Alyssa Bistonath Photography: Of Life After 24,

Alyssa Bistonath Photography

Archive for the ‘Travel’ Category

From that famous walk home,

While in Kenya we would walk the same route everyday.  To the Nakumat, to the orphanage, back to our house, back to the orphanage.  I’d often (almost always) have my camera slung around my shoulder.  These photos were shot along the way.

A Change in Perspective (Finally)

boats at the harbour in Fortaleza, Brazil (2008)
field near Anne of Green Gables Museum, Canada (2007)

near the Ugandan border, Kenya (2008)

hills of Jeju, Ethiopia (2007)
Funny how you don’t know how much you need/ want  a change of perspective until you get one. (More on this later - I’m late for family day dinner.)
Above are some experiments with tilt shift inspired by Sam.  These look way better bigger so click on each one and a larger version will open in this window.

Some love from CTV,

CTV BC  has posted a web gallery of my photos from Brazil.  I was there this past December shooting for the Vancouver Campaign for Children. The picture above was shot in the home of one of the poorest families I have ever met.  The visit was quite heartbreaking especially when this little one flashed me such a playful look.  Mi Jung Lee (a CTV news anchor) tells the story best here.

I also encourage you to watch the videos on the main page.  They do a good job of showing what the conditions are like in the favelas where the children live and how World Vision is helping to make a difference.

Restless/ Unrest


During the post election ethnic riots in Kisumu Kenya, Sister Philomena wouldn’t let the children of St. Clare’s orphanage outside. She was afraid a Kibaki’s police would kill them. The children had plenty of time to think. Their lives are hardly ideal, but they want to be engineers, doctors and teachers and pilots.

Months later I was at the orphanage for six weeks, and time after time I saw the juxtaposition between the children’s most freeing moments and their most bored. Slices of their environment tell of a general restlessness. The boys are mostly pensive and graceful; the girls strong and bold like the housemothers that are raising them. They all seem to be waiting to grow up so they can carry on with life.
The dichotomy between freedom and boredom fascinates me because it mimics a trait that I see in my peers at home. They too seem to be waiting to grow up and have freedom even though they are for the most part in their mid-twenties.

Good Ole Yeller - Break (it) down.

I remember the first time riding in Ben’s car.  It was early -7 am?  The Kisumu sun was coming up orange and we were riding around photographing a Celtel promotion.  Steve said I should name the car - so I coined the yellow Peugeot “Ole Yeller” (the boys had never seen the movie but they humored me).  There was another time we were driving up a hill the back door flew open and Joanna almost fell out - seat belts  save lives…
The photographs above are from a memorable afternoon with Ole Yeller (the  same afternoon that I shot these.)  The car was leaking gas and we ended up broken down in the hot hot sun.  So while Ben made the trek to get more fuel we played with some neighbourhood children. Their laughs of delight as I popped up from behind the car door to photograph them are permanently etched into my memory. What had begun as a sad morning has ended up as a fond memory.  Good Ole Yeller.

Kiss Kisumu Hello,

Kisumu, has been on my mind lately.  Here are some shots from my time there.

Brasil Outra Vez

You’ve asked and here they are, a few more shots from Brazil.  The children living in this area were a delight to spend the week with.  It was sad to say goodbye.  

It’s amazing that we’ve been back for two weeks already.  My colleagues are busy putting everything together, and I couldn’t be more excited for February.  

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