Updated: In the Valley of War

Josh Aguilar is a veteran of war. He joined the U.S. Army in 2000 and was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 327 Infantry, 101st Airborne Division where he remained until he retired in June 2011. He served 3 deployments to Iraq over the course of 11 years. His deployments were rigorous. Josh’s unit engaged in day-to-day combat and many lives were lost. Throughout the years, the effects of war became an unstoppable force, both on the front and back at home. During his tours he witnessed and suffered tremendous loss and now more than ever feels the weight of his experiences. The darkness of depression and unforgiving post-traumatic stress holds him in a place somewhere between war and life as a civilian. Everyday is now a battle to pull through, to remember but never forget.

My time spent with Josh was emotional. His stories are deeply painful but I found his honesty and vulnerability even more touching. I’ve always been against the war but believe,  you can support our veterans without supporting the war. Thank you Josh.

In the Valley of War

I’ve been photographing US Veterans for about a year now. With the support of Swords to Plowshares, working with veterans transitioning back into society has been an amazing privilege. My shoot last weekend was extremely personal for my subject. Like so many, Josh has a deeply moving experience with war. Full story will be posted soon.

The Lions Club San Miguel De Allende, Mexico

Two weeks ago, I traveled to San Miguel De Allende, Mexico and had the pleasure of photographing the great efforts of the Lions Club. The President, Chuck Yeager, graciously welcomed me to their Thursday Clinic. I met the most amazing people and witnessed their truly inspiring impact within the local community.

The Lions Club International is the world’s largest service club organization. There are 1.35 million active members, volunteering around the globe. Lions have been combating blindness since their founding in 1917. Since 1992, every Thursday, the Lions Club San Miguel De Allende, Mexico provides, at no charge, a thorough eye examination and eyeglasses from a donation based inventory of about 35,000 recycled prescription eyeglasses. As of December 2010, they have provided 16,033 eye tests and dispensed over 13,911 recycled prescription eyeglasses, a testament to their lasting motto…Lions give sight.

A local woman crafts these lion finger puppets that they give out to all the patients. I couldn’t help myself, Chuck was a good sport and has such a great face;)

Runner up: Forward Thinking Museum-JGS Juried Photography Contest

I’m grateful to have been selected as a runner-up in the 2011 second quarter Forward Thinking Museum-JGS Juried Photography Contest. The Joy of Giving Something, Inc(JGS) is host to an ongoing international quarterly photography contest. The winner is automatically entered into a pool of artists to be considered for the JGS Artist Award and presented with $15,000. Thank you to the Jurors for the nomination: Willis E. Hartshorn, Karen Sinsheimer and Ed Kashi. Congratulations to the quarter winner, Radek Skrivanek!

My entry is on display in the following gallery:

http://forwardthinkingmuseum.com/blog/2011-photography-artist-runners-up/

SNAPIXEL-SNAPSHOP issue

A great article about the work my sister, Natalie Franco, and I helped make possible for the Lucie Foundation during MOPLA in April 2011. Thank you Kaitlyn!! Grab an issue here!

Projections at the SF MOMA…

I’ve partnered with an amazing non-profit in San Francisco, Swords to Plowshares. Last night, my most recent project with them was projected at a private event at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. I’m documenting the lives of several veterans who are transitioning in and out of their supportive housing program. The projections were a preview for an upcoming exhibition this July. Here are the selects that were projected and a small iphone video of the event last evening. Enjoy!:)

And ending with an image from my newest story…

Nicole Franco projections@SF MOMA from Nicole Franco on Vimeo.

MOPLA Kick-Off Party

I’m currently in Los Angeles working with the LUCIE Foundation. I was invited to be an Advisor & Instructor for SNAPSHOP!- a workshop that teaches photography to at-risk high school students, which takes place during MOPLA. Here are some images from the kick-off party that both my sis, Natalie Franco(also SNAPSHOP! Advisor & Instructor) took… from start to finish:)

A Life Project Exhibition- San Francisco General Hospital installation

I’ve been working the CARE(Cancer, Awareness, Resources and Education) program at San Francisco General Hospital for the past 6 years. For the last 3 years, I’ve been given an annual grant to photograph this beautifully diverse and vulnerable cancer community. The inception of, A Life Project, developed while spending time listening to and photographing weekly group sessions. Stories of pain and triumph truly illustrated the power in community, education and love. The portraits are printed on fine art canvas and line the walls of the SFGH Oncology clinic. Our intention and hope for this, now permanent installation, is to change the dynamic of the clinical space. Along with the portraits, CARE members share their cancer diagnosis, survivorship story and reveal how this program has impacted not only their care but life.

“The walls at the north end of the Ward 86 clinic, adorned with these beautifully photographed portraits accompanied by multilingual quotes, has served to re-frame the hospital as a place that not only treats illness and injury, but also promotes community building, supports innovative approaches to patient-centered communication, and enhances patients’ quality of life.  The exhibit implicitly serves to redefine health as not merely the absence of disease, but as the integration of physical, spiritual, and emotional well being.

Finally, the exhibit serves to help break the stigma of a cancer diagnosis. Many of San Francisco General Hospital’s cancer patients retreat into a deadly isolation, overwhelmed and confused by a frightening disease whose treatment is often debilitating and extremely difficult to bear.  Many of these patients keep their cancer diagnoses secret from friends and even family members, terrified of being shunned and rejected or somehow causing the people they love to suffer.  Displaying the faces of San Francisco General Hospital’s cancer survivors serves to break this deadly silence and open up a vital dialogue about cancer and community.”- Blue Walcer, CARE Program Director

ASMP Merit Members from Eddie Adams 2010…

The 2011 ASMP winter bulletin portfolio features the 2010 Eddie Adams Workshop:Ten Teams/100 Stories. Really excited to have been selected to represent the awesomeness that was and always will be… Team Navy.

Art Auction to “Free All Three”

Exhibiting this weekend with some amazing photographers and friends, please come support! Thank you.

Josh Fattal, Shane Bauer and Sarah Shourd were arrested near an unmarked border separating Iran from Iraq’s Kurdistan region in July 2009. There are conflicting news reports about whether Iranian forces entered Iraq to arrest them or they strayed across the border by mistake. Shourd was released on humanitarian grounds in September, but Bauer and Fattal remain in Tehran’s Evin Prison on accusations of spying. To learn more about Sarah, Shane and Josh visit:

http://freethehikers.org/