PHOTOGRAPHY WEBLOG

Photojournalist Teun Voeten credits school principal Alfred Kanu with saving his life. While Voeten was on assignment in Sierra Leone in 1998, Kanu offered him shelter and safety for two weeks as warring factions raged out of control, killing at random. Next month, Voeten is holding a silent auction of his prints in New York to raise money for Kanu's school, the Kalangba Agricultural Secondary School. The event will include an introduction by journalist Sebastian Junger, author of "The Perfect Storm," and is being held in partnership with interrupcion*, an advocacy group for social change. Voeten frequently works in war zones and says he's considering a trip to Afghanistan next. "Sometimes you get a little bit depressed," he says. "Sometimes it gives you bad feelings, you only take, take, take and you want to give something back." Voeten says in the past five years he's raised $20,000 for the Kalangba school, which has been put toward school renovations, food and uniforms for the students, salaries for teachers, and a small school pharmacy and library. The upcoming auction will offer 55 signed, limited-edition prints of Voeten's work, starting at $150.The event takes place from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Sept. 12 at The Proposition, 559 W. 22nd St. in New York. More information is available at www.interrupcion.net/auction and www.teunvoeten.com.

Bron: PDN.