Photojournalism is easier with cameras

Hi folks! I’m Linda Tirado, an author and photojournalist based out of Tennessee. My work is mainly in the US, the UK and Australia, and I work mainly in English and German. Unfortunately, I'm best known as the photographer who was shot and blinded in one eye during the protests in Minneapolis in May 2020 that sprang up after the killing of George Floyd. Someday, perhaps, my work will be the thing most people know about me - but for that to happen, I need some help. My gear was another casualty of that protest; I bled on my camera to the point that it’s mostly unusable. That’s a problem for a photographer! The camera I used is going into a museum, which is honestly weird to think about, but now I need to buy another camera and a few lenses. It took a few months to heal, and there wasn’t a question of working during convalescence. I didn’t think of replacing my gear until recently, and once it came up I wanted to wait until quarantine was over. Best laid plans, right? The world needs journalists with experience in civil unrest, people who know best practices and have history with their subjects. In another six months, I’ll be able to get back to work in the field. It’s an amazing thing to know that your work matters, that you’ve found your calling - but I’ll need the equipment to take into the field. I know that people are inundated with asks for help, and pro gear for a working journalist isn’t quite on the level of medical bills or rent. But I didn’t merely lose or break my kit; my gear was destroyed when my eye was and I simply can’t afford to get back to work without help. I spend a fair amount of time asking r strangers for money so that I can help other people. It’s a bit odd and uncomfortable to ask on my own behalf, so I’d like to say: thanks in advance. A lot of my life has always depended on the kindness and compassion of humanity, and I am always humbled and astounded at what people can do when led by passion and joy. I’m going to take some badass pictures with this one eye, and I can’t say how grateful I am for the chance.