all the time too as they are a useful commodity here.
The final shots achieved just before sundown, and Matt and I found ourselves in the central area, which is next to a square outline of bricks about a foot high, which is the village mosque, where folks pray.
Everyone in our team tired, but happy we had got some excellent stuff photographed and in the can. We had to wait about a bit before taking leave of the chief who was at prayer. He told us we had become brothers to him in the leaving ceremony.
Driving off from the village I felt very mixed emotions. Tomorrow we were going to start our journey home, and I was longing to be home. But I also feel an enormous responsibility to write materials that will move people to give, and possibly enable a change the destiny of these people whose futures are precarious at best.
Home to the compound, and a cheery but shattered mood among us all. We all packed up ready for a six thirty start tomorrow morning. We had not counted on a feedback session, which was made up of lengthy speeches. All of us were exhausted, but the speeches went on for almost two excruciating hours.
Below the breakfast room, one of many lizards skittering about the compound. This one particularly handsome; Brad organising the final shoot; Steve and Matt doing drone work; the village members gathering to see the drone and be in the shot; sunset in the village; selfies with me, and me and Matt once the last shot was done; Pete Caton. A good shot but it had been better a split second before when a large cricket was sitting on his head.
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