Photographer Finds Hope in an Orphanage | Nat Geo Live

so I was lucky enough to travel to Juba

so I was lucky enough to travel to Juba this less September and meet Catherine

this less September and meet Catherine

this less September and meet Catherine and I’m just gonna ask her a couple

and I’m just gonna ask her a couple

and I’m just gonna ask her a couple questions about our time there and I

questions about our time there and I

questions about our time there and I first want to ask you about your

first want to ask you about your

first want to ask you about your assignment which was in the orphanage so

assignment which was in the orphanage so

assignment which was in the orphanage so could you tell us a little bit about

could you tell us a little bit about

could you tell us a little bit about your assignment and how that tells

your assignment and how that tells

your assignment and how that tells people about South Sudan with the with

people about South Sudan with the with

people about South Sudan with the with the images and the work that you did

the images and the work that you did

the images and the work that you did there all right actually in the photo

there all right actually in the photo

there all right actually in the photo camp we were divided into groups and I

camp we were divided into groups and I

camp we were divided into groups and I happen to be in the group of CCC that’s

happen to be in the group of CCC that’s

happen to be in the group of CCC that’s confidential dhryn out of conflict the

confidential dhryn out of conflict the

confidential dhryn out of conflict the assignment we had to do was to humanize

assignment we had to do was to humanize

assignment we had to do was to humanize the life of the children who are in the

the life of the children who are in the

the life of the children who are in the orphanage and it happened to be a girl’s

orphanage and it happened to be a girl’s

orphanage and it happened to be a girl’s orphanage so we went there for

orphanage so we went there for

orphanage so we went there for consecutive three days to just have

consecutive three days to just have

consecutive three days to just have different aspects of what they do every

different aspects of what they do every

different aspects of what they do every day definitely they do the same thing

day definitely they do the same thing

day definitely they do the same thing but that’s what I thought at first I was

but that’s what I thought at first I was

but that’s what I thought at first I was like okay what I’m supposed to do this

like okay what I’m supposed to do this

like okay what I’m supposed to do this three days like it doesn’t make sense

three days like it doesn’t make sense

three days like it doesn’t make sense the first day I’ll just get everything I

the first day I’ll just get everything I

the first day I’ll just get everything I have all the pictures and it’s perfect

have all the pictures and it’s perfect

have all the pictures and it’s perfect yeah and then I I remember asked one of

yeah and then I I remember asked one of

yeah and then I I remember asked one of the trainers I was like okay we’re not

the trainers I was like okay we’re not

the trainers I was like okay we’re not be doing this the three days I’m not be

be doing this the three days I’m not be

be doing this the three days I’m not be changing locations so he was like yeah I

changing locations so he was like yeah I

changing locations so he was like yeah I said what I’ll be having the same

said what I’ll be having the same

said what I’ll be having the same pictures and it’s kind of boring excite

pictures and it’s kind of boring excite

pictures and it’s kind of boring excite no try that out and you really like it

no try that out and you really like it

no try that out and you really like it in each day each day like I really try

in each day each day like I really try

in each day each day like I really try that out and I figured out that the

that out and I figured out that the

that out and I figured out that the first day had different kind of pictures

first day had different kind of pictures

first day had different kind of pictures because I was focusing on environmental

because I was focusing on environmental

because I was focusing on environmental issues landscape I was having the whole

issues landscape I was having the whole

issues landscape I was having the whole thing in the picture just everyone else

thing in the picture just everyone else

thing in the picture just everyone else is there and I’m happy and then we used

is there and I’m happy and then we used

is there and I’m happy and then we used to have reflections on the pictures and

to have reflections on the pictures and

to have reflections on the pictures and I one of the trainers was like okay this

I one of the trainers was like okay this

I one of the trainers was like okay this is very nice but maybe you want to think

is very nice but maybe you want to think

is very nice but maybe you want to think of how to play the camera and have

of how to play the camera and have

of how to play the camera and have things may be more detailed than just

things may be more detailed than just

things may be more detailed than just the landscape and then the second day I

the landscape and then the second day I

the landscape and then the second day I was

was

was kind of having pictures in the rooms in

kind of having pictures in the rooms in

kind of having pictures in the rooms in the domes in the corridors at the

the domes in the corridors at the

the domes in the corridors at the playground in the kitchen as having

playground in the kitchen as having

playground in the kitchen as having pictures in more specific or in a

pictures in more specific or in a

pictures in more specific or in a smaller circle and then the third day I

smaller circle and then the third day I

smaller circle and then the third day I was having pictures of how the children

was having pictures of how the children

was having pictures of how the children are there steps how they catch the ball

are there steps how they catch the ball

are there steps how they catch the ball how they played each other so it was

how they played each other so it was

how they played each other so it was getting more and more smaller circle and

getting more and more smaller circle and

getting more and more smaller circle and I really enjoy that psycho realized how

I really enjoy that psycho realized how

I really enjoy that psycho realized how much I really yes that’s possible to

much I really yes that’s possible to

much I really yes that’s possible to make sense why do I have to do this I

make sense why do I have to do this I

make sense why do I have to do this I mean here’s a full think Catherine is

mean here’s a full think Catherine is

mean here’s a full think Catherine is what you’re talking about is you you

what you’re talking about is you you

what you’re talking about is you you went in and you realize that it actually

went in and you realize that it actually

went in and you realize that it actually takes work because you’re you’re

takes work because you’re you’re

takes work because you’re you’re studying your subject you’re studying

studying your subject you’re studying

studying your subject you’re studying somebody but then you look at this

somebody but then you look at this

somebody but then you look at this picture yeah and you it’s not just about

picture yeah and you it’s not just about

picture yeah and you it’s not just about an encyclopedic look at who what this

an encyclopedic look at who what this

an encyclopedic look at who what this place is right you captured an emotion

place is right you captured an emotion

place is right you captured an emotion so can you talk a little bit about that

so can you talk a little bit about that

so can you talk a little bit about that because I have a feeling that maybe you

because I have a feeling that maybe you

because I have a feeling that maybe you wouldn’t have taken a picture like this

wouldn’t have taken a picture like this

wouldn’t have taken a picture like this before photo camp and and so how was

before photo camp and and so how was

before photo camp and and so how was that moving in so closely and capturing

that moving in so closely and capturing

that moving in so closely and capturing somebody in that emotional well actually

somebody in that emotional well actually

somebody in that emotional well actually uh this is one of my favorite pictures

uh this is one of my favorite pictures

uh this is one of my favorite pictures said the photo camp I loved it and I

said the photo camp I loved it and I

said the photo camp I loved it and I never had a picture like this and I just

never had a picture like this and I just

never had a picture like this and I just look at it I look at the quality I look

look at it I look at the quality I look

look at it I look at the quality I look at the eyes I look at the tier and that

at the eyes I look at the tier and that

at the eyes I look at the tier and that small drop at the end of it and the

small drop at the end of it and the

small drop at the end of it and the shape of the child lives and I was

shape of the child lives and I was

shape of the child lives and I was actually thinking so much about this

actually thinking so much about this

actually thinking so much about this picture and it’s just amazing how we all

picture and it’s just amazing how we all

picture and it’s just amazing how we all have the same emotion everybody cries

have the same emotion everybody cries

have the same emotion everybody cries everybody loves everybody smiles

everybody loves everybody smiles

everybody loves everybody smiles everybody gets depressed wherever you

everybody gets depressed wherever you

everybody gets depressed wherever you are in every any point of the of the

are in every any point of the of the

are in every any point of the of the universe we all do that so it’s kind of

universe we all do that so it’s kind of

universe we all do that so it’s kind of like when you take pictures like that

like when you take pictures like that

like when you take pictures like that you start to think about how we are all

you start to think about how we are all

you start to think about how we are all the same how we are all uniform how the

the same how we are all uniform how the

the same how we are all uniform how the whole world is just about these simple

whole world is just about these simple

whole world is just about these simple things that connects us together

things that connects us together

things that connects us together I’m it doesn’t necessarily mean that

I’m it doesn’t necessarily mean that

I’m it doesn’t necessarily mean that this diskette is miserable because it

this diskette is miserable because it

this diskette is miserable because it was at certain point when he was really

was at certain point when he was really

was at certain point when he was really mad at a toy that he wanted so bad yeah

mad at a toy that he wanted so bad yeah

mad at a toy that he wanted so bad yeah he wanted that toy so bad and then the

he wanted that toy so bad and then the

he wanted that toy so bad and then the other kid was kind of I I don’t know

other kid was kind of I I don’t know

other kid was kind of I I don’t know stronger or he was quick I and he just

stronger or he was quick I and he just

stronger or he was quick I and he just picked that toy and I was there I was

picked that toy and I was there I was

picked that toy and I was there I was just there and I don’t know why I didn’t

just there and I don’t know why I didn’t

just there and I don’t know why I didn’t help out is that because I father I felt

help out is that because I father I felt

help out is that because I father I felt like okay I’m on a mission I think I

like okay I’m on a mission I think I

like okay I’m on a mission I think I need to take this picture so I took the

need to take this picture so I took the

need to take this picture so I took the picture first and then I solved the

picture first and then I solved the

picture first and then I solved the problem poor kid yeah so you caught a

problem poor kid yeah so you caught a

problem poor kid yeah so you caught a universal language yes it’s a universal

universal language yes it’s a universal

universal language yes it’s a universal language I love it and what’s going on

language I love it and what’s going on

language I love it and what’s going on here no onions well yeah when you hear

here no onions well yeah when you hear

here no onions well yeah when you hear orphanage makes you feel like these are

orphanage makes you feel like these are

orphanage makes you feel like these are the most unfortunate but I love this

the most unfortunate but I love this

the most unfortunate but I love this picture because it reflects nice side of

picture because it reflects nice side of

picture because it reflects nice side of what they’re doing I mean they’re living

what they’re doing I mean they’re living

what they’re doing I mean they’re living there is life there they have daily

there is life there they have daily

there is life there they have daily things that they do and in this actually

things that they do and in this actually

things that they do and in this actually they were having fashion show yeah and I

they were having fashion show yeah and I

they were having fashion show yeah and I love the idea because sometimes you just

love the idea because sometimes you just

love the idea because sometimes you just feel like okay I have to I have too much

feel like okay I have to I have too much

feel like okay I have to I have too much water what may be food and ordered in

water what may be food and ordered in

water what may be food and ordered in school but then they had that sense of

school but then they had that sense of

school but then they had that sense of fun fashion colors are cut walking and

fun fashion colors are cut walking and

fun fashion colors are cut walking and all this nothing could on some heels yes

all this nothing could on some heels yes

all this nothing could on some heels yes bring some healthy have a girl remover

bring some healthy have a girl remover

bring some healthy have a girl remover I’ll place good catherine is a law

I’ll place good catherine is a law

I’ll place good catherine is a law student and so her friends were like why

student and so her friends were like why

student and so her friends were like why what why are you gonna spend your time

what why are you gonna spend your time

what why are you gonna spend your time doing photography so why did you well

doing photography so why did you well

doing photography so why did you well actually um I think low and journalism

actually um I think low and journalism

actually um I think low and journalism their kinds there they’re linked me

their kinds there they’re linked me

their kinds there they’re linked me personally loss to them and then I I

personally loss to them and then I I

personally loss to them and then I I understand the law enforcement I

understand the law enforcement I

understand the law enforcement I understand the bill of right the Bill of

understand the bill of right the Bill of

understand the bill of right the Bill of freedom to talk freedom of all these

freedom to talk freedom of all these

freedom to talk freedom of all these things and then in journalism when I

things and then in journalism when I

things and then in journalism when I take pictures of things that I don’t

take pictures of things that I don’t

take pictures of things that I don’t like in the society that I would be able

like in the society that I would be able

like in the society that I would be able to present those fixtures and and view

to present those fixtures and and view

to present those fixtures and and view it

it

it and probably the low people may i’m also

and probably the low people may i’m also

and probably the low people may i’m also in that they would see these pictures

in that they would see these pictures

in that they would see these pictures and it’s moved something in them like

and it’s moved something in them like

and it’s moved something in them like this responsibility or illegal

this responsibility or illegal

this responsibility or illegal responsibility to add it towards this so

responsibility to add it towards this so

responsibility to add it towards this so I feel like initially I’m contributing

I feel like initially I’m contributing

I feel like initially I’m contributing into solving some of the problems in the

into solving some of the problems in the

into solving some of the problems in the society through through my camera

society through through my camera

society through through my camera through the pictures that i can i can

through the pictures that i can i can

through the pictures that i can i can put so it’s an activist side of you yeah

put so it’s an activist side of you yeah

put so it’s an activist side of you yeah nice i like that so we have an activist

so I’m gonna ask you one more question

so I’m gonna ask you one more question yes and I’m gonna read something that

yes and I’m gonna read something that

yes and I’m gonna read something that you wrote because sometimes at the camps

you wrote because sometimes at the camps

you wrote because sometimes at the camps we do writing exercises and so there was

we do writing exercises and so there was

we do writing exercises and so there was something that really caught me and I

something that really caught me and I

something that really caught me and I wanted you to I wanted to highlight it

wanted you to I wanted to highlight it

wanted you to I wanted to highlight it and I wanted you to elaborate on it you

and I wanted you to elaborate on it you

and I wanted you to elaborate on it you wrote the world view South Sudan as only

wrote the world view South Sudan as only

wrote the world view South Sudan as only a war zone which is absolutely wrong and

a war zone which is absolutely wrong and

a war zone which is absolutely wrong and so I want you to speak to that and tell

so I want you to speak to that and tell

so I want you to speak to that and tell tell us why is that wrong and what you

tell us why is that wrong and what you

tell us why is that wrong and what you want this group of people to know about

want this group of people to know about

want this group of people to know about your country all right before answer

your country all right before answer

your country all right before answer that question I just want to just say

that question I just want to just say

that question I just want to just say something small this morning as we were

something small this morning as we were

something small this morning as we were having our tea and breakfast the

having our tea and breakfast the

having our tea and breakfast the waitress text when she came and she

waitress text when she came and she

waitress text when she came and she serves this and as you say I worry

serves this and as you say I worry

serves this and as you say I worry because guys from we said South Sudan

because guys from we said South Sudan

because guys from we said South Sudan she was like oh how is the war over

she was like oh how is the war over

she was like oh how is the war over there I mean I’m a South Sudanese and

there I mean I’m a South Sudanese and

there I mean I’m a South Sudanese and I’m here I’m in the middle of you at

I’m here I’m in the middle of you at

I’m here I’m in the middle of you at like okay this is what they me that I’m

like okay this is what they me that I’m

like okay this is what they me that I’m in Washington I’m happy I’m holding my

in Washington I’m happy I’m holding my

in Washington I’m happy I’m holding my camera I have pictures i have future I’m

camera I have pictures i have future I’m

camera I have pictures i have future I’m a law student I go to university I’m

a law student I go to university I’m

a law student I go to university I’m living in Juba I’m not living outside

living in Juba I’m not living outside

living in Juba I’m not living outside Jubal so seriously I’m with this

Jubal so seriously I’m with this

Jubal so seriously I’m with this pictures it’s quite amazing and I feel

pictures it’s quite amazing and I feel

pictures it’s quite amazing and I feel the society such a great opportunity for

the society such a great opportunity for

the society such a great opportunity for me that I attended the photo camp

me that I attended the photo camp

me that I attended the photo camp because through the cameras we can view

because through the cameras we can view

because through the cameras we can view South Sudan as not only a country that

South Sudan as not only a country that

South Sudan as not only a country that has weapons and this ak-47 and all the

has weapons and this ak-47 and all the

has weapons and this ak-47 and all the stuff but we also have we have streets

stuff but we also have we have streets

stuff but we also have we have streets we have children who cried half was

we have children who cried half was

we have children who cried half was we have we have future we have life we

we have we have future we have life we

we have we have future we have life we had a true photo camp and now we have

had a true photo camp and now we have

had a true photo camp and now we have found a new collective called South

found a new collective called South

found a new collective called South South Sudanese photographers collective

South Sudanese photographers collective

South Sudanese photographers collective we just trying to continue with what

we just trying to continue with what

we just trying to continue with what photograph has done there so we are

photograph has done there so we are

photograph has done there so we are still humanizing the life in South Sudan

still humanizing the life in South Sudan

still humanizing the life in South Sudan their markets there there are parties we

their markets there there are parties we

their markets there there are parties we have weddings everything saturday in the

have weddings everything saturday in the

have weddings everything saturday in the charges and everywhere there’s life