Quote: Pablo Picasso

"In every child there is an artist. The problem is how to stay an artist growing up."

Art By Acquisition Submission To The Alberta Foundation For The Arts 2020

Here is my latest submission to the art acquisition program at the Alberta Foundation of the Arts. I got one rather docile photograph into this years ago, and since then NADA! Asking $600 a 16x20 print. If I sell anything to the province the money will go back to the families in the dump. Not holding my breath thou after the last 5 or so rejections.

Woo-wee-kai with her father in their home, THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP, Mae Sot garbage dump, Mae Sot, Thailand 2019

Family in their dump home, THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP, Mae Sot garbage dump, Mae Sot Thailand 2016

Child waiting for mother to finish work, THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP, Mae Sot garbage dump, Mae Sot, Thailand 2015

Nui-ooh walking the garbage, THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP, Mae Sot, Thailand 2016

Dump shack homes and dogs, THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP, Mae Sot garbage dump, Mae Sot, Thailand 2016

Corona

In these difficult days of Convid-19, please every one take care of yourself as best you can. We can beat this virus if we respond with intelligence and love. We need to put fear, selfishness, greed and hate behind us. Reach out to those in need and give them a helping hand..

Our country leaders need to help other nations as well, they, need to share resources and medical and other trained personnel. This is a world wide pandemic. We all need each other. If we unite as one, if we fight as one, the virus does not stand a chance. Everyone should remember we all bleed red,. we are all human beings, lets put our manufactured differences behind us and respond to this pandemic with love and courage. This could be a historic turning point on how we interact and live as human beings. With cooperation, love and respect this terrible virus could evtually lead to a better world for all of us. Let us all be one people in this joined battle!

Woo family mother and son, THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP, Mae Sot garbage dump, Mae Sot, Thailand 2016

Woo family mother and son, THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP, Mae Sot garbage dump, Mae Sot, Thailand 2016

Woo family mother and son, THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP, Mae Sot garbage dump, Mae Sot, Thailand 2016

Two girls with dogs, THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP, Mae Sot garbage dump, Mae Sot, Thailand 2016

Decided to post a few pics, just to take my mind off viruses.

Two girls with dogs, THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP, Mae Sot garbage dump, Mae Sot, Thailand 2016

Two girls with dogs, THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP, Mae Sot garbage dump, Mae Sot, Thailand 2016

A few days later she had a shaved head to help fight the dumps lice problem

Quote: Mahatma Gandhi

"The world has enough for everyone's need, but not enough for everyone's greed."

Gerrry Yaum Meets Others, 3 Dump Photographers

Found this link today, connecting THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP photo project to two other photographers work in garbage dumps in different parts of the world (Ghana and Kenya). I like the work of the other photogs better than my own, need to improve my own efforts.

People, families, children worldwide are so desperate they dig in garbage to survive. There is something fundamentally wrong with a world that allows that to happen. We have money to take our dogs to get shampoos and haircuts, we have money to buy guns and a 3rd car, we can afford exotic vacations to far off places but children still need to dig in garbage for food? How can that be?

Update* from Facebook...

Found this today, people world wide digging in garbage to survive. Wonder what there lives are like now in this Corona world. I worry for the families in the dump, as they are Burmese living in Thailand. People of foreign origin sometimes get blamed-attacked during a crisis. Fear does strange things especially when the the most powerful man in the world is using terms like CHINESE virus. On the link there are stories about dumps and the people who work them in Kenya and Ghana.

https://threader.app/thread/1150022024003276802

Thailand

https://asiaphotoreview.com/interview-families-of-the-dump-forgotten-laughter-gerry-yaum/

Ghana

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/gallery/2014/feb/27/agbogbloshie-worlds-largest-e-waste-dump-in-pictures

Kenya

https://www.thenational.ae/world/africa/kenya-s-biggest-landfill-poses-climate-change-question-in-pictures-1.800674

Quote: Roman Poem

Speaking of the mixing of races/cultures/countries.

"We are waves from the same sea."

VIRUS Protected Delivery Dude

Gosh the pizza delivery guy just came into the guard shack with a mask and gloves, sort of like he was handling plutonium. It was 2 pizzas so maybe he was!

Times are certainly changing because of the Corona Virus.

UPDATES*

from Facebook...

Updates*
1)Got some more good news. I do not know any details of any kind but it seems the photos will be included in a second print magazine "Analogforever" sometime in 2020. So for 41 years of photo making there was no published work in any photography print magazines, and now I have 3 lined up for 2020. 2 with "Shades of Grey" and 1 with "Analogforever". Best part in this new trend is that the stories of my photo subjects will be told to larger audiences. That offers a personal feeling of relief. A feeling that I lived up to the gift my subjects gave me. the gift of allowing me to photograph their lives. Now their stories are being told at least on a tiny small scale. I will try taking some magazines out to show them if I can.
2)The photos for THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP and the Interview have been submitted to "Shades of Grey", so that is done! My next worry is completing all the photos needed for the coming THE PEOPLE UNDER THE FREEWAY "Shades of Grey" magazine edition. I am not sure if "Shades of Grey" wants a second interview for the "Freeway" stories. I am so disorganized when it comes to finding photos and editing them, that this "sending them photos" process always takes me longer than the rest of the modern world :). Finding the actual files or negs, then editing them, which I suck at, is always such an adventure. Heck I just learned about file transfer sites last week, am using "wetranfer".
As for the "Analog Forever" magazine I have no idea what photos they might use. I sent them some images from the 2 Thai projects and also photos from MY FATHERS LAST DAYS, my fathers fight with pancreatic cancer. I hope they choose the dad work. My father would be happy to know he is being remembered in a magazine. Hope they choose dad.
3)The public print sale to raise money for THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP in Los Angeles was delayed. Hopefully that will still happen once the Corona Virus danger is over. I have been told by my friend Hon who is the organizer, that it will be a go later. If the print sales make $7 CAD to buy a pair of boots for the families, then it is a success in my eyes.
4) The next Thai trip???? I booked off 7 weeks holiday time from work last week and requested holiday pay. but have not booked an air ticket yet. With the current world wide pandemic, there are so many unknowns. The trip is not planned until September 2020 which is 6 months away. I hope this happens. I need to get back to the garbage and hand out the remaining donation money (in the form of goods) as well as continue to photograph THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP in Mae Sot, and THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE UNDER THE FREEWAY in Klong Toey slum, Bangkok. I am also thinking of starting a 3rd Thai series next trip, if I am able to travel.
5) Sent out submissions for the two projects to the "IN SIGHT" section of the Washington Post newspaper. Doubtful the work will be accepted, but it is worth a shot. There is a link on my blog for those that want to try.
6) My super large HF3535 view camera (35x35 inch) suffered some water damage before shipping from the Czech republic. The damage has been repaired by Filip the builder, and the camera should be shipped to Canada soon.

Another Try At "In Sight", THE WASHINGTON POST, Photo Series Page

Sent in a more in depth submission of THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP, to the IN SIGHT section of the Washington Post (tried before and failed to get in). I also sent in THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE UNDER THE FREEWAY for the first time.

For "Families" I sent in the latest PDF file and 20 additional photos. For "Freeway" I sent their newest PDF file. Also sent links to my blog, to help the important people research the work, history etc.

Hope this works this time.

Gerry

'Here is a link for those of you that would like to try.

Washington Post In Sight Submission Link

More Good News, Analogforevermagazine

Got some more good photo news tonight. ANALOGFOREVER Magazine, will publish some of the work in some form later this year. I do not know any more details than that at present. It has to be a good thing thou. So that will be the 3rd the photos will get into a photography magazine. "Shades of Grey" 2 times and Analog Forever Magazine 1 time.

Update* My hope is that they will publish photos of dads battle with pancreatic cancer from MY FATHERS LAST DAYS

https://www.analogforevermagazine.com

Possible "Shades Of Grey" Magazine, UNB Art Centre Exhibition Photograph

This little girl was sitting on a wooden platform protected from the sun. Her mother had placed her there as she worked the nearby garbage. A coworker in Canada where I work as a guard, had donated some pink child boots. I gave the boots to this little girl. Most children in the dump do not look sick and weak, but this poor child definitely did. We also gave her a donated toy doll.

Note* Many of the children in the dump have shaved heads because of the lice problem.

The Pink Boots Donation Story

Young girl in the garbage waiting for her mother to finish work, THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP, Mae Sot garbage dump, Mae Sot Thailand, 2016

Young girl in the Garbage waiting for her mother to finish work, THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP, Mae Sot garbage dump, Mae Sot, Thailand 2015

from Facebook...

Making up a final few images for the "Shades of Grey" magazine people.

Young boy in dump shack, THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP, Mae Sot garbage dump, Mae Sot, Thailand, 2015

Young boy in dump shack, THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP, Mae Sot garbage dump, Mae Sot, Thailand, 2015

Thoughts The Nui-ooh Image

LS appreciate the image very much. What comes to mind are the disturbing images of children running from terror and the assassination from a gunshot to the head in the Vietnam War. These images were disturbing. If the WWW existed in the 1960s, the images would have had more immediate but equivalent power. In fact, I am sure their print publication evoked similar accusations of inappropriateness. Squelching expression is not something I support, even though there are many things I disagree with, especially on the unfiltered WWW.

LS Looking at this image, I feel the image I posted today while (to me) aesthetically pleasing is pointless. It makes me question why I take pictures of such inert things. I don't have the courage to photograph human suffering..

GERRY YAUM  L...thank you so much for your kind words. I have always preferred photos with a human story in it, that is what I love. Telling the stories of forgotten people. After saying all of that where would the world be without the Ansel's of the world? Lifting our spirits and inspiring our souls with the majesty of the natural world. There are many types of important photography, we all have different visions. Follow your heart and chase yours down.

 The Eddie Addams photo of the police chief educating a Viet Cong suspect in Saigon during the Vietnam War has always been powerful photograph that helped end the Vietnam War. Sometimes photography can save lives.

Nui-ooh walks the garbage, THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP, Mae Sot garbage dump, Mae Sot, Thailand 2019

Possible "Shades Of Grey" Magazine, UNB Art Centre Exhibition Photograph

from Facebook...

Early Morning Smoke

This is a 2019 photograph. It was made about 530am minutes after arriving at the dump. The Woo family father had just woke up, he was sleeping in a tiny shelter covered in flies. Mr. Woo is a kind and quiet man, with a sweet smile. His family had left for Burma and he was alone in the garbage, he missed his 2 young children. He and his wife had marital problems and that is why he was left alone. The year before I had photographed him in another region of the dump, his family was still in Mae Sot but living in another home. A number of husband-wife relationships I know of have broken down in the 7 years that I have made photos in the families. As you can imagine, there is a lot of relationship stress, living and working in such difficult conditions.

Early morning smoke, THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP, Mae Sot garbage dump, Mae Sot, Thailand 2019

Early morning smoke, THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP, Mae Sot garbage dump, Mae Sot, Thailand 2019

Possible "Shades Of Grey" Magazine, UNB Art Centre Exhibition Photograph

from Facebook...

Dump Shacks and Dogs Photo

Another found neg from the dump series. Found this while searching through my box of 5x7 negatives made in the dump in 2016. I have always scanned and used another version of this composition before. In that exposure the dogs have different head positions. Now, I think I now prefer this one. Will submit it as a possible photo to be included in the "Shades of Grey" magazine story (opening, establishing picture?). It might also eventually used in the UNB exhibition.

When I was making this picture one early morning in the dump. I kept thinking "DOGS DON'T MOVE!!!" The dogs are rather skittish in the dump, most are wild and afraid of people, so setting up a 5x7 view camera and going through all the camera operation steps could have easily spooked them. The dogs thou stayed put and allowed me to make 3 or 4 exposures. Thank you dump dogs (maybe they remembered I would feed them sometimes, maybe a good karma thingy). The brown dog in the foreground was a bit of a pet, and would hang around peoples homes, so he might have been a tad more tame.
The homes in the background are where some of the families lived at that time. Around 2017 the homes were demolished as they were too close to a new roadway and the authorities did not like the message the buildings were sending. The people were moved to a more hidden far off place in the dump, and their shack homes were knocked down.

Dump homes with dogs, THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP, Mae Sot garbage dump, Mae Sot, Thailand, 2016

Dump homes with dogs, THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP, Mae Sot garbage dump, Mae Sot, Thailand 2016

Possible "Shades Of Grey" Magazine, UNB Art Centre Exhibition Photograph

Brother, brother, sister, THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP, Mae Sot garbage dump, Mae Sot, Thailand 2013

Brother, brother, sister, THE FAMILIES OF HE DUMP, Mae Sot garbage dump, Mae Sot, Thailand 2013

Possible "Shades Of Grey" Magazine, UNB Art Centre Exhibition Photograph

Boys in the garbage, THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP, Mae Sot garbage dump, Mae Sot, Thailand 2013

Boys in the garbage, THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP, Mae Sot garbage dump, Mae Sot, Thailand 2013

Master Print Samples For UNB Art Centre Show

Had a good talk with my buddy Larry recently about the coming UNB Art Centre show. He suggested I send them samples before they print the big 44 inch tall images. I was thinking of that tonight during my night shift, sent Larry this note. Sometimes its good to have such helpful photography friends. I think I will go with his idea. It took me 9 days to get the message, but I finally go it!

Larry I had an idea tonight..based on something you mentioned last meal.

For the UNB show in 2020..maybe I can make sample master prints in a smaller size...then send those to the people in Fredericton for them to use as a guide for the super large stuff...Avedon did that for his white background American West photos..first did up 16x20s the way he liked them before printing the big stuff.

Thanks for your suggestion Larry.

Possible "Shades Of Grey" Magazine, UNB Art Centre Exhibition Photograph

from Facebook....

Another possible image for the "Shades of Grey" mag, UNB exhibition. This is a new negative, that I have never printed before. I have been photographing this young girl Woo-wee-kai and her family for 7 years now.

Woo-wee-kai in hammock next to working dump, THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP, Mae Sot garbage dump, Mae Sot, Thailand. 2013

Woo-wee-kai in hammock, next to working dump, THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP, Mae Sot garbage dump, Mae Sot, Thailand, 2013

Good News, Photos For Sale In LA, To Help THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP

Got some good news tonight. An online friend will help with selling some photos in Los Angeles. Portraits from the FAMILIES OF THE DUMP SERIES. I will send them the files from 5 recently edited photos and my friend will print them out and try to sell them at a photography showcase at a warehouse in LA. All money earned will of course go directly back to the families in the dump. Will use the money (if any photos are bought) to buy, boots, headlamps, food, medicines and candy for the kids. Will post more details later.

This is what I love about social documentary photography, it is not about the 'CONCEITED ARTIST" me, me, me thing, but is instead about helping those in need, helping the people in the pictures. Here's hoping we can make some sales together in Los Angeles!

Am also looking at buying an Air Ticket to Thailand soon. Because of the Corona Virus, tickets are currently $400-600 CAD cheaper. A bit risky to go but the end justifies things in my mind, hopefully things will calm down by the time I fly around August/September. I need to continue the photo and humanitarian work. Sitting back on my lazy ass in Canada, being afraid, does not work for me. I need to get out there and make pictures.

I also want to shoot my new/used Hasselblad.

My New/Used Hasselblad X1D

Want to do up some of those large exhibition pictures for the UNB Art Centre exhibition with some higher res files. The 44 inch tall prints they are going to print for the show, are a bit intimidating to me. Need to make some new pics with the Blad during the 2020, and 2021 trips before the 2022 exhibition in New Brunswick.

The Photos For Sale In The Los Angeles Warehouse Showcase (ASIA PHOTO REVIEW)

These are the 5 photos chosen for sale, will send out the files to my friend in LA tomorrow. All the money earned goes directly back to help the families in the form of boots, headlamps, medicines, food etc. Also to buy some candy/treats for the kids.

Lay-auh barefoot in the garbage, THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP, Mae Sot garbage dump, Mae Sot Thailand 2019

Lay-auh sitting on dump sofa, THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP, Mae Sot garbage dump, Mae Sot Thailand 2019

Nui-ooh wallking  the garbage, THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP, Mae Sot garbage dump, Mae Sot Thailand 2015

Mother and son in the garbage, THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP, Mae Sot garbage dump, Mae Sot Thailand 2016

Girls and dogs in the dump, THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP, Mae Sot garbage dump, Mae Sot Thailand 2016

Possible "Shades Of Grey" Magazine, UNB Art Centre Exhibition Photograph

from Facebook...

Another possible photo for "Shades of Grey' mag, and or UNB exhibition.

I photographed the wedding of the father in this photograph back in 2013. He got married at 17 to his 15 year old bride directly in the garbage dump. This picture was made a few years later in 2015-16, with his young son Chemeeko. The family also had a baby daughter in 2016 and in 2018 the mother of the family was expecting a 3rd child. When I went to the dump in 2019, they had returned to Burma (THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP are Burmese refugees). I was told the family grand mother had gotten sick, so everyone went back home.

When I return to the garbage in 2020, will look for them again. I hope they safe. and healthy. Just before the last time I saw them when I left the dump in 2018 the father in this photo had been bitten by a wild dump dog. We gave him some money for treatment, but am unsure what happened to him, or if his 3rd child was born safely. That is the way it is sometimes at the dump, people you are close to and know well simply disappear.

Little Chemeeko with his father, THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP, Mae Sot garbage dump, Mae Sot, Thailand 2015

Little Chemeeko with his father, THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP, Mae Sot garbage dump, Mae Sot, Thailand 2015

Possible "Shades Of Grey" Magazine, UNB Art Centre Exhibition Photograph

from Facebook.....

Another possible "Shades of Grey" magazine, and or UNB Art Centre exhibition photograph.

This photo was made in 2013, the first time I met this child, he was being taken care of by his young but slightly older sister (you can see her hand on the left of the picture).

I photographed this young boy several times years later, he was always filled with so much fun and mischievousness. He would smile, then pretend to take something from my camera bag before running away, hoping I would chase him. In 2015 I photographed him with his younger sister as they played and hid inside some suitcases they had found in the garbage.

Young baby boy in his dump shack home. THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP, Mae Sot garbage dump, Mae Sot, Thailand, 2013

Young baby boy in his dump shack home, THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP, Mae Sot garbage dump, Mae Sot, Thailand, 2013

Possible "Shades Of Grey" Magazine, UNB Art Centre Exhibition Photograph

This photo was made in 2013. There was an area next to the dump where new families had set up. They had nothing, the mother asked me for rice which we brought for them 2 times. The family only had  the mosquito netting to sleep in,

This same family, is featured in the 2016 and 2019 photos, I added below.

New mother with her children, THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP, Mae Sot garbage dump, Mae Sot, Thailand 2013 (Woo-wee-kai is the girl at the back)

Dump family in their home, THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP, Mae Sot garbage dump, Mae Sot, Thailand 2016

Woo-wee-kai with her father, THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP, Mae Sot garbage dump, Mae Sot, Thailand 2019

Possible "Shades Of Grey" Magazine, UNB Art Centre Exhibition Photograph

Here is Nui-ooh. This little girl always gives me this look of 1/4 curiosity and 3/4 sheer terror when I photograph her in the dump. I have been making pictures of her and her and her family for 7 years now, each and every time Nui-ooh gives me a variation of this same expression, and will stay fixated and staring at me long after I have stopped making photographs. The one time I have seen her smile and relax was when I gave her a doll which had been donated by a little girl in Canada (the daughter of a lady I work with). That one time she was all smiles, stopped the HORROR STARE and played with her new toy.

This photograph was made as Nui-ooh was walking through the garbage alone, near where her mother and father were working. She often just plays and wanders the dump next to her working family (has 2 sisters and 2 brothers). Nui-ooh is a bit older now (this photo is from 2016) so I expect her to be working the garbage beside her bothers and sisters soon.

Nui-ooh walking the garbage, THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP, Mae Sot garbage dump, Mae Sot, Thailand, 2016

Possible "Shades Of Grey" Magazine, UNB Art Centre Exhibition Photograph

From Facebook....

Continuing to work on THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP photos for the coming March issue of "Shades of Grey: Fine Art Photography" magazine. Here is another possible. A photograph of a young boy sleeping in the dump on the dirty ground covered with waste.

The photo was made in 2013 during my second series of trips to the garbage dump at about 530-6am. This young boy was among a group of new people to the dump, numbering around 20. They had no shelters built yet, some in this new group slept in the open on dirty blankets with the mosquitoes and flies while others slept under some old mosquito netting.

When I photographed the group early that morning, I tried to walk quietly so as not to disturb their sleep. This child looked so innocent to me, his hand so beautiful and graceful, a person trapped in the world he was born into. I remember watching the flies walk on the boy as he slept (one is visible on his arm) and wondered how he could sleep, so at peace and undisturbed. I guess you can get used to most anything, if you have to.

Young boy sleeping in the dump, THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP, Mae Sot garbage dump, Mae Sot, Thailand 2013

 Young boy sleeping in the dump, THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP, Mae Sot garbage dump, Mae Sot, Thailand 2013