Ascetics with Cameras

providing multimedia services, tools and training to Shiva’s Army – the sadhus & sadhvis of Juna Akhara – since 2004.

providing multimedia services, tools and training to Shiva’s Army – the sadhus & sadhvis of Juna Akhara – since 2004.

Ascetics with Cameras is a seva (volunteer service) organization providing multimedia services, tools and training to Shiva’s Army – the sadhus & sadhvis of Juna Akhara – since 2004. It is our mission to, not only provide multimedia tools to document and preserve the living-histories of these followers of Sanatan Dharma, but more importantly to train the members (of the oldest and largest order of Dasnaami Hindu ascetics) to document it for themselves. Giving them the skills to share with the world the stories and aspects of their culture they find important, will empower these ascetics to participate in the process of media-making to which their Akhara has been subject for centuries and enlighten audiences to the sacred, ancient paths and esoteric traditions of truth seekers.

We run various types of Community Outreach Programs & Projects geared towards both Cross-Cultural Exchange and Experiential Multimedia Education.

PROJECTS & PROGRAMS:
• Photo Giveaways
• Multimedia Archives (photo, video, audio)
• Photography Training Program
• “Her-story” Video Production Program
• Juna Akhara Documentary Project
• Seva Services Program

Ascetics with Cameras is based throughout India and led by Nicole Jaquis – produced by relativelyLocal, in collaboration w/ Juna Akhara, with support by Projectile Arts.

Sri Avdheshanand Giri Maharaj, Acharya Mahamandaleshwar of the Juna Akhara praised the Ascetics with Cameras program, calling Nicole Jaquis, “Juna Akhara’s Cultural Ambassador to the West”.

All AWC Projects & Programs are free of charge to its participants. However it costs us money to make it all happen.

This project would not be possible without the support of people like you!

Your donation will go towards the following:
• camera purchases (both HDvideo and digital still cameras, memory cards, batteries, chargers, etc)
• printing (all photography participants receive copies of all their images in at least 4×6 format work-prints, sometimes larger for really excellent photos)
• post production (editing photos / videos, posting to website, creating DVDs, etc.)
• travel & living expenses (most of the participants live spread out across the country)
• dakshana (donations to various members of Juna Akhara and ashrams who have supported this program, ie. given me food/shelter while I work)
• outreach (screenings, exhibits, speaking engagements, etc.)

1. http://www.asceticswithcameras.org

2. relativelyLocal's experiential multimedia education program, led by multimedia artist & educator, Nicole Jaquis.

3. empowerment through media production:

4. - to share with us their stories of what led them on this path, and what they found once they embarked upon it.

5. - to participate in the process of journalism to which their Akhara has been subject for centuries.