From a Living Hell to Heaven on Earth: the Inhumanity and Humanity of Humans

In a remote area of western Wisconsin, dogs and cats who otherwise would have ended up on death row are given a reprieve. They can now live out their lives in peace and comfort and with companionship at Home for Life (HFL), which was not afforded them outside the sanctuary's gates.

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Gus was struck by a car and left to die in Tijuana, Mexico. He was leaning against a tree there with a broken back when rescuers from the At Choo Foundation found him. He will never walk again.

Soosan is a Whippet mix from Iran's Vafa Animal Shelter. She had two legs amputated after being hit by a car. She loves to get out for runs in the sanctuary's meadows using her cart.

Because of my orangutan portrait series that resulted in the book, The People of the Forest, I was asked by a public relations person I had worked with for years if I would be interested in doing some pro bono work for Home For Life.

I started packing as soon as I saw their website and read the stories behind some of their rescues, including two gunshot victims. I do believe that the camera has the ability to bring about positive change, and I wanted to apply that concept here.

I was able to transport my portable studio in a Think Tank Production Manager case and my cameras and lenses in a Think Tank Airport International rolling bag. I let the wheels take the weight rather than my back. Once at the sanctuary, I set up two Profoto strobes in beauty dishes, one as a key light and one as a fur light (as opposed to a hair light), and used my Nikon Z9 with a Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/2.8 lens for the portrait sessions.