The Benfield Blog: Sharing My Passion

Hey everybody!<br /><br />My 2nd reason for making such a commitment to my followers is that this blog helps share my passion. I realized that once I gained a substantial following that I had the opportunity and responsibility to do some good.<br /><br />And I'm happy to say that we HAVE done some good! We've changed lives for the better! In addition to the 10s of thousands of dollars we've raised through auctions, donations, etc, and through our own straight up giving and donating, we've made this blog a community of like-minded people who want to raise each other up!<br /><br />Over the course of the last 1000 days, I've been fortunate to help a lot, and even travel the world to help. The images today are my favorite charitable images...<br /><br />Of course, topping the list is my trip to Ghana to help <a href="http://artfeeds.org/welcome/">Art Feeds</a>.<br /><a href="http://www.benfieldphoto.com/11Blog/0309_ghana/art_feeds_ghana_18.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.benfieldphoto.com/11Blog/0309_ghana/art_feeds_ghana_18.jpg" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 800px; height: 533px;" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.benfieldphoto.com/11Blog/0309_ghana/art_feeds_ghana_13.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.benfieldphoto.com/11Blog/0309_ghana/art_feeds_ghana_13.jpg" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 800px; height: 533px;" /></a><br /><br />And of course, after the Joplin tornado, we all really stepped up to help out families in need...<br /><a href="http://www.benfieldphoto.com/11Blog/tomshouse.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.benfieldphoto.com/11Blog/tomshouse.jpg" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 800px; height: 533px;" /></a><br />Chloe was able to get all sorts of clothes, supplies, and money donated!<br /><a href="http://www.benfieldphoto.com/09Blog/121109_chloe/001.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.benfieldphoto.com/09Blog/121109_chloe/001.jpg" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 800px; height: 533px;" /></a><br /><br />Even Ellie got in on the helping, raising more than 700 dollars at her lemonade stand...<br /><iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/25161256?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" width="800" height="450" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen allowFullScreen></iframe><br /><br />And one of my favorite Ellie images of all-time, snuggling with breast-cancer survivor (and one of the strongest and sweetest people I know), her grandma Denise...<br /><a href="http://www.benfieldphoto.com/09Blog/042509_nana/1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.benfieldphoto.com/09Blog/042509_nana/1.jpg" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 800px; height: 533px;" /></a><br /><br />And countless others. I love helping, because I know first-hand the benefits that helping accomplishes. My thankfulness to this blog, and to you the readers are overflowing.<br /><br />Talk to you soon,<br />Dale<br /><div id="fb-root"></div><br /><script>(function(d, s, id) {<br /> var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];<br /> if (d.getElementById(id)) {return;}<br /> js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id;<br /> js.src = "//connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1";<br /> fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);<br />}(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk'));</script><br /><br /><div class="fb-like" data-href="http://benfieldphotography.blogspot.com/2011/09/benfield-blog-sharing-my-passion.html" data-send="true" data-width="820" data-show-faces="true"></div><br /><div id="fb-root"></div><br /><script>(function(d, s, id) {<br /> var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];<br /> if (d.getElementById(id)) {return;}<br /> js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id;<br /> js.src = "//connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1";<br /> fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);<br />}(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk'));</script><br /><br /><div class="fb-comments" data-href="http://benfieldphotography.blogspot.com/2011/09/benfield-blog-sharing-my-passion.html" data-num-posts="5" data-width="820"></div>

art feeds Charity giving back Joplin tornado The Benfield Blog: Sharing My Passion

Hey everybody! My 2nd reason for making such a commitment to my followers is that this blog helps share my passion. I realized that once I ...

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Art Feeds Ghana: Video

Hey everybody!<br /><br />When I spent <a href="http://benfieldphotography.blogspot.com/2011/03/100-hours-in-ghana-part-1.html">my 100 Hours in Ghana</a> in Jan/Feb, I also shot some video footage of the kids. Since I'm not a video editor, I handed off the footage to the Art Feeds crew, and they pieced together a cool little highlights film. Check it out below.<br /><br /><object style="height: 390px; width: 640px;"><param name="movie" value="https://www.youtube.com/v/DDAR7FqrCsQ?version=3"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="https://www.youtube.com/v/DDAR7FqrCsQ?version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="640" height="390"></object><br /><br />Talk to you soon,<br />Dale

art feeds Ghana giving back Art Feeds Ghana: Video

Hey everybody! When I spent my 100 Hours in Ghana in Jan/Feb, I also shot some video footage of the kids. Since I'm not a video editor...

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Art Feeds Auction: Bid Online NOW!

Hey everybody!<br /><br />My friends at <a href="http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=925827&id=1825360114#!/artfeeds">Art Feeds</a> are raising $$$ to help their mission of giving art therapy to our Ghana friends - TODAY ONLY!! They have opened up the bidding on art done by Ghana kiddos (and some of my images from the trip). <br /><br />Please help Art Feeds by heading to <a href="http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=925827&id=1825360114#!/artfeeds">their facebook page</a> and bidding!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=925827&id=1825360114#!/artfeeds" imageanchor="1" style=""><img border="0" height="735" src="http://www.benfieldphoto.com/11Blog/afauction.jpg" width="758" /></a></div><br />Thanks friends!<br /><br />Talk to you soon,<br />Dale

art feeds giving back Art Feeds Auction: Bid Online NOW!

Hey everybody! My friends at Art Feeds are raising $$$ to help their mission of giving art therapy to our Ghana friends - TODAY ONLY!! They...

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100 Hours in Ghana: Part 3 of 3

Hey everybody! Today is my 802nd straight day of posting a blog!<br /><br />Today I'm wrapping up my 100 hours in Ghana. It was far too short a time to spend in Africa, but plenty of time to build relationships with the amazing children at the Village of Hope. <br /><br />I got to come over to where they live and spend time with them outside of the classroom.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.benfieldphoto.com/11Blog/0309_ghana/art_feeds_ghana_17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" src="http://www.benfieldphoto.com/11Blog/0309_ghana/art_feeds_ghana_17.jpg" width="800" /></a></div><br />And anytime I was at the school, I was surrounded by their wonderful smiling faces. To know them was to instantly fall in love with them.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.benfieldphoto.com/11Blog/0309_ghana/art_feeds_ghana_18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" src="http://www.benfieldphoto.com/11Blog/0309_ghana/art_feeds_ghana_18.jpg" width="800" /></a></div><br />Art Feeds worked with them on so many fun and creative projects. It was so enriching to see their creativity being developed right in front of my eyes.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.benfieldphoto.com/11Blog/0309_ghana/art_feeds_ghana_19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" src="http://www.benfieldphoto.com/11Blog/0309_ghana/art_feeds_ghana_19.jpg" width="800" /></a></div><br />And to see them sharing and building into each other. Isn't this such a great moment?!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.benfieldphoto.com/11Blog/0309_ghana/art_feeds_ghana_20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" src="http://www.benfieldphoto.com/11Blog/0309_ghana/art_feeds_ghana_20.jpg" width="800" /></a></div><br />They were so thirsty for means of expression. They ATE UP every syllable Meg, Marissa, Brooke, and Kate were speaking.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.benfieldphoto.com/11Blog/0309_ghana/art_feeds_ghana_21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" src="http://www.benfieldphoto.com/11Blog/0309_ghana/art_feeds_ghana_21.jpg" width="800" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.benfieldphoto.com/11Blog/0309_ghana/art_feeds_ghana_22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" src="http://www.benfieldphoto.com/11Blog/0309_ghana/art_feeds_ghana_22.jpg" width="800" /></a></div><br />So, there you have it. My favorite images from Ghana. Looking back, I'm glad I took some of me with the kids. They really made the trip speacial. Lastly I want to thank Meg and all of Art Feeds for 1) inviting me, 2) not thinking I was crazy when I accepted, and 3) accepting me into their silly and talented group. <br /><br />I'm in LOVE with what they're doing. They are so gifted with reaching young kids and have an incredible mission. If you want to help them on their important journey, visit the <a href="http://artfeeds.org">Art Feeds website</a> and I encourage you to <a href="http://artfeeds.org/welcome/donate/">give</a>!<br /><br />Thanks for looking! <br /><br />I'd love to hear what you think!<br /><br />Talk to you soon<br />Dale

art feeds Ghana giving back 100 Hours in Ghana: Part 3 of 3

Hey everybody! Today is my 802nd straight day of posting a blog! Today I'm wrapping up my 100 hours in Ghana. It was far too short a t...

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100 Hours in Ghana: Part 2 of 3

Hey everybody! Today is my 801st straight day of blogging!<br /><br />Today I get to share more of my 100 hours in Ghana with you.<br /><br />Brooke has such a special heart and a special gift of sharing ballet with children (she teaches it locally too!); The children in Ghana hadn't experienced ballet before Brooke performed for them. They, too, got to chance to learn and perform some ballet. It was a really sweet moment.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.benfieldphoto.com/11Blog/0309_ghana/art_feeds_ghana_11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" src="http://www.benfieldphoto.com/11Blog/0309_ghana/art_feeds_ghana_11.jpg" width="800" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.benfieldphoto.com/11Blog/0309_ghana/art_feeds_ghana_12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" src="http://www.benfieldphoto.com/11Blog/0309_ghana/art_feeds_ghana_12.jpg" width="800" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.benfieldphoto.com/11Blog/0309_ghana/art_feeds_ghana_13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" src="http://www.benfieldphoto.com/11Blog/0309_ghana/art_feeds_ghana_13.jpg" width="800" /></a></div><br />Going back to all the dancing, after Brooke performed, one of the children shared one of his dances - the performance was super entertaining and got lots of positive reactions for his peers (how powerful, right?!)<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.benfieldphoto.com/11Blog/0309_ghana/art_feeds_ghana_14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" src="http://www.benfieldphoto.com/11Blog/0309_ghana/art_feeds_ghana_14.jpg" width="800" /></a></div><br />I love this shot so much. Definitely one of my top faves. Brooke was so real with the kids and they opened right up to her. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.benfieldphoto.com/11Blog/0309_ghana/art_feeds_ghana_15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" src="http://www.benfieldphoto.com/11Blog/0309_ghana/art_feeds_ghana_15.jpg" width="800" /></a></div><br />I was happy to get a couple shots of me with the sweet kiddos this day. It was easy to adapt their simple lifestyle and just open up completely to them and their wonderful little personalities.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.benfieldphoto.com/11Blog/0309_ghana/art_feeds_ghana_16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" src="http://www.benfieldphoto.com/11Blog/0309_ghana/art_feeds_ghana_16.jpg" width="800" /></a></div><br />Come back tomorrow for a few more!<br /><br />Talk to you soon,<br />Dale

art feeds Ghana giving back 100 Hours in Ghana: Part 2 of 3

Hey everybody! Today is my 801st straight day of blogging! Today I get to share more of my 100 hours in Ghana with you. Brooke has such a s...

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100 Hours in Ghana: part 1

Hey everybody! Today is my 800th straight day of blogging! Yeah 8HUNDRED!<br /><br />It's a great day to start blogging the actual images from Ghana. I had such an amazing time. Short, yes... but amazing. <br /><br />So, I'm calling this "100 hours in Ghana." <br />(look, I made a picture!) :)<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.benfieldphoto.com/11Blog/0309_ghana/art_feeds_ghana_01art_feeds_ghana_01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="1061" src="http://www.benfieldphoto.com/11Blog/0309_ghana/art_feeds_ghana_01art_feeds_ghana_01.jpg" width="800" /></a></div>Here was my lovely entourage. The Art Feeds kids, packed like sardines in the back of a cab. (I use the word "cab" loosely)<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.benfieldphoto.com/11Blog/0309_ghana/art_feeds_ghana_02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" src="http://www.benfieldphoto.com/11Blog/0309_ghana/art_feeds_ghana_02.jpg" width="800" /></a></div>First off, let me just say that Africa is really beautiful. Nobody tells you it's going to look like this...<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.benfieldphoto.com/11Blog/0309_ghana/art_feeds_ghana_03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" src="http://www.benfieldphoto.com/11Blog/0309_ghana/art_feeds_ghana_03.jpg" width="800" /></a></div><br />One of my very favorite images, here's Meg with the sweetest little boy ever (sorry, I'm not allowed to share names). What I love about him is the story Meg told me about the first time he heard anything (he's deaf) was the low bass notes in her ipod speakers. Can you imagine hearing something... anything... for the first time?<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.benfieldphoto.com/11Blog/0309_ghana/art_feeds_ghana_04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" src="http://www.benfieldphoto.com/11Blog/0309_ghana/art_feeds_ghana_04.jpg" width="800" /></a></div><br />Art Feeds partners with a school in Ghana where kids the Village of Hope kids have been rescued from slavery and terrible, terrible things. They give therapy to these children through all forms of art. A lot of the shots I got were of the children interacting with our Art Feeds superheroes.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.benfieldphoto.com/11Blog/0309_ghana/art_feeds_ghana_05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" src="http://www.benfieldphoto.com/11Blog/0309_ghana/art_feeds_ghana_05.jpg" width="800" /></a></div><br />This girl felt so beautiful with her tissue paper flowers. I love this look on her face.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.benfieldphoto.com/11Blog/0309_ghana/art_feeds_ghana_06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" src="http://www.benfieldphoto.com/11Blog/0309_ghana/art_feeds_ghana_06.jpg" width="800" /></a></div><br />And the whole class showing off their projects. Lots of color here!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.benfieldphoto.com/11Blog/0309_ghana/art_feeds_ghana_07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" src="http://www.benfieldphoto.com/11Blog/0309_ghana/art_feeds_ghana_07.jpg" width="800" /></a></div><br />The kids were SO happy and full of life! You just wanted to hug them and squeeze them, especially when you think about what some of them had gone through.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.benfieldphoto.com/11Blog/0309_ghana/art_feeds_ghana_08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" src="http://www.benfieldphoto.com/11Blog/0309_ghana/art_feeds_ghana_08.jpg" width="800" /></a></div><br />Here's the lovely and talented Brooke, who we'll see dancing later, with some of the kiddos. They were really affectionate, which surprised me, and were always loving on us.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.benfieldphoto.com/11Blog/0309_ghana/art_feeds_ghana_09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" src="http://www.benfieldphoto.com/11Blog/0309_ghana/art_feeds_ghana_09.jpg" width="800" /></a></div><br />It was difficult for me to remember to actually take pictures with me in them. I did some each day, though. Here's a cute one.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.benfieldphoto.com/11Blog/0309_ghana/art_feeds_ghana_10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" src="http://www.benfieldphoto.com/11Blog/0309_ghana/art_feeds_ghana_10.jpg" width="800" /></a></div><br />I wanna share more tomorrow, so check back!<br /><br />Talk to you soon,<br />Dale

art feeds Ghana 100 Hours in Ghana: part 1

Hey everybody! Today is my 800th straight day of blogging! Yeah 8HUNDRED! It's a great day to start blogging the actual images from Gh...

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Art Feeds Dreams! Help us give back!

Hey everybody! Today is my 799th straight day of blogging!<br /><br />HELP ME GIVE BACK!! <br /><br />Benfield Photography has had the opportunity to work with the girls at Art Feeds and now they need your help! Art Feeds is wanting to hold summer photography camps for community kids but don't have the means to do so. In order to help them we are trying to get anyone and everyone to donate to their wonderful cause! We need 10 point-and-shoot cameras and 2 photo printers, as well as ink cartridges and photo paper. Please help! Below are some links to order cameras or printers right now. They don't cost much and could help Art Feeds help kids! <br /><br />If you have cameras that you don't use or last year's printer model, that'll work too! We just want to get this equipment in young children's hands so they can start using them and developing these artistic skills early on.<br /><br />You can mail your new or old camera to me!<br />Dale Benfield<br />6375 W. Greens Chapel Rd<br />Fayetteville, AR 72704<br /><br />You don't know what Art Feeds is? In a nutshell, Art Feeds helps children develop their creativity by generously giving them their time and the supplies to express themselves through art. They started in one classroom of kids and now have expanded to many classrooms and even internationally in Ghana. Check out their website at artfeeds.org !!<br /><br />Here are the links to order! Our goal is 10 cameras and 2 printers but the kids at Art Feeds need even more so please help! (These below are only $59! We can do it!!!)<br /><br /><a href="http://www.walmart.com/ip/Kodak-C143-Camera-hard-Bundle-Blue-Green-3-trailing-credit/15268906">http://www.walmart.com/ip/Kodak-C143-Camera-hard-Bundle-Blue-Green-3-trailing-credit/15268906</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.walmart.com/ip/Kodak-ESP-3250-All-in-One-Printer-Value-Bundle/15084440">http://www.walmart.com/ip/Kodak-ESP-3250-All-in-One-Printer-Value-Bundle/15084440<br /></a><br />The collection starts today and lasts until April 8th; we'd really LOVE your support in this!<br /><br />Talk to you soon,<br />Dale<br /><br />And just because you've been so good, here's a shot I got in Ghana recently when I went to document the great work Art Feeds does:<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.benfieldphoto.com/11Blog/ghana_teaser1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="600" src="http://www.benfieldphoto.com/11Blog/ghana_teaser1.jpg" width="800" /></a></div>

art feeds Charity giving back Photographers Art Feeds Dreams! Help us give back!

Hey everybody! Today is my 799th straight day of blogging! HELP ME GIVE BACK!! Benfield Photography has had the opportunity to work with th...

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