David Morrison - Humanitarian Photographer

Boone, NC :: Ship Rock

2009-10-30T13:46:00.013-04:00

I especially like this photo because I'm pretty sure I squint when I look at it. I give you permission to stare at the sun. Just this one. Try if you dare. This particular evening we hiked up in a furious gust of wind, but the payoff was priceless. Mountain sides of luminous color challenged our previous perception of reality. Seriously, it was gorgeous. Today, most of the color is gone. We are heading into winter and all I've got to remind me of those colors is this post... well, and a few other photos. Maybe if you ask I'll put up another.
*update*
Due to requests I've selected two more photos to post. There is always some sort of journey on your way to adventure and the first photo shows my friend Chad working through the underside of the beauty you see in photo two. Photo two was taken after the sun had dipped below the mountain to the left and the remaining light caused the trees to glow in a strange way.

Samaritan's Purse :: Veggie Tales

2009-11-05T10:19:00.016-05:00

Monday night Operation Christmas Child showed a brand new Veggie Tales Christmas movie to families from the community. Bob and Larry were there for the kids and I was very happy to take pictures of them. Cheese!
Operation Christmas Child is a ministry of Samaritan's Purse that distributes over 8 million shoebox gifts a year to children around the world. Each gift is an opportunity to share the love of Jesus Christ, "turning brokenness into blessing." These gifts are packed by people like you! Click here to find out more about OCC and how you and your family can get involved to affect the lives of people around the world. Also, check out this video by Matthew West and Amy Grant.

Samaritan's Purse :: Paul Sherar, Photographer

2009-10-28T10:53:00.003-04:00

This is Paul Sherar. Friend and fellow photographer at Samaritan's Purse. I want to direct you to his blog because he has just recently posted a few photos from the Phillippines, where Samaritan's Purse is working their hardest to deliver emergency supplies to those furthest from help.
Also make sure to check in to the blog of Samaritan's Purse photographer, Matt Powell. Paul and Matt are two storytellers and creative artist that I admire and learn from every day. I have no doubt you will be impacted by their work.

Boone, NC :: Fall, Fetch, Explosives

2009-10-25T15:37:00.008-04:00

Kristen and I went for a walk with our dog, Chai, on a beautiful, foggy day. Seriously, we love the fog. Even the rain is fun for us. Our house is surrounded by woods and the mountains and hills serve as a pretty decent backdrop. Okay, it's amazing and we love every bit of it. Going for hikes through the woods is becoming a favored activity for us, and Chai continues to tell us she's pretty sure she is part Australian Shepherd. Seriously, Chai. She chases deer on a daily bases and has yet to be challenged. Her ego is huge. Today she posed on a ton of explosives kept in a vault in the woods. I think this whole outside dog routine is really getting to her.

Boone, NC :: Step Outside And Look Up

2009-10-21T10:59:00.016-04:00

Sometimes I just have to step outside and look up into the heavens, take a deep breath, talk to God and jump back in to whatever I am doing. Late last night I wandered around outside our home, camera in hand. I have a thousand things I want to do, updating this blog being one of them, but through all the spinning items in my head I could not seem to focus on even one. Looking up into the vastness of the universe has a way of loosening the tightening strap around my list of things to do, my worries, my fears. Sometimes even my desire for the greatest endeavors get pushed into a box, and the once beautiful wrappings begin to take on a more ominous color, and the bows and ribbons turn into ugly vines. So many things requiring so much time I cannot seem to provide. "Stepping outside" seems to put everything back in to perspective. God is my King, I am his servant, whatever it is that I am able to do I want to perform for the service of Him. The heavens have a way of restoring my will and encouraging my spirit. Praise be to God for being such a wonderful escape.
Psalm 16:11 says,
"You will show me the path of life;
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore."

Samaritan's Purse :: Georgia, USA

2009-09-25T23:37:00.012-04:00

I have been on the ground in Georgia for the last two days covering the recent flooding. Samaritan's Purse has responded to the disaster and partnered with a local congregation, West Ridge Church, to step into the community, assess the needs, and respond by cleaning out flooded homes. Volunteers from around the nation have come together to love these flood victims. Many have already been overwhelmed with gratefulness as Samaritan's Purse has so quickly come to their aid.
On a side note I look forward to posting stories from Africa when I return home. Thank you for faithfully checking in!

Samaritan's Purse :: Togo, Africa - III

2009-09-16T12:32:00.002-04:00

Samaritan's Purse :: Togo, Africa - II

2009-09-10T14:34:00.003-04:00

I am back on US soil and quite happy to have met many people who have devoted time and energy into serving others in Africa. I'll be collecting my thoughts as I work through photos to share with you. Please, stay tuned!

Samaritan's Purse :: Togo, Africa

2009-08-30T17:12:00.006-04:00

I have been so privileged to be in West Africa since August 24th and will continue to travel through Togo and Niger over the next week to collect stories from two of our World Medical Mission hospitals. The people of Africa are beautiful, kind and welcoming. The hospitals I have visited are filled with so many who have great physical needs. These hospitals are fueled by doctors, nurses and staff who have an insatiable desire to love as Jesus loves. They treat the body and introduce souls to the very God who loves them beyond their wildest imaginations. But, there are not enough doctors to support the needs of the hospitals. If you know of people in the medical field who have a desire to love those who need their help please direct them to this blog as I share in the next week after my return. If only I could relate my joy at seeing patients believe in the name of Jesus. May it show through in the photos to come.

Through the Fog :: Off-Roading

2009-03-24T18:13:00.002-04:00

My good friend, Troy, asked me to go four-wheeling in the mountains and I jumped in without hesitation. I hope to post a few more photos of our trip in hopes that you may also feel the absolute thrill of traversing gnarly terrain in one of the coolest jeeps ever...

Loreto, Bolivia :: Ostrich

2009-08-03T17:00:00.003-04:00

Samaritan's Purse :: Bolivia - Nutrition

2009-07-22T17:40:00.000-04:00

WonderDog :: Boone, NC

2009-06-27T12:35:00.001-04:00

I'm back from Boliva and am quite pleased with my first international assignment. I regret to say that, unlike what we would like to believe, it isn't possible to blog from every corner of the world; well, unless you can pay for satellite. Since I cannot afford the luxuries of world blogging the photos I have taken over the last ten days have added together to form a very large number. So, for now, I give you "WonderDog." Chai is capable of leaping over tall buildings and small people when on the prowl for tennis balls. Here is a rare capture of this athletic creature in mid flight.

Samaritan's Purse :: New Orleans - Helen Vigne

2009-07-10T01:30:00.000-04:00

Samaritan's Purse :: New Orleans - Mrs. Bundy

2009-07-08T22:33:00.000-04:00

Paul Sherar :: Boone, NC

2009-06-30T15:04:00.001-04:00

Yes, this really happened. It was all very innocent and things got crazy. Please enjoy this outtake from what started as a routine shirt shoot. You can thank Paul for the great cutout and drop shadow. And while you're at it, check out Paul's Site for more entertaining fun.

Samaritan's Purse :: Bolivia

2009-06-15T22:41:00.000-04:00

The broadcast crew and I met up with some fine cowboys at the Miami airport on our way to La Paz, Bolivia. We'll be flying to Trinidad tomorrow and moving between there and Loreto as they build a church and break in some horses. These are men who are servants of our great God. What they do they do in the name of Jesus. Here are a few of the guys. Above is Todd testing out his Spanish.DJ heading in the opposite direction of the other fellas trying to persuade the guards to call on the president.Mike, from Texas.

Wedding :: Catherine & JM

2009-06-08T15:20:00.000-04:00

Saturday was a beautiful day for love. Catherine and JM are two very sweet people who wear their hearts on their sleeves. It was a privilege to photograph their wedding day alongside the talented Matt Powell.

Samaritan's Purse :: Boone, NC

2009-06-05T15:25:00.000-04:00

What happened?! Well, I'll tell you. I'm back, but in such a different place. My absence here is largely in part to a total life transition. Kristen and I have been greatly blessed to experience the tangible direction of God which has brought us to rest in Boone, North Carolina. Well, maybe "rest" isn't the right word. Nonetheless, we are at great peace even though we've left all we know and just about everything around us is new and in great need of exploring.

So, crazy story. We felt God leading us to move to Wisconsin to be near my family, but now we know that God was using that very difficult decision to prepare us for where we are now. We went through all of the emotions, up and down, and finally came to rest in the understanding that it doesn't matter where we live, what we have, or how much money is in the bank. What truly matters is who we serve. At the moment we truly gave all to God He revealed His plan and laid it out for us to exercise our faith in His care for us. Let me tell you, it is good. We have a desire for our family and the friends that we left, but more importantly we are following Him.

Following God just happens to fulfill a desire I believe He put in my heart many years ago. Samaritan's Purse has hired me as a full time photographer to, as VP of Communications Jim Dailey put, "tell the story of God at work." This organization, led by Franklin Graham, responds to suffering people around the world who are victims of natural disaster, famine, war, poverty and disease; but more importantly seeks to share the hope found in God's love through Jesus Christ.

What a privilege to hear the stories of people around the world and share the love of Jesus Christ. With a position like that I look forward to seeing what God shows me through the lens. I look forward to introducing you to many around this world that you may see how God reaches those He loves.

As for the pictures in this post: These few frames are from a very recent local assignment I was on. I know they are of the same individual, I was slightly infatuated with the symmetry as I was working through the hundreds I had taken, but she represents 180 others who spent a weekend at The Cove in Asheville, NC. These folks are just some of thousands who volunteer their time and service to help victims of natural disasters in the United States. This weekend was a time to re-charge, worship, forge friendships and share their stories and excitement. I felt like family around these people. They were so warm and inviting. They are good samaritans. Luke 10

Assisting One of the Best :: Weddings

2009-04-21T17:52:00.000-04:00

Matthew Morgan gave me a great opportunity to shoot two weddings alongside him as his assistant, and I am very grateful. These are a few frames, from my camera, that I enjoy the most. Thank you Matt for being very gracious with your knowledge, for teaching me the ropes when it comes to wedding photography. I admire and appreciate the way you serve your clients. Also a thank you to the pair of brides and grooms: Katie and Mark. Krissy and Daryl. Your days were beautiful.

Millenium Park Fountain :: Chicago, IL

2009-04-01T02:36:00.000-04:00

On this particular day, July 22, 2006, we all gathered in Chicago, IL to celebrate the year in which we were all in our twenties. It has always been a somewhat difficult task for all four of my siblings and I to gather in the same location. Life has a history of taking us in different directions. I am hoping for a pause. I hope that we can pause long enough to reacquaint ourselves with one another and live life side by side. Even if just for a while. Kristen and I will be moving to Wisconsin, in May, to do just that; to live with family we usually travel so far to see, to reacquaint ourselves with people we love.
This decision we have made comes with great excitement and wonder, but leaving those we have come to know and love has produced some of the most sobering moments we have known. To life and all of its adventures.

Kristen :: the best smile

2009-04-17T23:56:00.000-04:00

Footprint

2009-01-13T18:31:00.000-05:00

The trash bin can be so therapeutic. Is it not? Ridding our lives of useless nick-naks, countless plastic bags, anything now devoid of any sentimental attachment that might be cluttering our personal space. And that man comes, you know, the one who's job we envy so much, and it all just disappears. Or does it? Maybe it's time for some of us to consider what type of impact our living is making. Are we being responsible with our consumption? Reduce. Re-use. Recycle.

Through the Fog :: Off-Roading Part II

2009-03-28T01:16:00.001-04:00

John & Katie :: Branches

2009-03-17T16:00:00.000-04:00

I am very proud of my brothers, and here to represent that pride is John. John and his lovely girlfriend, Katie, seek to live each day in focus with their savior, Jesus Christ; for that I am truly grateful. Jesus said in John 15:5 of the Bible, "I am the Vine; you are the branches. Whoever lives in Me and I in him bears much fruit. However, apart from Me you can do nothing."