You were probably wondering... Why FiftyCrows?

In mid-2000, at an important crossroads in my life, I visited my childhood home in Ohio. One particularly restless night, I went to bed asking what was next for me. How would my life and career experiences lead me on the right path into the future?

Early that next morning I awoke to the cacophony of cawing outside my window. When I pulled back the drapes to view the commotion I found the tree filled with “about fifty crows”, and they were all staring directly at me. They continued their “message” for another ten minutes.

I knew this was a sign. I could feel the importance of this natural event, yet didn’t understand the meaning. My wife, Lilly, suggested we look up the significance of the Crow in the tarot-like deck of the “Animal Medicine Cards” based on Native American traditions. In Native American ways, “medicine” refers to anything that improves one’s connection to the Great Mystery and to all life. With Crow Medicine one must speak in a powerful voice when addressing issues that seem out of harmony, out of balance, or unjust. Crow Medicine assists one in speaking one’s truth, and balancing the past, present and future in the now. Crow guides the way by flying a straight path toward a world in harmony and peace. That’s what I needed to do.

So, you may wonder, how does the Crow guide the mission of FiftyCrows Foundation?

I find that in-depth photography essays offer insights that a single image cannot. It’s harder to stray from the truth, since the evidence presented in a story put together with images can’t be disputed. Documentary photography is part of the straight path to the truth, as the crow flies. Powerful medicine indeed.

Like Crow did that morning, FiftyCrows hopes to wake us up to the realities of the world and allow us to come together to find a promised path towards peace and harmony.

Andy Patrick
Founder & Executive Director