Interview with Tim Euken- photographing the world's poverties

Interview with Tim Euken:
Joseph Spaulding – Creative Technologies Director
January 25, 2011

Tim Euken is 19 years old and currently lives in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. He is currently traveling the world with an organization to photograph and document poverty. I recently had the chance to speak with Tim about his travels. As of today, Tim is in Brazil and will soon be heading to the flood zones in Rio.

1) Can you give us a quick run-down of what it is that you are doing and why you are doing it? How long will you be out of the country?

Tim: We are a group of photographers with a variety of passions. My personal passion, along with many others, is the pursuit of wondering why I see so many prostitutes around the world. How they became prostitutes is how we solve the problem. Meeting street children where they are is another passion of mine that will be shown in my photography. 

We will be out of the country for 12 months. Countries run-down: Brazil (Rio and Sao Paulo), South Africa, Egypt, Israel (going to bible locations), Greece, Driving North to Thesselnki (Thessalonians), Italy, Ireland, Finland, Switzerland, Germany, The Czech Republic, Budapest or Croatia, Mumbai Road trip through India, Australia to the flood zones in Nov, then back to Hawaii. (The plan will probably change every once in a while).

2) What's your personal background like? - where did you come from and how did you get to where you are today?

Tim: I was adopted by Missionaries from the Philippines. Yes, my parents are white. I was raised in Hawaii. My personal skills set is geared more towards videography. However, photography has its similarities that I’m planning on mastering. Every year in high school I interned at a professional business. I took the initiative to become the best I could. After all, that’s what the Bible calls us to do. I worked for Airspace Workshop, Montaj9, Digital Edge Hawaii… you can Google them if you would like.

3) What got you into photography?

Tim: I have always been into [photography] however, while I was with a group of photographers to the Philippines (crazy story), and watched as they made a book on prostitution, it really showed me how photography can grab you so quickly. As with video, you have to actually sit and want to pay attention. You can choose to look away after a while but with a picture you can look for a second and it will always be ingrained in your mind if it is good.

4) What is it that God has placed on your heart to do with your gifts and talents?

Tim: I think the one thing that my gifts can do for the world is to make people stop and think. I have to believe in my heart that if people got a glimpse of what I saw - just once - something will move in there heart.

5) What keeps you going? - How does God inspire you or how has God inspired you?

Tim: Haha I’m trying to figure that out. On a team of three guys and six girls, God is really bringing me through. But mostly, I should never let an argument last through the night and realize every day is a new day.

6) Has there been a specific time in your life where God placed on your heart your purpose? -either immediate purpose or long-term? When did you know that you needed to get out of the country to do this?

Tim: My whole life my parents told me my purpose was to follow God in any shape or form. I just happened to find my passion to be the arts and I plan to use it to further His kingdom and improve the lives of the poor. Considering who Jesus hung out with, I figure I can’t be on the wrong track. 
I can’t think of a time in my life where I didn’t want to travel. I just want my life to be an example that the world is so much bigger than any one country no matter how much you seclude yourself in it.

7) Where do you see yourself 10 years from now?

Tim: Haha! Bro, I don’t know where I see myself in 2 weeks. Sorry – it’s a super lame answer but I have no idea and I really don’t want to know or it wouldn’t be an adventure.

8) When can I buy the book that you want to publish?!

Tim: The book will be started January 2012 and finished by June. From there we will be doing a distribution tour.

9) How can we help get the word out about what you are doing?

Tim: Anything is appreciated. I honestly love it when people e-mail me because I can just chat with them about what I’m doing and hopefully influence them to follow in their own paths. If I can do it, anyone can. Also, forwarding people to my blog would be sweet.

10) Can we see some photos?! - if we could use a few photos at our events, that would phenomenal!

Tim: Of course but I’ll have to send them through e-mail.

11) How can we pray for you? - what challenges have you faced so far?

Tim: Please pray for our health. Honestly, we live on rice and beans every day. That’s it – and a piece of bread in the morning. And, if we are lucky, some butter haha. As well as safety. We are all pretty trigger-happy people and sometimes we may be in dangerous situations. We are leaving to go to the flood zones in Rio soon.

12) Is there anything you would like to say that I haven't already asked of you?

Tim: I would just like to say that everyone can use his or her skills to further the kingdom and change the quality of life for the less fortunate. You just have to want to. A Cosmetologist I know of is teaching prostitutes the art of make-up in order for the girls to work in salons instead of the street corners. I know of a Biologist that goes to Africa and fixes eco systems in order to feed hundreds of people with healthy fish. Everything can be used in one way or another. You just have to want to.