A big BRAVO to Tom Griggs for creating the new grant program and informative website, Fototazo. This site supports emerging economically disadvantaged photographers from around the globe and brings exposure to their projects and their need to purchase equipment. Fototazo is another example of the photography community stepping up to give back by combining social giving and photography. The grant process aims to serve those already working to build a career in photography whose development is currently limited by the inability to purchase necessary equipment.

This is what Tom writes about his idea:
The idea emerged from teaching here in Colombia. I have some excellent, dedicated students trying to take my classes at the university and move forward in photography with old point-and-shoot cameras. With a little research this has come up as a common issue: photography equipment is expensive, as we all know, and prohibitively so for many.

The site aims to benefit us, the photography community, as well. Supporting the young photographers on Fototazo not only allows them to continue their pursuit in the field, it also deepens the collective voice of contemporary photography by providing images from those who would otherwise be excluded from participating fully in the dialogue of our medium by its costs.

Fototazo also provides in-depth interviews and portfolios of new work by selected contemporary photographers, as well as links to other recommended sites and a helpful photography resource list.

Supporting Fototazo not only allows a young photographer to continue their pursuit in the field, it also deepens the collective voice of contemporary photography by providing images from those who have historically been excluded from participating fully in the dialogue of the medium by its costs.

Donations to the current photographer selected for a microgrant can be made here.
For more information about how to donate used equipment, please send an email to fototazo@gmail.com.
To make a donation to the Fototazo general fund to support its operations, click here.

A page explaining how to apply for a grant can be found here.

Fototazo was founded in 2011 by Tom Griggs, a photographer and educator based in Medellín and Philadelphia.