Changing Ideas – a new charity for humanitarian photographic projects.

When it was established by David Graham, a former businessman turned photographer, Changing Ideas was a charity determined to make a difference. The organization has raised £100,000 and provides media and business expertise to assist photographers in realizing their visions for good works. Photographers, for the most part, want to believe that their calling has an influence in our world; Changing Ideas is dedicated to ensuring that it does.

“A blueprint for these awards was the partnership between the successful photojournalist Marcus Bleasdale and the charity Human Rights Watch. They compiled and presented documentary evidence to a Swiss Bank that was buying illegal gold from the war torn Democratic Republic of the Congo. Control of the gold mines was fueling the conflict. As a result of this action the bank stopped buying the gold and hostilities ceased.

This campaign was distinguished by its use of direct lobbying using solid research backed up by highly effective visual material. This well targeted campaign demonstrates that definable change can be best achieved by applying streamlined ‘business thinking’ to humanitarian projects. This approach can often be more successful than an extensive, high cost, public awareness campaign.”

Changing Ideas is now accepting proposals from photographers, journalists, charities or any other concerned individual in a position to make a positive and measurable change. The deadline is November 30, 2006. Click here for an application.