Kosmos webinar with John Stanmeyer, “Illuminating”

“We all are Custodians of information, we all have something that’s important to give and share with the world. And now we are all publishers.” –  John Stanmeyer

John Stanmeyer is a visionary leader and world-renowned professional photographer who offered a unique perspective on some of the major issues of our time through his photojournalism on Sunday December 14, 2014 as Kosmos Journal hosted a webinar at the Shaker Dam Coffee House and Stanmeyer Gallery in West Stockbridge, Massachusetts USA. John has been the recipient of the prestigious Robert Capa award (Overseas Press Club), Magazine Photographer of the Year (POYi) and many others. In 2008 his National Geographic cover story on global malaria received a National Magazine Award and in 2012 he was nominated for an Emmy for the VII documentary film series, Starved for Attention.

The Stanmeyer Gallery was filled with a live audience, as people from around the world participated through the webinar. Why a coffee house? Owners John and Anastasia Stanmeyer (editor of Berkshire Magazine) said that education and good coffee ­ sharing social justice values ­ in a local setting is the why.

(image) Dot Maver, John Stanmeyer and Nancy Roof (image) Shaker Dam Coffee House

John shared seven story lines within his Decade story for National Geographic, taking us from Uganda through Indonesia, Africa, the Philippines and more. His photos portray issues that touch our hearts and minds and inspire us to action. He touched upon World Aid, Malaria, Spirituality and Mysticism, Piracy, Food and Security, and Water Issues. To open the event, we welcomed Dr. Maartje Van Frankenhuisjen who is featured in the picture of the cover of the 2014 fall/winter issue of Kosmos Journal as she cradles the head of a small child in Uganda, (she was actually checking for meningitis). She described her work at that time with Doctors without Borders. John and Maartje had not seen one another for ten years and the conversation was heartfelt and illuminating.

(image) Dot Maver, webinar host

The live audience, combined with webinar technology provided a rich community experience, local to global. Photos from John’s Decade Series in National Geographic are featured in the fall/winter issue of Kosmos Journal. Signal, portraying migrant workers in Djibouti seeking cell signals on the beach, resulted in John receiving the 2014 World Press Photo Award. He took that picture while traveling with Paul Salopek on his Out of Eden Project, a seven year walk. Nancy Roof, founding editor of Kosmos Journal welcomed everyone saying, “All of us are together because we care about creating a future that works for everyone ­ every single person around the world ­ a world that we can hand down to future generations.”

Dr. Marilyn Svihovec, attending the live event said, “John Stanmeyer is a global citizen demonstrating how one person has a significant ripple effect.” Susan Ingersoll, local resident shared, “The broadcast was intimate and informative while also having global outreach. That’s Kosmos!”

At the close of the event, as participants shared questions and comments, it was obvious that photojournalism provides a window of knowing and feeling through the heart, and when combined with an opportunity for dialogue in community, is a means of both informing about issues and inspiring action on behalf of the common good.

(image) Signal, by John Stanmeyer, portrays migrant workers in Djibouti seeking cell signals on the beach. Winner, 2014 World Press Photo Award

Kosmos Staff Article