Vancouver Photographer Inspires International Summer Solstice Photo Shoot; Cameras Click Around the Globe on June 21st for Charity!

    Local Compassionate Eye Foundation teams up with Getty Images for
    Philanthropic Efforts

    VANCOUVER, June 18 /CNW/ - Prominent Vancouver photographer Robert Kent
plans on making the most of the longest day of the year on June 21, 2007 (16
hours and 12 minutes). Kent, founder of Compassionate Eye Foundation (CEF),
has teamed up with Getty Images to raise funds for international aid on this
year's Summer Solstice. From Vancouver to Capetown, photographers and their
crews will be merging their talents and passion for humanitarian work to raise
funds by donating the June 21st images. This innovative business model is
unique as the first and only philanthropic model that generates funds through
imagery licensing.
    Kent, joined by twelve Vancouver photographers and fifty additional
photographers from around the globe will donate the copyright of their work
from Summer Solstice Shoot to the CEF collection, sold online at
gettyimages.com. Proceeds from their royalty percentage will sponsor current
efforts in Guatemala and facilitate future projects. Getty Images is donating
the majority of their share of the licensing fees to CEF to support their
charitable projects.
    The Solstice Shoots will take place worldwide including: Vancouver,
Toronto, Ottawa, Seattle, Los Angeles, New Mexico, Texas, New York, London,
Buenos Aires, and Capetown in an international movement to help CEF with their
mission. Getty Images art directors are collaborating with many of the
photographers involved in the shoots.
    Seattle-based Getty Images has supported Kent's project from its
conception two years ago. The partnership between Kent and Getty Images was
born from a mutual desire to help the global community. Currently there are
nearly one hundred images available on gettyimages.com that generate revenue
for CEF. Available online this fall, images from the 2007 shoot will
significantly increase funds flowing to the organization.
    "I wanted to create a structure for giving back," says Kent. "Getty
Images is a global leader in visual content development and distribution. They
have a strong infrastructure in place and constantly evolve to meet the needs
of media, creative agencies and businesses in more than 100 countries. This is
a ground breaking project; together, we are using the power of images to make
a change in the world."

    Collaborating with other non-profit organizations such as Alianza and
Education without Borders, CEF selects projects that focus on children and
women's issues, as well as health and education. To date, CEF has built an
elementary school in Tuixoquel, Guatemala and leads several successful
projects, including a scholarship fund, pre-post natal classes and a women's
health group. Future projects include expanding educational opportunities,
basic health services and providing tools for economic development. The CEF is
currently evaluating projects in South Africa, Tanzania and India.

For further information:

For further information: Media Contact: Pamela Groberman, Media & Public
Relations, Phone: (604) 677-7474, Mobile: (604) 644-1064, Email:
pam@pamelagroberman.com