Food For The Poor Photographer’s Work Goes on Exhibit

A powerful look at the harsh reality of what life is like for some in the Caribbean and Central America has been captured in photos by Food For The Poor’s staff photographer Benjamin Rusnak.

Rusnak’s talents are used to document the life of the poorest of the poor, ultimately bringing into focus the lack of basic human needs, and ways that all of us can help. In May, Rusnak’s photo of little a girl in one of Guatemala’s massive garbage dumps was selected as the photo of the year by InterAction, an aid coalition based out of Washington, D.C.

Rusnak’s alma mater, George Mason University outside Washington, D.C. in Fairfax, Va., will showcase his work as a humanitarian photojournalist in a special exhibit: Dreams & Tempests 2007-2010. The 1992 graduate says he’s excited about returning to the place where it all started 18 years ago, and is hoping his work will make an impact on those who see it.

“It is my hope that in this body of work I have been able to transcend the traditional use of the panoramic photograph, creating not only landscapes, but also peoplescapes in a new and intimate way,” said Rusnak. “This is a world that is at once gritty and beautiful because of the dignity, faith and endurance of the impoverished people that I have the opportunity and privilege to photograph.”

Since 2000, Rusnak has documented poverty for Food For The Poor, the largest international relief and development agency in the United States, based in Coconut Creek, Fla. His decade of experience as a newspaper photographer prior to joining the charity has proved vital in helping him to capture the powerful images of life in the developing world.

“Ben’s photos help us tell the story of need, and also of hope and promise in a powerful way,” said Angel Aloma, Executive Director of Food For The Poor. “Ben serves as the eyes of those who cannot travel with us, and helps us call attention to the needs of the poor.”

The exhibition opens Monday, Nov. 1, 2010 and will be on display for two weeks at George Mason University’s Gallery 123 located in the Johnson Center from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday. It is open to the public, but weekends are by appointment. Rusnak will be on campus to speak about his exhibit Monday, Nov.8, 2010 at 2 p.m.

Samples of Rusnak’s work is available on Food For The Poor's Web site.

Food For The Poor, is one of the largest international relief and development organization in the nation, does much more than feed millions of hungry poor in 17 countries of the Caribbean and Latin America. This interdenominational Christian agency provides emergency relief assistance, clean water, medicines, educational materials, homes, support for orphans and the aged, skills training and micro-enterprise development assistance, with more than 96 percent of all donations going directly to programs that help the poor. For more information, please visit www.FoodForThePoor.org.