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Fresh Look at Age Old Issues

December 7, 2005 - DANA POINT, Calif. - BEA AHBECK is a young photographer on a mission. ZUMA Press is proud to be her picture agency. In case you have not seen her powerful work yet, let us introduce a relatively new face in the industry: Bea Ahbeck, a concerned photojournalist with a passion for uncovering social injustice in our backyards and around the world.

The determined newspaper photographer just returned from self-financed trip to Uganda where she hustled and produced four strong photo essays in just 2.5 weeks (see zFeatures below).

Based in Northern California, Bea has been a staff photographer for ANG Newspapers for the past six years. She currently shoots for Argus, ANG's main daily in Fremont, where she's won first place honors in three California news photography competitions. Bea is a New England School of Photography graduate. In 1997 she participated in the Eddie Adams workshop before moving into newspaper photography.

Editorial clients looking for new talent with a fresh eye are welcome to book Bea on assignment. She is now represented exclusively worldwide by ZUMA Press.

To contract her or any other ZUMA Press photojournalist in America or around the globe, please contact Trish Murphy at 949.481.3747.

Awards Season is Here!

2005 Billboard Music Awards

The 2005 Billboard Music Awards rocked the Las Vegas strip last night. Rap artist 50 Cent and veteran punk band Green Day were the night's big winners with six awards each. Mariah Carey, Carrie Underwood and Shakira were also multiple award-winners. Click to view more.

VH1 Big in '05 Awards

In case you were wondering who had the most impact in 2005, VH1 spelled it out for us at the "Big in '05 Awards" on Sunday.

Kanye West was the big winner. He took home two awards: the coveted Big Entertainer award, plus the Big Quote--for his infamous impromptu attack on the Bush administration during NBC's Hurricane Katrina telethon.

Other winners included Lindsay Lohan, who beat Paris Hilton, Nicole Richie and Kristin Cavallari to take home the Big "It Girl" award. Jeremy Piven received the Big Breakthrough and Bo Bice was named "Big Reality Star."

Aside from her award, Jessica Simpson made news at the Big event for her fleeting appearance on the red (actually, it was orange) carpet. The usually publicity-hungry starlet whizzed past photographers and journalists who were eager to ask about her recent split from Nick Lachey. Nevertheless, ZUMA's leading Hollywood photographer, Lisa O'Connor, and KPA-ZUMA legend Paul Fenton, managed to capture her and all the other Biggies that night. To view more, click here.

zFeatures

AIDS Crisis in Uganda - Bea Ahbeck/ZUMA Press

ZUMA photojournalist Bea Ahbeck followed the treatment of three Ugandan women suffering from AIDS and discovered very different outcomes based on their access to healthcare. In southern Uganda, Florence Mukyala, 40, and Susan Izimba, 30, both suffer from AIDS and Tuberculosis. Florence has spent the last two years bed-ridden at her sister's home, unable to manage even the smallest daily tasks on her own. Susan was anemic and in need of a blood transfusion. The hospital she was in didn't have any blood for her, and she died shortly after the photo shoot.

By stark contrast to these cases is Saidat Makopo, 32, living in western Uganda. She is one of 30+ patients currently on anti-retroviral drugs provided by the University of California's Family Treatment Fund. Saidat lost her husband to AIDS in 1996. Since starting on the anti-retroviral meds, she has regained her independence and is able to raise her three children on her own.

Uganda's Children of the Night - Bea Ahbeck/ZUMA Press

In conflict-ridden districts of Uganda, children are not safe to sleep in their own homes. As many as 25,000 have been abducted from their villages by members of the armed opposition, Joseph Kony's Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), and forced into being soldiers, sex slaves or porters. To avoid this tragic fate, an estimated 30,000 youths walk quietly at dusk each night in search of a relatively safe place to sleep. Known locally as "night commuters," the children head to urban areas where special centers run by NGOs provide shelter, security and a place for them to rest.

Child Soldier Rehabilitation Center - Bea Ahbeck/ZUMA Press

Ugandan children that manage to escape or are released from the Lord's Resistance Army carry deep mental and physical scars from the violence they have committed and that was inflicted upon them. More than 100 former child soldiers at a time receive assistance from GUSCO (Gulu Support the Children Organization) Child Soldier Rehabilitation Center. There, the battered youths receive the much needed counseling, food, clothing, shelter and medical help to get reintegrated into society. GUSCO has rehabilitated over 2,300 children thus far.

More of Bea Abeck's Uganda stories will be available via ZUMA Press in the days ahead. All features include text. For more information please e-mail pd@ZUMApress.com.

zEvent

11th Annual FOTOfusion ®

FOTOfusion, one of the industry's most popular annual events, is quickly approaching. The week of inspiration and hands-on training at the Palm Beach Photographic Centre includes numerous mini field trips, seminars & panel discussions, hands-on computer labs, numerous photography & digital art exhibitions, and more. Speakers and workshop leaders include numerous ZUMA-affiliated professionals such as Gary Braasch, the world renown environmental photographer, Pete Cross, Assistant Managing Editor at the award-winning, ZUMA-represented daily, the Palm Beach Post, and Scott Mc Kiernan, ZUMA's director and founder.

Dates: January 17 through 21, 2006
Venue: Palm Beach Photographic Center
Location: 55 NE Second Avenue, Delray Beach, Florida 33444

For registration information, please call 561.276.1932 or visit www.fotofusion.org.

zReportage Update

228th MASH Unit Heals ALL - by NICOLE FRUGE/San Antonio Express-News/ZUMA Press

At the 228th Combat Support Hospital at Camp Speicher, U.S. soldiers, Iraqi civilians and even injured insurgents are treated with the same urgency and care. War's contradictions are pushed to the side here, overlooked in the name of medical necessity.

To license this or any other zReportage.com essay, please e-mail Sales@zReportage.com or call 949.481.3747.

ZUMA Press, Inc. · 34189 Pacific Coast Hwy. Suite 201 Dana Point, CA 92629 · t. 949.481.3747 · Info@ZUMApress.com

ZUMA Press is the largest independent press agency and wire service of award-winning imagery for editorial and creative professional use. Founded in 1995, ZUMA represents the photography of over 900 professionals worldwide, including Pulitzer Prize, World Press Photo and POYi-winners. ZUMA is also the agent of major global picture agencies and dozens large dailies. With such outstanding content, ZUMA images regularly appear in media around the world.

ZUMA properties include: DOUBLEtruck Magazine, the ultimate showcase of cutting-edge photojournalism; zReportage.com, the high-end, elite photojournalism service; and Keystone Pictures, the best visual history of the 20th century and beyond!

ZUMA Press is headquartered in Dana Point, California, with additional offices in New York, Los Angeles, Miami, London and elsewhere around the world. For more information about ZUMA, please visit our corporate Web site at www.ZUMApress.com or call 949.481.3747.

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