Celebrated photojournalist Antonin Kratochvil dropped by the (RED) office today to tell us about his photographs of a different kind of war – the fight against AIDS in Africa.
We first met Antonin through his work for Vanity Fair's Africa issue – he traveled to Zambia to capture images of HIV-positive individuals, and then returned 40 days later to photograph their miraculous return to health thanks to antiretroviral medicine (ARVs). (Be sure to read the accompanying feature story The Lazarus Effect, by Alex Shoumatoff, if you haven't already.)
Antonin told us he was impressed by the HIV/AIDS health program he visited in Zambia, which works toward getting sick people on ARVs and then keeping them on the medication. "It takes discipline and education," he said. "They're dedicated people in Zambia."
Between his stories of his war experiences in Vietnam and Iraq, Antonin also mentioned that even writer Alex Shoumatoff himself could barely believe that the ARVs could restore someone's health so quickly.
"When he saw the pictures, he was convinced," Antonin said.
Indeed, these photos make it clear how effective ARVs can be in the fight against AIDS.
Thank you, Antonin!
To see more of Antonin's work, visit his website www.antoninkratochvil.com and his agency's website at www.viiphoto.com/photographer.html (click on Antonin Kratochvil)
A few members of the (RED) team with Antonin in the center
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2 comments:
THANK YOU so very much for this post, (RED)!
One of my most favorite articles in the (RED) Vanity Fair issue was "The Lazarus Effect" because its "before and after" pictures of people who are fortunate enough to be on ARV therapy in Africa spoke volumes about what our movement to make extreme poverty does through government funding mechanisms like PEPFAR or through the Global Fund with the purchase of (RED) products.
In my outreach booths for ONE / (RED), I always carry a copy of the (RED) Vanity Fair magazine with me to show people pictures of the MIRACLES that ARV therapies can bring people. These picture are very EFFECTIVE in getting people to sign up for ONE and to BUY (RED)!
I can attest to this through my personal experience.~
Thnak you so very much, Antonin Kratochvil, for your concern for the world's poorest people and for your contribution to our movement to make extreme poverty history.
Take very good and gentle care of each other, dear hearts. Blessings are always around.
ALWAYS (RED) AT HEART, debbie :)
wow
unbelievably powerful
to have images of 'those poor Africans' supplanted by those photos of health and vitality just 40 days later
miracle drug indeed....
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