Needing to make money for food, Santiago Chimbo, right, is anxious as he waits for his friend, before hitting the streets of Quito to shine shoes. (Britany McIntosh)

My five a.m. alarm came way too early and I groaned at the thought of getting out of bed at the butt crack of dawn to go roam the streets with kids I only understand half of the time. But as I look back on this morning, I firmly believe it was by far one of the most eye opening experiences of my life. And I owe all that to a 7-year- old boy named Santiago Chimbo.

My NGO, el Centro del Muchachos Trabajador, works with boys, and their families, in poverty that must work in the streets to make money. The boys go out into the streets on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. This was my first morning to go out with them, but when I caught sight of Santiago I knew he was the boy I would follow. When I first saw him, he was sitting by his locker in a coverall jumpsuit, covered in grease and nothing but serious. He was all business, leaving 20 minutes earlier than most of the other boys to hit the streets and make money.

As corny as it sounds,I left a piece of my heart today on the streets of Quito; in the alleys where I was chasing little boys who were searching for any chance to make a quarter. “I like working so I can make money to eat,” Santiago said. When I was seven, I was happy when my mom let me ride my bike 3 blocks away. What a striking difference it was to be in the shoes of someone who was 7 going on thirty. It’s an amazing gift we’ve been given, photojournalism. The ability to live and document life experiences that many people will never see, understand or be given the chance to appreciate and grow from. And I feel nothing but blessed that a 7 year old taught me that life lesson today.

A short article previewing the week of the workshop on the University of Guadalajara Social Science website.

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Picture 1 of 41

Behind the scenes gallery on Day 1 and Day 2 of the Truth With A Camera Workshop in Guadalajara, Mexico.

]]> http://www.truthworkshopblog.org/2009/05/26/behind-the-scenes-images-shooting-day-1/feed/ 0 http://www.truthworkshopblog.org/2009/05/23/university-of-guadalajara-radio-interview/ http://www.truthworkshopblog.org/2009/05/23/university-of-guadalajara-radio-interview/#comments Sat, 23 May 2009 15:23:46 +0000 joshmeltzer http://www.truthworkshopblog.org/?p=132 Members of the Truth Workshop staff were interviewed on Radio University of Guadalajara twice this week with our Mexican instructor Photojournalist Jose Hernandez Claire. Listen to the interview….Radio interview with Jose/Josh

Photography © Josh Meltzer

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Scenes from around Guadalajara.

Visit Truth With A Camera Workshops.

Truth Prep Day from Truth Workshop on Vimeo.

Instructors and staff are here and spent a long day prepping for the workshop which begins tomorrow. Finished the night off with some delicious tacos al pastor!