Ryan Mack got Jacked
Donation protected
Local budding surf photographer and finalist in the 2019 Follow The Light Foundation was chasing the swell from Hurricane Dorian in South Florida, when he and NJ surfer Logan Kamen were robbed. They left their car locked and parked for 15 minutes in Miami, and when the returned, all of Ryan's camera gear and computer were gone. Included in the theft were several camera bodies, a MacBook, water housings, lenses and accessories.
Anyone who knows anything about photography, and the equipment associated with surf photography, will know that this is a devastating blow to a young upstart like Ryan. To make matters works he carried no insurance on his equipment, which most of us would have done at 24, and this is his sole means of income.
Ryan started at the bottom as a grom following all of the local surfers, learning from other photographers and putting on photography shows from a young age to show off his work. In the past couple of years his work has become extremely creative and polished. This is a huge setback for him just as he is really starting to gain some traction with his craft.
Please join me in helping get him back on his feet again with anything you can afford to donate to purchase equipment to replace some of the more important pieces of equipment that were stolen. He is heading out to California next week for the Follow The Light Foundation awards, and I am sure he would love to be able to document his trip and the surf in Souther California.
As a side note I should mention that Ryan was more worried about people donating to those that were devastated in the Bahamas by the storm. I had to convince him that it was ok to reach out to the surf community when it comes to your livelihood. If you are on the fence about where to send your donations, with all of the world events going on, I would say maybe take a portion and send it to Ryan and send the rest to the charity that you feel needs it most.
Sometimes life gives you a little kick in the n#+s and a little helping hand can get you back on track.
Lets see this kid continue to hone his craft and inspire future generations of KWAC (kids with a camera).
Anyone who knows anything about photography, and the equipment associated with surf photography, will know that this is a devastating blow to a young upstart like Ryan. To make matters works he carried no insurance on his equipment, which most of us would have done at 24, and this is his sole means of income.
Ryan started at the bottom as a grom following all of the local surfers, learning from other photographers and putting on photography shows from a young age to show off his work. In the past couple of years his work has become extremely creative and polished. This is a huge setback for him just as he is really starting to gain some traction with his craft.
Please join me in helping get him back on his feet again with anything you can afford to donate to purchase equipment to replace some of the more important pieces of equipment that were stolen. He is heading out to California next week for the Follow The Light Foundation awards, and I am sure he would love to be able to document his trip and the surf in Souther California.
As a side note I should mention that Ryan was more worried about people donating to those that were devastated in the Bahamas by the storm. I had to convince him that it was ok to reach out to the surf community when it comes to your livelihood. If you are on the fence about where to send your donations, with all of the world events going on, I would say maybe take a portion and send it to Ryan and send the rest to the charity that you feel needs it most.
Sometimes life gives you a little kick in the n#+s and a little helping hand can get you back on track.
Lets see this kid continue to hone his craft and inspire future generations of KWAC (kids with a camera).
Organizer and beneficiary
Larry Schmidt
Organizer
Manasquan, NJ
Ryan Mack
Beneficiary
