Help an artist in need replace his camera

SUMMARY:

Demitri, a local Marin County wildlife photographer who brings joy to thousands with his art, recently lost his camera and lens in an accident. He needs our help to replace them, to help support both his mental health and the well-being of everyone who enjoys his artistic photography.

THE BACKGROUND:

Hi, I’m Elisha and I’m fundraising for my friend Demitri, a local wildlife photographer in Marin County and an all-around great human who is deserving of our help and support in a time of need.

You know when you meet someone for the first time and sense immediately that they’re “good people?” That’s how it felt when we met our now-friend Demitri Penuelas. On a sunny afternoon in 2021, my husband Brandon and I were out birding in Novato and having a hard time identifying a large bird that was perched in a tree. We tentatively approached Demitri, who at the time was busy photographing the bird with his beautiful camera, and he kindly and warmly stopped what he was doing to help us correctly ID the raptor. We spent the rest of the afternoon sharing bird stories and searching for elusive golden eagles.

Demitri is one of Marin’s finest up-and-coming wildlife photographers. His photos have recently been gaining a lot of positive attention, and he has brought joy to a community of followers on NextDoor, Instagram, and was even recently featured in an article by The San Francisco Standard. (Read that article here: https://sfstandard.com/arts-culture/parks-outdoors/marin-amateur-wildlife-photographer-photo-essay-demitri-penuelas/ )

He, like many of us, found refuge in nature at an early age. For him, heading out into nature with his camera around his neck is therapy.

THE PROBLEM:

Unfortunately, Demitri’s beloved camera and lens came to an untimely and accidental demise on April 17, 2023. Demitri is not currently in a financial position to buy a replacement camera and lens, so I’m asking for your help.

Though very humble and initially resistant to me setting up this GoFundMe on his behalf, Demitri willingly shared a part of his story (and is letting me share it with you) that makes this ask important.

Demitri, a father of two, grew up in an abusive home and initially became interested in wildlife photography to get outside of his home. Eventually, he moved to Marin County to start a new life. He is a survivor of suicide and turned to wildlife photography to support his mental health and motivate him to keep moving forward. Demitri comes alive with a camera in his hands, using it to make art—and perhaps make sense— of the world around him. Anyone who knows him knows that he doesn’t go anywhere without his camera—it helps calm him, challenge him, and keep his mind focused.

Now we need your help to get a camera and lens back into Demitri’s hands.

THE CALL TO ACTION:

Do you care about nature? Wildlife? Birds? Photography? Creativity? Mental health? Equitable access to enjoy all these things? If you answered yes to any of these questions, I hope you’ll donate today. A donation in any amount will help get a camera and lens back in Demitri’s hands. 100% of your donation will go directly to help cover the expenses of a replacement Nikon D850 camera and Nikon super-telephoto zoom lens.

Thank you for your consideration! If you have any questions, you can reach out to me directly.

Elisha Ellis Madsen