Good morning!
It wasn’t until three weeks ago that I had ever heard of Giles Duley. I had received an e-mail from a client, now a good friend, inviting me to a special talk and intimate chat with Duley. I read his story, watched his TED talk, and was so very intrigued and inspired, I bought my ticket, and marked my calendar, excited for the event and an opportunity to meet such an incredible man doing great things.
If you know of Duley, then you probably know that he travels the world to many places that most people don’t dare visit, telling stories and giving a voice to the forgotten and marginalized…those who have no voices. And he does this all while peeking from behind the lens of a camera - Duley is a photographer…a very courageous, talented, and compassionate photographer.
The talk was originally at my friend’s home in San Francisco, but after the huge response, the event was moved to the Fort Mason Center. After a few yummy nibbles, a glass of wine, and lots of chatting with friends and new acquaintances, the event began.
Duley sat on a small stage, with a microphone in front of him, his MAC to the side and a big screen behind him. He began by speaking of his days as an editorial photographer in the fashion and music industries in both the U.S. and Europe…a dream job for many photographers. And although Duley stated that “he enjoyed it and had a lot of fun,” he said that he wanted to do something more…storytelling was something that he always wanted to do.
Following his passion, he ventured off to many different parts of the world, Sudan, Angola, Ukraine and Bangladesh, among other places, and began photographing people in their situations…in their lives, documenting conflict and economic hardship, recording their stories so that he could bring them back and other people might understand.
His photographs draw the viewer to the subject, creating intimacy and empathy for lives differing from ours only in circumstance.
“The family of Prymorska Street, Odessa, Ukraine, 2010.”
Odessa guidebooks suggest “do not talk to the street kids,” but Duley lived with these homeless teens in a squat while photographing them and describes them as “great kids.”
“Rohingya Refugee Portraits, Bangladesh, 2009.”
Forgotten in a refugee camp for the past 20 years, the Rohingya people lined up to have their portraits taken, amazed that their story was being told. This is Fatima, then age 10, with her younger brother Noru.
Then one day, doing what he loves to do most, he experienced tragedy, only this time it was very personal. While on assignment in Afghanistan, and on patrol with the 75th Cavalry Regiment, U.S. Army in Afghanistan, Duley stepped on an IED (improvised explosive device) and lost both his legs and his left arm. The stories that he tells about suffering and surviving now suddenly became his own.
As we all sat big eyed and glued to the big screen, listening attentively in silence, the photos that he took of his travels, the stories that were told photographically, ended. Then unexpectedly the next thing we saw was footage up on the screen, loud, graphic, and very real. The film was of Duley’s rescue after he stepped on the bomb, an event ensuring that his life would never be the same. Throughout the rescue he was awake and coherent, as medics rushed in to save his life.
It was a hard emotional watch, and we were told by Duley, something very rare to see, not only for the general public to witness, but how often does one get to observe their own life changing event on film? One can only imagine how it must be for him to see and listen to his story, as he plays it over and over again for his viewers to watch.
“At first, I was devastated by what had happened. I thought my work was over. [Nothing made] sense to me,” says Duley in a powerful, must-watch talk from TEDxObserver. “It was the stories I’ve documented that inspired me to get through the last year. To survive. To get back up on my new legs and to come tell their stories but also my own … To show that losing your limbs doesn’t end your life.”
He is now back working. His work has been exhibited and published worldwide in many respected publications including Vogue, GQ, Esquire, Rolling Stone, Sunday Times, The Observer and New Statesman.
In 2010 he was nominated for an Amnesty International Media Award and was a winner at the Prix de Paris in 2010 & 2012. His self-portrait was selected for the 2012 Taylor Wessing Exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery.
I got the chance to meet Giles Duley last night and speak to him for a few moments. He is a sweet, humbled man, with a strong heart for humanity…still out there doing what he loves most…telling peoples’ stories through photography. I admire his drive to continue his work even though it isn’t easy. He suffers daily pain, much like the people he photographs, but like those people, he does the best he can. Duley is courageous, living proof that losing your limbs doesn’t end your life.
If you would like to watch Duley’s TEDX Talk, click here. I would post it but for some reason I can’t seem to get the link from youtube. If you would like to read more about Duley, click here, or visit his website for additional info and to view more of his beautiful photographs.
Duley relies on donations to fund his travels so that he can continue telling the stories and ensuring those without voices are heard. If you are inspired by what you have read and seen, and would like to make a donation, click here. Thank you.
Peace & Love:”Live it, Give it.”…anyway you can.
Lastly, greed over a great story is surfacing from my “loyal”(?) readers. With all this back and forth about who owns what, that appears on my blog, let me reiterate that all material posted on my blog becomes the sole property of my blog. If you want to reserve any proprietary rights don’t post it to my blog. I will prominently display this caveat on my blog from now on to remind those who may have forgotten this notice.
Gratefully your blog host,
michelle
Aka BABE: We all know what this means by now :)
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