fotoazo has begun a new service to complement its microgrant program.
Equipment prices in the United States are frequently cheaper than in other parts of the world (and average wages generally higher). Many international photographers can be helped by being given access to US market prices.
In response, fototazo has begun to purchase, pick up and hand-deliver equipment from the United States to Colombian photographers on trips between the two countries. In this program, the full price of the equipment is covered by the photographer.
The first delivery was made in June, a Nikon d5100 purchased for Aura Lambertinez. One of her photographs from a project on Medellín's Barrio Triste is above. With a kit lens through B&H Photo in New York, the camera cost $895. The street price in Medellín for a Nikon d5100 with a kit lens is 2.390.000 pesos or $1,328. By being given access to the price of the camera in the US, she saved $433, money she can invest in more equipment or put towards her tuition fees to continue her photographic education at the Universidad de Antioquia.
If members of our network of readers will be coming to Colombia and would be interested in carrying a piece of equipment to help a photographer here, please email fototazo@gmail.com.