Touching portrait photos of people living on a dollar a day

Professor Thomas A. Nazario and photographer Renée C. Byer have launched a book called “Living on a Dollar a Day: The Lives and Faces of the World’s Poor” which includes photos and the stories of poor people living on a dollar a day.

Taking good photos is a lot easier these days. Cameras and lenses are getting better and anybody can do a little research on how to press the shutter and be pleased with the outcome. However, a great photo is one that makes a difference or one that touches the heart of the viewer.

On the other hand, making a difference for poor people or touching one’s heart is a lot harder, but it can be done, just like in photography. Professor Thomas A. Nazario has founded The Forgotten International organization, which is aiming to show the entire world the various problems encountered by people living in poor conditions and struggling to make a living.

The professor has teamed up with photographer Renée C. Byer and they have created as well as released the  “Living on a Dollar a Day: The Lives and Faces of the World’s Poor” book.

The book contains numerous stories of people who are making a dollar a day or so and living on a day-to-day basis in developing countries. Instead of traveling only to Africa, where the poor living conditions have already gained notoriety, Nazario and Byer have also visited Romania, Bangladesh, and Peru among other nations.

Thomas A. Nazario and Renée C. Byer release “Living on a Dollar a Day: The Lives and Faces of the World’s Poor” book

The “Living on a Dollar a Day: The Lives and Faces of the World’s Poor” book is teaching us that more than one billion people are currently living in extreme poverty, making “a dollar a day”.

Poor people cannot choose between many options in their life, but the causes for their situation are different from region to region. Unfortunately, almost all these people will not be able to overcome their problems without receiving help.

Professor Thomas A. Nazario says that we should not visit these places in a shiny armor and start telling these people what to do. Instead, we should listen to them and help them voice their opinions because only they know what they need.

People living in extreme poverty have feelings, too, and we should first determine the cause behind their situation before dictating how they should live their lives.

The “Living on a Dollar a Day: The Lives and Faces of the World’s Poor” book includes more than 200 touching photos and a lot of interesting, but sad stories of the things some people must endure in order to survive.

About the authors

Renée C. Byer is a well-known documentary photographer and photojournalist. Her impressive career is highlighted by a Pulitzer Prize won in 2007 for a photo series called “A Mother’s Journey” which consists of photos of a mother and her 10-year-old son fighting cancer.

Additionally, she has been a finalist for the same prize in 2013 with a series of photos depicting an old man taking care of his three grandchildren following the deaths of his daughter and his wife.

Thomas A. Nazario is a professor at the University of San Francisco School of Law and the founder of “The Forgotten International” organization that is aiming to help children around the world.

The professor has visited plenty of countries and has helped defending the rights of children. The “Living on a Dollar a Day: The Lives and Faces of the World’s Poor” book can be purchased at Amazon for about $33.