How HIV Changed my Life

It is important to make a living but it is also important to give back. My first shoot of the week was done for Hero's in the Struggle, an HIV/AIDS project that promotes HIV/AIDS awareness. I have worked with them for years and I donate my time whenever they call. A few years ago they called and wanted me to fly that night to South Africa to photograph President Nelson Mandela. I had to turn the assignment down because I was off the next morning for a confirmed job photographing Michael Jordan. I always think about that day but nothing could be changed. The photo shoot I did of Mr. Jordan was the only family portrait ever made of him with his family. For the Nelson Mandela shoot I turned the organization on to a good friend, Kwaku Alston, who went and photographed Mr. Mandela and now has a very large photograph of the that day in his home. Kwaku called me from South African after his session and told me he only had five min with the President. He shot 8x10 and only got a few sheets off in the time but the images he made are powerful and beautiful and he did a great job under pressure and jet lagged.

This year is the 10th Anniversary of Hero's in the Struggle and they are honoring President Bill Clinton along with a others. President Clinton is providing his own portrait to be used unfortunately, so Tuesday I photographed Marvelyn Brown, a young woman who contacted HIV at the ago of 19 and is currently 26. You can read all about how HIV has changed her life, but in more than just the obvious ways. Marvelyn has become a bright light in the fight against HIV and AIDS by telling her story all over the world. She has appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show, American's Next Top Model, MTV, VH1, and many others. Learn more about her here. Marvelyn Brown.

As a photographer I love these assignments because it makes me dig deeper to make powerful images that tells the story. I am very happy with my images from the day. I shot a lot of photographs that I like and when the time is right I will share them here. I didn't want the images to be depressing but powerful. Before the shoot I did all the research I could on her and then thought about how I'd like to photograph her. I used two lens's, an 85 and the 100 Macro. I used my Sony A900 and shot behind the scenes images with my new Sony Nex-5 camera. My new favorite camera to have in my hands all the time. As I edited my images I was very happy with the shoot and I think Hero's in the Struggle will be very happy as well. Always dream big, but also always give back.

Matthew Jordan Smith