Help Erik Create his Heritage Story

Hello friends, family and all of the good people visiting this campaign. My name is Agnieszka and I would like to introduce you to my fiancee Erik and his exciting project. Let’s start with a tiny background. Five years ago, Erik dropped everything to move with me from his home in Seattle to my home country of Poland, so I could be closer to my family. During this time, he has drawn from his background as an artist and carved out a new path for himself as a photographer. Believe me, he is really good, you can see his work here .

Erik is in fact well known and celebrated for his contributions to photography. He gave a TEDex talk, multiple paper, radio and TV interviews and published an album about Poznan for which he recently received an award in the Polish National review of Books for 2016 ! He is the real deal :)

What makes him different is his ability to tell a story. That’s because Erik is the biggest empath I know. In his work he is an observer, a psychologist, a sociologist. He is exercising his talent without judgment and it shows.


At the end of April he will be embarking on an exciting, once in a lifetime project to follow the branches of his genealogy tree throughout towns and villages of Denmark and Sweden alongside his Pretty Aunty Mary and Uncle Frank from Camano Island, WA.

The idea is to create a visual story about discovering one’s heritage. In addition to visiting the sites and photographing the landscape, they will also be meeting with distant relatives and videotaping their conversations for a short documentary film.

"My Mom holding me with her Dad, my Grandfather to her right and my Great Grand Mother to the left, whom I only met in this image. So proud of their mostly Swedish and Danish heritage. And boy, did my Grandpa remind me about it everyday. I miss him, but they would be so proud of this journey"

I believe that this need to connect and listen and discover who we are and how similar we all are is something that is very important, especially in these trying times. Can you imagine the stories that will be shared, some I am certain untold in a very long time? Here is Erik talking about it in more detail:

“It has been so interesting to me to be in a country that has such rich and proud heritage. A country where people take pride in where they are from and the history of their people. Where stories glare from every corner of the street, every road traveled and the deep sense of it can be felt in every cobblestone tread upon. Everywhere I look, there is some part of history to be explored.


Growing up in Seattle, I knew I was of Scandinavian descent but had no real historical connection or sense of it. My people were American and we all came from a neighborhood is what I thought. A few years ago I had the chance to travel first to Denmark and then Norway, both of which are part of my ancestry along Sweden and German descent. Arriving in each of those countries I was immediately struck by the familiarity and the sense of “home’ that I immediately felt. Suddenly, a large portion of my life seemed to wake up and feel alive again.

Seattle, Washington, Pike Place Market

Alesund, Norway

Last year when I went home to visit, my Pretty Aunty Mary and uncle Frank took some time to show me the genealogy report that they had been working on and so far had it dated back to 500 years of our history. I was fully awake here realizing that our family had come, lived and moved from a distant place that in my current situation was no longer so distant. Immediately fascinated, we briefly spoke of the possibility of making contact with some of very distant relatives who are still thriving in parts of Sweden and Denmark.

This trip is now a reality and for the first time Mary and Frank will be traveling to Europe and physically exploring our ancestry. I am absolutely humbled that they have asked me to join them on this trip of a lifetime.

Being a photographer, I could hardly pass up the opportunity and can envision the amazing and inspiring content that could come of it. From images, portraits, day to day stories that could be told to longer and larger projects like a book or longer documentary. But, in order to do this, I need to get a better camera with video capability.

For the last decade  I have been using my trusty Nikon D80 DSLR camera and a small but cool variety of lenses, of which 35mm 1.8 is my favorite and is what I am often seen carrying around wherever I go. The truth of the matter is that I need to update my equipment so that I can produce higher quality and full frame images, but it is also proving to be important to be able to do video. Neither of which my camera does.

Most of the funds would go to securing this new equipment, but some of it would also be going to pay for some of the expenses. Agnieszka will remain in Poznan with our two little kittens, Louis and Luna holding the fort down until I return.

I need to have the funds complete by mid-April around Easter so that I can secure the new camera and make the start of the trip at the end of April.

Being able to get sufficient funding would take a huge burden off of my shoulders and allow me the creative space I need, to freely document this trip of a lifetime.

I am very humbled and greatful and appreciative of your support,

Erik”


This project is about connection, family (regardless how distant), discovery and growth. It’s about learning who we are and what makes us human. And it is all going to be wrapped up in beautiful imagery of people and places that have made an imprint along the way. I know that I am biased but I do believe that this campaign is worthy of your donation, which is why I ask you to contribute what you can today.

I thank you with kindness,

Agnieszka


For more of Erik and his work visit his website here: http://www.erikwitsoe.com/ 

REWARDS:
My plan is to do either a Documentary or a book or maybe both, but I thought some credit would be very appropriate.
For support of $100 your name will apprea in the work produced.
For support of $250, your name will be listed as an "Assistant Producer".
And for $500 in support, your name would be listed as a "Producer"
No matter how much support you decide upon, please know that I appreciate it will of my heart and soul. Much love to all of you.

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