TTIM 109 – Karl Grobl in Cambodia - a podcast by Ugo Cei and Ralph Velasco

Peering well beyond the surface of unfolding stories, Karl’s photographs reveal the heart, and sometimes, heart-wrenching truth. His images offer viewers intimate glimpses into the lives of ordinary people worldwide, and provide us with the opportunity to reflect and understand their personal struggles and triumphs.

With a keen awareness and reverence for human dignity, Karl creates photographs that not only educate and motivate but also stir the viewers’ deep emotion.

Grobl specializes in humanitarian photojournalism, documenting relief efforts and development work of NGOs worldwide. His clients include World Vision, World Relief, World Emergency Relief, Freedom from Hunger, Catholic Relief Services, Family Health International, Pan American Development Foundation and many more.

Karl has worked for more than 85 different NGOs in over 50 countries, including Sudan, Uganda, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Guinea, Peru, Bolivia, Cambodia, Vietnam, Haiti, Sri Lanka, Philippines, and Senegal, Indonesia, Afghanistan, and Sudan. Covering issues including conflict, post-conflict resolution and reconstruction, HIV/AIDS, prostitution, human trafficking, malaria, cholera, environmental degradation as well as micro-finance and education; Karl’s images have helped countless NGO’s illustrate their programs on Annual Reports, websites and in all sorts of communications.

“My goal is always to create high-impact, evocative images which not only inform, but also spark the desire to become involved… images that cause reflection upon and empathy with another human being’s struggle, all the while, respecting the dignity of those who appear in the photos. When successful, my imagery reveals a common humanity, allowing viewers to see a bit of themselves in other human beings, half a world away. Beyond just providing information… the images should motivate viewers to take action”.

Karl’s images have appeared in publications such as Newsweek, CNN, Geo, Town and Country magazine and The Chronicle of Philanthropy, but the largest majority of his photos appear in the annual reports, newsletters and communications materials of his humanitarian organization clients. Karl’s non-NGO work is represented by Zuma Press, the premier international editorial picture agency and wire service. His 2005 Haiti photo-story “City of God” was nominated for a World Press Photo Award.

Following the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami Karl spent more than a month embedded with five different non-governmental organizations documenting tsunami relief efforts in India, Sri Lanka and Indonesia. One year later he returned to document the reconstruction. He has covered post conflict peacebuilding efforts in Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and East Timor, HIV/Aids issues in Africa and Asia as well as Human trafficking in Cambodia and the Philippines.

In addition to his rigorous international travel schedule, Karl teaches photography workshops and leads international photography tours. He is a regular lecturer on photography and photojournalism and a long time member of the National Press Photographers Association. Karl is a member of the Advisory Counsel of Focus For Humanity, a non profit organization, who’s mission is to provide financial support, resources and training for professional and amateur photographers wishing to work with NGOs. He also works as a technical consultant for several photographic and photography-related technology companies and was featured in a world wide advertising campaign for SanDisk memory cards.

Duration 46m 27s.

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Further episodes of The Traveling Image Makers

Further podcasts by Ugo Cei and Ralph Velasco

Website of Ugo Cei and Ralph Velasco