Through the Lenses of Vegan Photographers, Part 2 of 2

Amanda Clark is an American photographer with a passion for photographing various animal-folks in sanctuaries. “I went vegetarian in high school, my friend showed me that ‘Meet Your Meat’ video, so, I went vegetarian. My husband and I scheduled a Farm Sanctuary tour, the bed breakfast day in 2015, and you have to be vegan on the premises. So, I started reading Jean Bowers books, I ended up going vegan overnight, and then my husband actually went vegan at Farm Sanctuary after meeting the cows.”

In 2017, Amanda Clark started a photographic series known as “The Sanctuary Project.” Seeking to connect humans to animal-people who are used for meat, she snapped up-close- and-personal portraits of each rescued farm animal individual she came across.

After numerous visits to sanctuaries, Amanda Clark and her husband, Steve Clark (vegan), thought of launching such a compassionate operation, and Here With Us Farm Sanctuary, a non-profit vegan sanctuary to welcome rescued animal-people, was thus founded in 2018, in Pennsylvania, USA. “I guess the main reason why (to start the sanctuary), it was because being vegan wasn't enough for me.”

Amanda Clark set her skills in motion by producing a series of photos that shared with the world the various members of her animal-people family. The public could discover their respective personalities, likes, dislikes, and particularities, just like we humans have! For example, Patrick, the goat-person loves to be rubbed between his horns, appreciates constant attention, and snacks! And Rufus, the calf, loves attention, playing along, and being rubbed on the neck!

As in most sanctuaries, the public can elect to sponsor an animal-person. “The sponsorships will cover their monthly food, so there will be monthly donations. So, we'll also be mailing pictures to those people, they will get special videos and come visit anytime.”

Here With Us Farm Sanctuary stands as a loving home to almost 200 rescued farm animal-people. With camera in hand Amanda Clark will continue to portray the amazing nature of animal-individuals.