amelia holowaty krales

As Water Rises, There’s No Place Like (or for) Home

2011-10-21T00:21:00.004-04:00

Some of my work from Tuvalu is highlighted this week on The New York Times Lens and Green blogs

Occupy Wall Street

2011-10-05T14:41:00.005-04:00

Demonstration on October 5, 2011.

Visit to Vaitupu

2011-05-25T23:11:00.004-04:00

Tuvalu's largest island, Vaitupu is located in it's central region and takes about five hours by boat from the capital, Funafuti. Passengers are brought to Vaitupu's shores by smaller boats from the Manu Folau, one of two vessels that travel between Tuvalu's nine islands.

On Sunday, May 22nd a church goer is seen through the wall of Vaitupu's only guest house located behind the islands Ekalesia Kelisiano Tuvalu (EKT) Church.

Andrew Puga

2011-04-11T01:30:00.002-04:00

On April 11th to mark the end of a meeting of the Parties to the Nauru Agreement, groups representing the Tuvaluan islands of Nanumaga and Vaitupua participated in a Fatele, a presentation of song and dance by two alternating groups. Andrew Puga danced with the Vaitupu island community.

Puga and 11 other dancers, singers and musicians will represent Tuvalu in "Water is Rising," a show touring the US later on this year organised by UCLA's Center for Intercultural Performance. Groups from Kiribati and Tokelau, other low-lying countries vulnerable to sea-level rise caused by climate change, will also be represented in the show. This image will be included in promotional materials for the tour.

Lagoon

2011-04-10T18:28:00.001-04:00

Low tide at Funafala, one of Funafuti's islets on April 10, 2011

Rain over the lagoon on December 29, 2010, Fongafale, Funafuti

Tuvalu's Earth Hour

2011-03-27T17:10:00.003-04:00

From 8:30 to 9:30pm on March 26th Tuvalu participated in earth hour, an event started in 2007 that creates climate change awareness by calling for a complete break from electricity usage for one whole hour. With the exception of some municipal buildings and the Tuvalu Electricity Corporation (TEC) power plant, all electricity in Tuvalu's capital Funafuti was shut down in observation of the event.

William Iliala waits for the signal to turn the switch at power substation One, one of five in Fongafale which control the power of the main island of Tuvalu's capital. Iliala has worked for the Tuvalu Electricity Corporation for ten years.

The Tuvalu Electricity Corporation (TEC) power plant sits directly across from the airport, centrally located in Tuvalu's capital, Funafuti. The plant creates electricity from burning diesel fuel. In the first moments of Earth Hour a long exposure highlights the few lights on in the plant, whose facade is illuminated by the headlights of passing motor bikes.

During the hour of darkness, the headlights of bikes and flashlights lit up the runway in central Funafuti.

Using bike as tripod, the view of a palm tree and sky is eerily flattened by a long exposure.

Waiting

2011-03-12T15:07:00.000-05:00

The earthquake in Japan on March 11th sent tsunami warnings throughout the Pacific. In Tuvalu, a warning was issued, predicting a tsunami would hit Funafuti around 1:30am. Many people evacuated to two of the three buildings in Funafuti that are over two stories. Here in the three-story government building, people rested and waited for news until the the early hours of the morning.

Children sleep soundly on the top floor of the government building in Funafuti, Tuvalu's capital.

Teveia Lilipa, 69 listens to Tuvalu's only radio station for updates.

The atmosphere was relaxed on the second floor of the government building where some Funafuti residents had come to after hearing the tsunami warning. Many residents have evacuated for tsunami warnings before, and say the warnings happen about once a year.

TB Workshop at Fetu Valu Secondary School

2011-03-10T17:50:00.002-05:00

TANGO (Tuvalu Association of Non Governmental Organizations) conducted a TB workshop for students at one of Tuvalu's two secondary schools to raise awareness about the disease and ways to prevent it. TANGO is conducting educational workshops at schools and community centers throughout Funafuti.

Chasing the Tides, part II

2011-02-20T18:04:00.004-05:00

Childhood development educator, Teimana Avanitele stands for a portrait facing her flooded backyard and garden. Though this is the King Tide, this flooding happens every month during the highest tides creating a moat around her home. Her house sits on what she believes used to be swamp land that was filled in by American soldiers during WWII when the runway was built. The High tide flooding creates septic problems, and many times destroyed her vegetable garden before she raised the beds above the reach of the water.

Above: the Avanitele family home faces the runway with it's back to a road, popular playing fields and courts. A young fruit tree struggles to survive through the drought of last month and now the brackish water flooding of the King Tides.

Above and below: seaman Fatina Vaiafua, from the central Tuvaluan island Nukufetau, sweeps floating trash in an effort to keep it away from this enclave of homes in the south end of Funafuti. The trash comes from a former dump site a few dozen meters from the path dividing the two rows of houses. He does this once a month during every high tide.

Going north on the main road in Fongafale, the flood waters recede after the King Tide floods the Taisala, or the 'borrow pits' which American Marines dug in WWII for the materials needed to build the airports runway.

The Low before the High

2011-02-19T18:37:00.000-05:00

Around 11am at low tide Peyona S., 9 enjoys a rare, calm moment in the ocean near his home on the thin, main islet of Funfuti, Tuvalu's capital. A few hours later the water level will raise over two meters to mark 2011's King Tide, the highest tide of the year.

Chasing the Tides, part I

2011-02-17T16:30:00.005-05:00

On the day before the King Tide, pools of water collect in the north end of Funafuti's runway as people go about their end of the day tasks, such as feeding the pigs, many of which are housed in pens on the ocean side of the runway.

Water testing on January's full moon high tide

2011-02-04T05:21:00.004-05:00

Fumiko Matsudate notes the flood level during high tide on January's full moon outside of the Nui maneapa (meeting house for the community from the Tuvaluan island, Nui) Matsudate works with the Project for Eco-technological Management of Tuvalu Against Sea Level Rise, a project of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The water was the highest Matsudate had seen it, but predicts it will be higher during the King Tide. January 20th, Funafuti.

Researchers from Oceanic Planning Corp., brought in by JICA to do testing, take readings of the flood waters.

Pig pens line a small area of water behind the Nui maneapa which because of the flooding from the high tide expanded way beyond its normal shoreline. The water comes up through the porous ground during high tides.

The flooded road leading to the Nui maneapa.

Hints of what's to come: King Tide season is upon us.

2011-01-31T15:51:00.005-05:00

King Tide is defined as "any tide well above average height", but the term is used in Tuvalu to describe a season characterized by the strongest and highest tides of the year. In about two weeks at the new and full moon the highest tides will occur bringing flooding throughout the country.

Rain returns

2011-01-25T16:21:00.003-05:00

Tuvalu's wet season runs November to April though this year many of those months were dry, and very little rain fell from October through January creating water scarcity and drought. The drought ended January 20th, the first of a few days of heavy, much needed rain.

Children run to play and bathe in the downpour outside of their home in northern Funafuti. Buckets and basins are put out to catch additional precious water in addition to what the tanks are collecting.

In Tuvalu the main clean water source is rain. Each house in the capital, Funafuti is equipped with at least one large tank, often two. Community structures such as meeting halls and churches have tanks as well and when individuals are low on water, they can obtain rationed buckets of water at those sites. When those tanks are empty the next step is purchasing desalinized water from the Public Works Department (PWD).

At the PWD, empty tanks wait to be installed.

2011-01-23T18:07:00.006-05:00

Retired seaman, Garodu Auwobo has been living in Tuvalu for three years. Auwobo is photographed in his niece's home in Funafuti.

Vaelei Vaelei has been fishing since he was a young boy and goes fishing as often as he can using a traditional canoe with an outboard motor attached. Vaelei is a night watchman at the University of the South Pacific's Tuvalu campus in Funafuti.

Akelita P. searches for the leaves and flowers necessary to make fo, flowered headdresses, which her grandmother will make for the Po o Tefolaha or "Day of Tefolaha" celebrations. Po o Tefolaha commemorates when Christianity came to Nanumea, Tuvalu's northernmost island.

Melitagi Lifuka, 77 makes fo in the Nanumean traditional style in preparation for Po o Tefolaha celebrations beginning that evening.

Evening as seen from the runway

2011-01-18T19:27:00.003-05:00

The moon as seen from the center of Funafuti's runway.

High tide brings water that comes through the atoll's porous ground near Funafuti's playing field.

Night walks

2011-01-16T18:56:00.000-05:00

Christmas eve sales draw shoppers to the JY Store on Tuvalu road

A glimpse through the hedge in front of the Pesega household as barbecue is prepared for dinner

Siga walks down and empty Vaiaku road

Minutes and Days

2010-12-14T00:17:00.008-05:00

Tutasi looks out on the water at the wharf in Funafuti. Formerly used for receiving the large cargo ships that bring supplies to Tuvalu once a month, now it is a place for recreation. Cargo is now unloaded in a larger port to the north.

On Nanumean Women's Day, a group of women brought a donation to a pastors home, honoring them as well with songs. Nanumea is the northern most island of Tuvalu and this weekend brings women together to give back to the Funafuti community and to be together.

A peek into the kitchen at popular lunch spot, The Snack Bar open on weekdays at the airport, run by the Tuvaluan National Women's Council.

Top and following two images: On a Sunday at the Vaitupu maneapa (community space) two chorus' sing songs as children play outside near the ocean. Vaitupu is the largest in land mass of Tuvalu's islands.

A curtain divides the main prayer room in the mosque in Funafuti. There are four families that currently worship there.

Bits and pieces

2010-11-28T22:32:00.004-05:00

Above and following two images: Saturday during sabbath school and service at the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Funafuti.

On Nauti Primary School's awards day, students their families and teachers celebrate the terms accomplishments and mark the last day of school before the holiday break begins.

Above: early morning at the south end of Funafuti's airstrip a game is played before the days heat sets in. The runway in Funafuti is much more that an airstrip, it acts as a playing field for many games, a meeting place, and more.

Week Four

2010-11-18T03:48:00.006-05:00

Above and below: Tuvalu's Nation Council of Women has a cooperative that operates The Snack Bar and a store that sells crafts next to the airport. All Tuvaluan women are automatically part of the council. Those who sell crafts or food at either establishment keep 82% of the profit and 18% goes to the cooperative.

Above: Thursday is one of two plane days at Funafuti airport and many come to the snack bar to watch the passengers arriving and say goodbye to those leaving. There are two flights to Tuvalu and two flights out of Tuvalu each week.

Above: A dancer enters the maneapa before the evenings festivities that marked the end of a weeklong meeting of Tuvalu's island leaders

Dancing and singing during the fatele

Week Three

2010-11-11T23:21:00.009-05:00

Top left: outside the Tuvalu Philatelic Bureau, right: spring onions at the Friday morning green market

Above: Saturday night at the nightclub

Above: outside the fusi (supermarket)

Above and below: Akelita and her family relaxing at home. She is currently taking a semester off from her studies at the University of the South Pacific. Her son, Edward was born in August.

Week Two

2010-11-06T20:26:00.009-04:00

Margaret, 12 Nauti Primary School

Daughters of Rev. Lusama after Church service

Akesa with her three month old, Iliveti

TUVALU! week one

2010-10-29T04:08:00.005-04:00

I arrived in Tuvalu on October 21st, 2010 to begin my 10 months here as a Fulbrightor. Here are just some first impressions. Check back weekly for posts

LA to Gallup

2010-06-01T15:27:00.001-04:00

Oaxaca

2010-04-12T17:13:00.002-04:00

Center Spread in this issue of The Indypendent

2010-03-12T11:11:00.005-05:00

check it out at http://www.indypendent.org/2010/03/10/living-positively/

Snow day

2010-02-11T01:40:00.002-05:00

Carter Center in Atlanta

2010-01-25T09:00:00.004-05:00

I photographed the Atlanta Consultation of the Middle Powers Initiative which works to realize the disarmament goals of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty

A rope blocks viewers from entering an exact replica of the oval office as it was when Jimmy Carter was in office

Milon restaurant. 6th street and First

2010-01-08T20:54:00.001-05:00

CPOY, two placements for Caught in the Middle

2009-11-10T23:00:00.000-05:00

Brenda Ann Kenneally's Upstate Girls

2009-11-01T03:24:00.000-05:00

Check out Brenda's amazing project at upstategirls.org
I was a producer for one of the short pieces in the "workshops" section

Living Positive: Caught in the Middle

2009-10-05T19:39:00.015-04:00

Life doesn’t stop with HIV. Elda Malpera, 38, of Brooklyn, NY is a recovering substance abuser living with the virus who has turned her life around. Yet every day poses a challenge as she struggles to raise her daughter and care for her dying father. Malpera was released from prison nine months ago, and since then she has been a client of the Women’s Transitional Housing program (WTH) of Housing Works, a non-profit organization that helps women like her to get back on their feet by providing housing, counseling, job training and a host of other educational opportunities and health care services.
Malpera was diagnosed with HIV eight years ago. Her five year old daughter Rachel and her fiance Anthony, her partner for the last 11 years, are both HIV negative. Her 61-year old father Sergio is in the final stages of cirrhosis of the liver, the consequence of decades of alcoholism. She is as committed to his care as she is to her goal of becoming a drug counselor for teens. She is fiercely determined to succeed, and hopeful about the new path she is forging for herself and her family.

Elda Malpera (center) scratches her father, Sergio’s back, while her daughter, Rachel Gonzalez (right) removes a layer to stay cool. Sergio is in the advanced stages of cirrhosis of the liver and is always cold. He keeps the heat up and the oven on to reach 100° in his small apartment in Ridgewood, Queens.

A family photo of Elda as a child with her mother sits on a shelf next to Elda’s HIV medicaton.

Elda pauses to call her cable company to take advantage of a movie ticket promotion. The theater is too far away and they can’t go. Their family is on a tight budget and cannot always afford luxuries like movie tickets.

Elda comes home from busy day in pain. She has nerve damage in her legs and feet – a condition called neuropathy. She has been advised to be sedentary, but with all of her responsibilities, Elda finds this impossible.

Sergio, 61 is in the final stages of cirrhosis of the liver, the consequence of lifelong drinking. His skin bleeds easily, the by-product of a disorder associated with cirrhosis. Rachel acts as her grandfather’s nurse and carefully wipes blood from his chest. “Grandpa, don’t scratch,” she tells him

Rachel plays dress-up with her grandfather’s hospital gown in his apartment in Ridgewood, Queens.

Sergio sits up in bed after Elda and Rachel arrive at his house. He is weak and tired and needs help doing simple things like getting dressed and cleaning. Although Sergio is quite ill, he likes to talk about his former hobbies. He once enjoyed photography and was an exellent cook, but at this point all Sergio can eat are meal supplement drinks.

Elda sits in the center of a chaotic hotel room holding her nephew, while her sister Erica (left) disciplines her son, Nicolas and Rachel (right) looks on. Erica, 25, just drove from North Carolina to move Sergio to their house because he can no longer care for himself.

Exausted from a long week of work and moving, Elda rests on the train while Rachel plays with her hair, unaware of her mother’s mood.

After packing up her father, Elda and Rachel have to take three different trains to get from Sergio’s home in Ridgewood, Queens to their apartment in East New York, Brooklyn

Sergio and Elda in a cab en route to Sergio’s bank, where he will withdraw the balance from his account before moving to North Carolina the next day.

A week after these images were taken, Sergio Malpera was moved to North Carolina, and shortly after went into the hospital. Sergio’s liver and kidneys were failing. Elda went immediately to North Carolina and a couple days later, he died. “Seeing ...[what happened to] him instilled in me never to drink again. There’s nothing under the sun to make me drink again. I’ve seen my father suffer way too much. It’s a wake up call from God – this can happen to you.”

Elda and Anthony's wedding day

2009-09-28T12:04:00.001-04:00

City hall in downtown Brooklyn

ants in the kitchen

2009-07-21T21:50:00.000-04:00

Rachel turns six

2009-07-20T09:18:00.002-04:00

This was my first time back to see Elda after my magazine project.

Two Images selected for the Women in Photojournalism Conference Exhibition

2009-06-02T13:25:00.007-04:00

Sergio, Elda's father

2009-02-17T19:22:00.001-05:00

Magazine class

2009-02-16T19:33:00.004-05:00

This is the first image of a portrait project on New Yorkers living with HIV/AIDS. Richard volunteers with Momentum AIDS Project, an organization "dedicated to feeding disenfranchised New Yorkers living with HIV/AIDS. Today, Momentum has grown into one of New York City’s largest HIV/AIDS organizations providing hot meals, pantry bags, and a wide array of life saving support services at nine locations in four boroughs of the City"

Sky Box

2009-02-07T20:39:00.003-05:00

342 Maujer details

2009-02-06T20:52:00.000-05:00

Santas descend

2008-12-14T00:40:00.001-05:00

Rainy thursday night in Williamsburg

2008-12-11T22:05:00.001-05:00

Evidence of an Election

2008-12-10T23:39:00.002-05:00

Brooklyn Birds

2008-12-07T16:49:00.000-05:00

The Canvassers

2008-11-05T02:30:00.002-05:00

Geoffrey Sea and The Barnes House

2008-10-25T21:33:00.007-04:00

Spiritual Peace, with Audio

2008-10-20T02:38:00.003-04:00

This is the final product of the Karl Hartmann story.

Watching the debates in a swing state

2008-10-16T02:18:00.005-04:00

Roberts Funeral Home. Logan, Ohio

2008-10-09T20:25:00.002-04:00

Rushville, Ohio

2008-10-07T22:05:00.003-04:00

Hospice Spiritual Coordinator, Karl Hartmann

2008-10-04T14:24:00.006-04:00

For the past two weeks I have been following Karl Hartmann, the Spiritual Coordinator of Fairhope Hospice; a position he has held for almost 11 years. Hartmann visits hospice patients in Hocking, Fairfield and Perry counties who have requested his presence. There's no set protocol; he'll sit and chat, sometimes he will pray with a person, sometimes just hold their hand. Whatever they need to die spiritually at peace, he will do.

At the moment there are 120 people enrolled in Fairhope hospice care, and Hartmann he supervises two additional staff to help with the case load. Hartmann sees every patient at least once to do a spiritual assessment, and 70%-80% of patients allow him to visit once or twice a month until they leave hospice or die. He calls himself a spiritual advisor and not a pastor or minister so that hospice patients of all denominations can feel welcome. Hartmann often serves as a liaison between the patients and the clergy, performs about 30-40 funeral services per year and even a few marriages.

It is important for him that patients know he isn't there to indoctrinate them. “ I accept people where they’re at and I don’t care to change ‘em.” Hartmann is serious about his belief that everyone, no matter his or her religious beliefs deserves spiritual care. After all, hospice isn’t in the business of saving lives, they solely provide comfort care, "We don't want to add days to your life, we want to add life to your days".

Erin Spring, Music Therapist for Fairhope Hospice

2008-10-02T10:45:00.002-04:00

Sunday service, Galbreath Chapel

2008-09-14T13:24:00.002-04:00

My first assignment of the quarter, student group Divine Covering's Sunday service

Alex and Annie

2008-08-21T18:53:00.000-04:00

Sunday night

2008-08-18T14:15:00.003-04:00

summer soundtrack tour hits poughkeepsie

august 15, brooklyn

2008-08-15T20:26:00.002-04:00

Grand street

2008-08-12T15:17:00.002-04:00

51st annual Saugerties Antique Auto Club Car Show

2008-08-10T18:57:00.003-04:00

august 8, brooklyn

2008-08-08T15:14:00.002-04:00

Ulster County, day before the fair

2008-07-28T15:00:00.001-04:00

Renegades vs. Ironbirds

2008-07-27T12:01:00.001-04:00

Bowdoin Park, Poughkeepsie NY

2008-07-22T16:07:00.002-04:00

Summer in Poughkeepsie

2008-07-21T13:00:00.001-04:00

Art camp, Poughkeepsie NY

2008-07-08T12:05:00.000-04:00

Chauncey festival.

2008-06-08T21:22:00.004-04:00

Bikers, close

2008-05-29T00:46:00.004-04:00

Sky times3

2008-05-26T01:22:00.002-04:00

Hare Scrambling

2008-05-20T23:12:00.027-04:00

Columbus Road BP, Athens

2008-05-16T01:31:00.000-04:00

Last dance of the year

2008-05-09T01:25:00.000-04:00

Nelsonville, Ohio

Wild Turkey Festival

2008-05-07T02:13:00.004-04:00

Fischer Road, Athens

2008-05-04T03:07:00.000-04:00

Wednesday night at The Smiling Skull

2008-04-30T03:14:00.000-04:00

Columbus Road, Athens.

2008-04-27T23:00:00.002-04:00

Nelsonville-York High School. Prom

2008-04-26T21:50:00.000-04:00

Mama Renie's. McArthur, Ohio

2008-04-18T01:18:00.003-04:00

Waiting for baby.

2008-04-01T02:30:00.004-04:00

Eclipse Company Town

2008-03-20T00:28:00.009-04:00

14 structures, 9 residents, 4 businesses, 3 dogs, 3 cats,
2 stop signs, 1 road, 0 children: The Story of A “Town”.

Eclipse Company Town isn’t actually a town, it’s a piece of property in The Plains, Ohio owned by Eclipse Company Town Ltd., a corporation of four people who are invested in restoring it’s structures.

The land, the former residences of Hocking Valley Coal Company miners was bought in 1997 from the daughter of the last manager of the mine, and named Eclipse after the mine itself, which was called Eclipse mine #4. The original Hocking Valley Coal Company town was founded between 1900 and 1902 and stayed open until the early 30's, and re-opened from 1940-48. The Company’s property stretched from where Eclipse is now to Pine Aire Village trailer court across or under highway 33 (whether you go by car or bike). The land that Pine Aire Village sits on was called “the 5-spot” because of the cluster of miners’ homes that were once there. Many of the company’s original structures have burned down, but when the Eclipse Company Town Ltd. bought the land, any remaining wooden structures were moved to sit along Jackson road where they are today. The sealed mouth of the mine is located at the edge of the trailer court adjacent to what was the bath house and the equipment/engineering building.

Eclipse is a relic of the past now inhabited by a permanent and impermanent few who are trying slowly but successfully to give it new life.

November 10, 2007

2007-11-10T00:50:00.001-05:00

A visit to Rose and Scott's house

2007-11-04T00:54:00.001-04:00

homecoming parade

2007-10-14T18:27:00.000-04:00

front door.

2007-10-12T18:09:00.000-04:00

details.

2007-10-08T23:59:00.000-04:00

Athens, Ohio

Amesville, Ohio

2007-10-07T21:44:00.000-04:00

at the drive-in. Gallipolis, Ohio

2007-10-06T23:17:00.000-04:00

Union Street

2007-10-03T22:35:00.000-04:00

Athens Bulldogs

2007-10-01T22:41:00.000-04:00

New Straitsville, Ohio

2007-09-23T23:15:00.000-04:00

Pawpaw Festival, Athens County, Ohio

2007-09-17T23:03:00.000-04:00

Albany Royalty

2007-09-14T00:05:00.000-04:00

demolition derby. Albany, Ohio

2007-09-13T02:53:00.000-04:00

hello again.

2007-09-06T11:20:00.000-04:00

Early Morning

Bowling

2007-01-23T00:29:00.000-05:00

Dockstreet

2007-01-21T22:34:00.000-05:00

Sarah, Chelsea

2006-11-05T12:37:00.000-05:00

Melissa

2006-10-11T23:14:00.000-04:00

rainy day, Brooklyn

2006-09-19T01:26:00.000-04:00

alex

2006-09-13T13:41:00.000-04:00

9.11.06

2006-09-12T13:01:00.000-04:00

Green Guerillas

2006-08-15T17:51:00.000-04:00