Last week, we went to the annual Cunningsburg Agricultural Show in Shetland.
The highlight of the event for us was the Shetland pony competition. These ponies were initially bred to replace child laborers in coal mines. Their small size and strength made them ideal for pulling coal carts through the low-overhead tunnels. However, their mining days in the USA came to an end in 1971.
We had a great time at the sheep competition, where we saw the prize-winning Shetland wool and some incredible knitting.
Even the electric company was present to promote safety while teaching children to climb power poles!
Here is the link to a gallery containing many more photos from the day. www.bryanwatt.com/cunningsburg2023
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2022-12-09 - Thimphu, Bhutan
In the land of happiness, high in the Himalayan mountains in the Buddhist Kingdom of Bhutan, a festival celebrates compassion, kindness, and love toward animals.
This is the Royal Highland Festival held annually in Laya Bhutan.
I was honored and fortunate to be able to document this festival during my 2022 stay in Bhutan. Please enjoy this 10-minute 4K audio-visual presentation on YouTube.
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2022-08 Finally, we returned to the Lao PDR after being away for 30 months due to covid. We visited with colleagues, neighbors, friends, scholarship students, and graduates living in Vientiane. There was not enough time to return to our village in the north. Our first visit to the Lao PDR was in 1998, and we moved there in 2002, twenty years ago. Now the senior pediatricians Leila volunteered with are retiring, and other doctors we knew as children are assuming responsibilities.
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2021-09 A visit to Romania was finally possible after covid had begun to subside. We traveled with Vlad Dumitrescu. We ended our trip with many lovely photographs and memories of the Romanian people. This trip was unique because we were invited into peoples’ homes and listened to their stories while photographing. Vlad’s love for his country and his kindness, empathy, and compassion toward the people of Romania created an exceptional and incomparable experience. vladdumitrescu.ro
Full-Page Slideshow: Slideshow
I am honored that Bonnier Publishing, Popular Science Magazine Winter 2020 edition, used my photograph as a full-bleed double-page spread to open their story about a conservation-minded health care model that could stop the next pandemic before it starts. The children are tending fishing nets in a stream with rice fields behind them. In the distance, the mountain rainforest trees are home to orangutans, proboscis monkeys, and slow lorises. We saw many orangutans and one proboscis monkey. The slow loris was in a cardboard box for sale in the market. We are pleased to help this organization, Health in Harmony, to document its work.
I am honored to be featured by Sony Alpha as one of 11 humanitarian photographers making a difference in the world.
Bryan Watt
Este fotógrafo humanitario graduado con honores en el instituto de fotografía Brooks ha dedicado su vida de los últimos 16 años a ayudar a los demás. Su manera de hacerlo ha sido a través de la fotografía asistiendo a las organizaciones que ayudan a las personas. Bryan Watt vivió por más de una década con su esposa en un pequeño pueblo de Laos donde se involucró con la construcción de una escuela, ayudando a pacientes a tener acceso médico, además de facilitar a algunos estudiantes a obtener becas para sus estudios. A través de sus fotos, Watt busca elevar la conciencia sobre los más necesitados para reducir las injusticias. Para este fotógrafo “si alguna de sus fotos puede hacer la diferencia en la vida de alguien, ya es una recompensa para mí”. Entre sus clientes y publicaciones se encuentra la Academia Americana de Pediatría, la Asociación Americana del Pulmón, La Asociación Americana de Antropología, la Alianza Cristiana de Huérfanos, Care Australia, El Centro Chiedza de Zimbawe, Facing Africa, entre muchos otros. En esta publicación la Asociación por la educación fotográfica (PIEA) menciona el poder de la fotografía y habla del trabajo de este fotógrafo en LAOS. En 2002, Bryan Watt fue seleccionado como uno de los más talentosos fotoperiodistas y fue invitado a contribuir con Vision Sacred, un sitio que utiliza la fotografía y el tema de lo sagrado para recaudar fondos para los sin techo y familias que dependen de la Olla comunitaria capuchina en Detroit, en la casa Jefferson, un centro de recuperación para adictos.
I am proud and honored to have my humanitarian photographs featured in the Art and photography showcase of the International Humanitarian Summit. They selected and invited only a handful of photographers from around the world to exhibit their masterpieces focusing on humanitarian principles.
The International Humanitarian Summit is a powerful platform for knowledge sharing and in-depth analysis of humanitarian issues that abound in society today in order to raise awareness on humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence.
A group of leaders came together to tackle an important and influential issue in our world today on How Human Values Positively Affect Societies and How it Paves the Way to Increase Morals and Integrity and eliminate racism and discrimination. Hadley Gamble, CNBC News Anchor, CNBC Middle East moderated this session. Panel members included:
H.E. Afra Mohamed Al Saabri, General Director Ministry of Tolerance & Coexistence, UAE
Dr. Mariwan Baker, Ph.D., Founder and Chairman, Bring Hope Humanitarian Foundation
Suhail Ghazi Algosaibi, Founder and Chairman of Board of Trustees, Bahrain Foundation for Dialogue, Kingdom of Bahrain
Prof. Azza Karam, Secretary-General, Religions for Peace
Rev. Prof. Dr. Ioan Sauca, Interim General Secretary, World Council of Churches
https://www.internationalhumanitariansummit.com
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8-page story about the Maya Health Alliance, Wuqu‘ Kawoq
I’m pleased to announce that the latest issue #14 of Photographers Without Borders PWB magazine features my work! I’m humbled and honored to share the 8-page story about the Maya Health Alliance, Wuqu‘ Kawoq NGO serving the Guatemalan Indigenous community.
Print copies of issue #14 are available for pre-order here.
www.photographerswithoutborders.org/shop
Wuqu‘ Kawoq, Maya Health Alliance
www.wuqukawoq.org
#MayaHealth #WuquKawoq #Guatemala #globalhealth #ngo #nonprofit #QuedateEnCasa @photographerswithoutborders #PhotographersWithoutBorders
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Here is a pdf file summarizing our most recent visit to Lao
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2021 The Galápagos Islands off the coast of Ecuador are unique for their approachable wildlife under the sea, on the land, and in the air. Here are a few photos of the creatures we saw during our holiday there in 2019.
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Thimphu, Bhutan, August 2019] Upon a Himalayan hillside overlooking the city of Thimphu in the Kingdom of Bhutan, there exists a Buddhist Nunnery where a small group of nuns endures. The Anim pray for the benefit of all sentient beings and serve the pilgrims who come to pray with them. The Anim of the Thangthong Dewachen Nunnery fine art photography book has just been released to raise funds for the Nunnery.
The Anim invited Bryan Watt, Humanitarian Photographer, to accompany them inside their temple as they perform archaic rituals, analyze scripture, and learn Buddhist philosophy. I was encouraged to join the Anim in the rituals of Saga Dawa, the most auspicious day of the year. It is the day Lord Buddha was conceived, born, defeated evil, gained enlightenment, and attained Nirvana. The concluding day of the event culminates in the unfurling and raising of the Guru Thangtong Gyalpo’s Thongdrel. An immense and gorgeous tapestry that bestows blessings to those who merely view it. Pilgrims travel for many days to join the Anim in prayer and witness the Thongdrel.
As days pass and rituals progress, Bryan transforms from a photographer to a participant with a camera. In this book, each page depicts the Anim’s purpose, dedication, and devotion to serving others. Bryan honors the Anim for their kindness and generosity by presenting them with this book. May all the prayers contained in this book influence you to bestow benefits and help upon others.
Thank you to graphic artist and graphic designer Sabine Meyers for all her help, inspiration, and dedication to producing a beautiful design of this book. sabinemyers.com
Hardcover editions are available for sale at the Thangthong Dewachen Nunnery located in Zilukha above Thimphu. The book is available for purchase from Amazon as a hardcover or Kindle edition.
https://www.amazon.com/Bryan-Watt/e/B088W15FH9
Thank you
National Library & Archives of Bhutan
[Thimphu, Bhutan, October 2019] The Anim of the Thangthong Dewachen Nunnery book was cataloged into the National Library & Archives of Bhutan, Department of Culture. This library is the principal scriptural repository and research facility dedicated to preserving the literary, cultural, and religious heritage of Bhutan. Their scripture and document collection is a national treasure. Dr. Yonten Dargye, Director of the National Library, Chief Research Officer, and author, graciously accepted the book. He considers it to be of national interest, importance, and worthy of inclusion. Dr. Yonten stated it was the first book in the library featuring the nuns of Bhutan.
I am extremely honored that my photographic documentation of the Anim of the Thangthong Dewachen Nunnery in Bhutan is considered to be culturally significant and of national interest and significance. As part of the library collection, it will become a part of Bhutan's documentary heritage. I believe this work embodies and expresses my gratitude and appreciation to Rinpoche and the Anim for their kindness and generosity for sharing their world with me and allowing me to record their daily lives and rituals. Thank you, Dr. Yonten Dargye, and Mr. Yeshey Lhendup.
2019-03 Maya Health Alliance
Documenting the Maya Health Alliance on assignment in Guatemala with Photographers Without Borders
I accepted an assignment with Photographers Without Borders www.photographerswithoutborders.org to provide the Maya Health Alliance, known in Guatemala as Wuku’ Kawoq www.wuqukawoq.org with photographs for their website, social media, reports, fundraising, and training. We photographed on location in Guatemala for two weeks during March 2019, documenting various projects in many areas. I was most moved by home visits to special needs families.
All photographs © Bryan Watt for Photographers Without Borders 2019
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We ended last year by completing an assignment on Tonlé Sap Lake in Cambodia. This year the fishery is performing well. They tell us that it is due to increased water levels in the lake due to the dam failure upstream on the Mekong River. Here is a group of fishers cleaning fish while sitting in a floating home on the lake. There are photographs featured on the website homepage slideshow.]]>
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This visit highlighted "The Floating Garden" project sponsored by the American Academy of Pediatrics. Its goal is to teach families living full time on the water to build gardens and grow vegetables to improve the nutrition of their children. Patients learn about nutrition and nutritious foods during their visits to the clinics.
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I photographed the Lumbini Medical College and Hospital located in Western Nepal near Tansen to convey a sense of the location, hospital, facilities, and staff. Several hundred photographs from this assignment have been uploaded to the password protected client area of this webpage for their use in recruitment, fundraising, website, and other media. Here are a few photographs from inside the hospital.
I believe that helping this medical school and teaching hospital, is to assist in the development of the medical system and bring long-term benefits to families living in Nepal.
The community surrounding the hospital.
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Friends Without a Border (FWAB) just published their 2016 Annual Report. My photos appear on the cover and pages 14, 15, and 20.
Download the report here or from the Friends Without a Border website: fwab.org/annualreport/
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I am honored for the opportunity to have my work highlighted in the faculty profile feature of the Alumni Association of Brooks Institute Summer Newsletter of 2017.
Here are the excerpted pages from the newsletter: www.bryanwatt.com/brooks_institute_faculty_profile_bryan_watt.pdf
Or here is a link to download the complete newsletter directly from the Alumni Association of Brooks Institute website:
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It has been 12 years since President Clinton has honored us by sending a letter commending our efforts helping people in the Lao PDR and for making this world a better place. We hope that our continued efforts continue to merit his commendation and inspire others to contribute to making this world a better place.
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Three very happy children in Vientiane, Lao PDR
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A father's hard working hands softly support his baby. This photograph is from a village I visited in Northern Lao PDR. © Bryan Watt
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Here are a few of the people who live in the beautiful Haa Valley.
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I am honored to be included in the Raptim Humanitarian Travel list of 9 Must See Humanitarian Photographers
9-Must-See-Humanitarian-Photographers
Humanitarian photographers
Humanitarian photographers use their cameras as tools of exploration. A way of showing us what happens at locations we haven’t visited ourselves. Their images are proof that photography matters, especially regarding humanitarian work. Listed below are nine inspiring humanitarian photographers that took us on a journey by providing powerful and emotional humanitarian photographs. Their images are often placed in global media, but you can also simply take a look at their website for a portfolio.
Read more about Raptim here: https://www.devex.com/news/a-travel-company-serving-those-who-serve-the-world-70597
Raptim itself is a non-profit organisation which was founded in 1949 in the postwar period in Europe where there was a need for such international initiatives. Today, Raptim has offices around the world. The head office is located in Holland where it all began.
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We had the priviledge of documenting the activities of the The Lake Clinic in December 2016. The thing that is most impressive about this NGO is the team. Everyone assumes equal responsibility to ensure that the necessary tasks are completed. The team is very compassionate and find ways to help families in need. They are very dedicated to the communities they serve. We encourage you to help support their good work.
The Lake Clinic is a project dedicated to bringing basic healthcare, as well as disease surveillance and proper medical referrals to a severely isolated and underserved region of Cambodia -- the Tonle Sap. The primary focus of TLC is to provide these isolated villagers with competent and consistent health care comparable to what can be found in a well managed health center. The Lake Clinic seeks to mitigate the detrimental impact of preventable illnesses through early diagnosis of disease; treatment on an out-patient basis; referral to a hospital (and assistance in transportation to the hospital) when necessary as well as health education. For up to date information about TLC and their activities you can also visit and “Like”, The Lake Clinic Cambodia, on Facebook.
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In October 2016 we witnessed Joe Cunningham at Bay Breeze Farm on Vashon Island Washington teach his students to groom, saddle, and ride horses. He instructs his students how to be sensitive to their horses in order to develop mutual trusting relationships. Handling and communicating with these large animals boosts his students self-esteem and confidence. Joe teaches much more than horse riding. He teaches his students how to succeed.
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Tonle Sap Lake Cambodia, In December 2016, we documented the floating garden project sponsored by ICATCH through the Americal Academy of Pediatrics and managed by The Lake Clinic. Many children living in floating fishing villages are malnourished and stunted. The villages are nomadic and move to where fish can be found. They have no land. This project teaches families how to build floating gardens and provides them with supplies for their construction. The vegetables grown in these gardens should help improve the nutritional status of the children.
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A couple of years ago we were robbed on a crowded bus in Uganda. All that was taken was a computer and an Amazon Kindle ebook reader. Fortunately, we use online backup software. That evening we continued to work on the files that we had worked on that morning. All we needed to do was to download them from the online backup software website and continue to work on them. Loosing these files would have meant loosing several days work, and having to do the work second time would not have produced as good results. We backup on external disks, but not every day.
We have used several online backup vendors in the past and are now using Backblaze. Their software works well on Mac and Windows. The only caveat is that it takes a few hours to find new files unless you have it rescan the computer for new files. It only takes a couple of minutes to scan over 3TB of data so it's easy. This scan command is not on their menus, but available from their website. On the Mac click on the "Restore Options" menu while pressing the "Options" key.
The software works well on terrible internet connections and is able to slowly back up large files a portion at a time. Earlier this year we stayed at a hotel in China with 60 mbps upload speed so Backblaze took advange of this and transfered hundreds of gigabytes over a few days.
I also set up the computer at the Health Frontiers NGO office in Vientiane Laos with Backblaze. It works in the background without any intervention by the office staff.
Backblaze just sent me an offer "Invite a friend to Backblaze. They get a month free. When they buy, you get a month free" Here is the link: https://secure.backblaze.com/r/01lwsl So if you buy, Health Frontiers will get one month free. They are a non-profit helping to train pediatricians so it's a good thing. Backblaze just sent me this link and it prompted me to share my experiences with you and most importantly save you from loosing your work.
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I am honored to have been selected as a judge for the HVO 2016 Photo Contest
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Here is the photograph as a spread in the Expressen newspaper from Sweden
This is my favorite photograph from their visit. A quiet and peaceful tea time with Her Majesty on a bench in the mountains above Thimphu, Bhutan.
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The documentary imparts the stories of hopes, dreams, and inspiration for everyone.
Thank you to Laura Z. from customer service at http://www.airbnb.com for all your help with our reservation in Canada. Thank you also for your generous donation of $100 USD towards our humanitarian work. We already passed along your donation to the Ability Bhutan Society www.absbhutan.org. They help disabled people from all over Bhutan.
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Lowepro deserves special mention for great customer service!
Last year, at Photoplus Expo in New York, I evaluated camera backpacks from all the manufacturers present. All the representatives, especially the Lowepro representative were helpful and tolerated repeated visits to their booths. In my opinion, I determined the best backpack for my needs to be the Lowepro ProTactic 450 AW Camera and Laptop Backpack. http://store.lowepro.com/protactic-450-aw. I do not have a house, and are constantly traveling, so this backpack has to fit my computer and all my photography equipment. This backpack has already accompanied me to many countries including a two-week trek in the Ganesh-Himal sub-range of the Himalayas. It's comfortable despite everything I'm able to fit inside. Not only was it comfortable to wear, but it was so quick and easy to take off and access my gear.
Disaster struck at the airport in Nepal. The bag made it through two x-ray machines and a short walk to the waiting area. When it came time to board the airplane I realized that half of the sternum strap was missing. It must have been caught and pulled off in the x-ray machine. I went back as far as the first x-ray machine, but they could not find it. Sadly I continued on my travels. As usual, the backpack fit nicely in the overhead bin, even in the ATR-42 airplane. Next time I will buckle and check all the straps before putting it through anything risky.
When I arrived in Bhutan, I contacted Maury Cohen, Product Specialist, at Lowepro. Right away Lowepro express-mailed a replacement strap to the home of another volunteer leaving the USA for Bhutan a few days later. A couple of weeks later, the volunteer and I met at a meeting she had organized, and I was documenting. She gave me the sternum strap before the meeting began. Thank you Linda.
Thank you Maury, and Lowepro, for such great customer service, and also for a great well-designed camera backpack.
(Photograph from the Lowepro website)
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Friends without a Border 2015 Annual Report http://file.fwab.org/FWAB%202015%20Annual%20Report.pdf
Health in Harmony 2015 Annual Report http://www.healthinharmony.org
Ability Bhutan Society 2015 Triannual Report http://www.absbhutan.org
Preliminary online report: http://www.absbhutan.org/downloads/ABS%20Annual%20Report%20Print%20Oct%206.pdf
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In the Buddhist country of Bhutan, herders never kill their cows.
Judged by: David Alexander Arnold, Photo Editor, Travel + Leisure; Lindsay Blatt, Photo Editor, Instagram; Lea Golis, Director of Photography, Departures Magazine; Andrew Ward, Photo Editor, The Travel Channel http://www.shutterloveonline.com/contest_galleries/worldinfocus/2016/
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Little Birth Attendant Helpers
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Please ask if you would like to see more photographs or videos from our work in Africa.
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]]>A Course in Disaster Preparedness
Monday – Friday, June 9-13, 2014
Case Western Reserve University
Cleveland, Ohio
Presented by:
Department of Pediatrics, MetroHealth Medical Center and Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital Departments of Psychiatry, Obstetrics/Gynecology, and Emergency Medicine, University Hospitals Case Medical Center
Master of Public Health Program in the Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics and the Center for Global Health and Diseases, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
Health Frontiers
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Bwalo Initiative is specifically for street children and other vulnerable young people from 10 to 18 years. For the youth of Zomba, With their center they offer them "a home away from home, a safe environment where these boys and girls can develop socially, where they receive counseling, shelter and food, and that is been working to return to the family.
This initiative is a local NGO sponsored by the Be More Foundation from the Netherlands.
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L'Institut pour la Promotion des Arts Présente Declics Exposition Photographique
4-12 June 2005
Centre Culturel De Bois. Colombes
Cultural center in Bois-Colombes, France
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SOIREE DE CLOTURE - EXPOSITION AKHA
VENDREDI 8 AVRIL 2005
Dans le cadre de l'exposition photographique Akha organisée par l'association Vlh Season, les équipes de Backone France et de Vth Season vous convient à la projection spéciale du film • Une Double Mort», documentaire de Alain Bourrillon, extrait de sa collection de DVD« Peuples de Légendes•· qui se tiendra le vendredi 8 avril 2005 à 19H en présence du réalisateur.
Cette soirée marquera la dôture de l'exposition photographique Akha installée actuellement au centre culturel Mathis à Paris et ce jusqu'au samedi 9 avril 2005, en l'honneur de cette ethnie minoritaire d'Asie.
L'organi sation de cet événement intervient en faveur de la promotion du centre média & culture (CMC) de Chiang Mai en Thaïlande du Nord. Ce centre, pris en Charge depuis deux ans par Vth Season et son partenaire thaîlandais, l'association Mountain People for Culture and Development. a pour objectif de permettre au peuple montagnard Akha d'acquérir une autonomi e dans la conception et la diffusion de l'information, grâce aux nouveaux médias.
Grâce à la participation d'artistes internationaux, à l'image du photographe Bryan Watt, auteur des photographies exposées, les événements organi sés par Vlh Season sont un premier pont culturel créé entre Akha et occidentaux. L'auteur-réalisateur Alain Bourrillon, dont le film "Une Double Mort" est produit par Backone France, représente également un relais important entre la culture Akha et étrangère par le contenu même de son œuvre audiovisuelle. Fai re vivre l'image des peuples du monde, tel est l'objectif de Alain Bourrillon qui a trouvé auprés de l'association Vth Season, un moyen de commun iquer sur une des nombreuses ethnies qu'il a rencontrées.
Au Centre culturel Mathis
Exposition photographique Akha du mardi 29 mars au samedi 9 avril 2005 Paris France
