Hello,

I haven't been vocal enough about this story. With all the losses felt since ICE invaded Chicago, accounting for my own feels small and even petty. But, how my personal losses have impacted me, my work, and communities I serve, requires care too.

On September 26th, I took an assignment with The TRiiBE to cover ICE protests at Broadview Detention Center. Having only an evening to prepare I researched what I could to mentally prepare along with collecting standard protective gear from staff the evening prior. In the past, I'd covered peaceful protests, demonstrations, and marches, but never anything so vicious, namely, a selective assault on journalists which I'm still recovering from. See below:

While myself and a group of photographers took cover behind a van, we were outflanked from a blindspot to our northwest. Though a fence separated us from that van, I recall thinking 'check your back. if an agent wanted to... they could really hurt you'. That's exactly what happened.

ICE had been attacking in waves and when this wave came, we were caught between tear gas in front of us and behind us. I believe rubber bullets were used as well. As I fled, I was instantly blinded while coughing and vomiting. I didn't have my mask on, just the goggles. In the process of opening the bag for the mask, cameras and lenses spilled on the concrete. Running for cover, another lens hit the brick facade of a building face-on as it swung wildly from my shoulder strap. In the chaos of dropping the bag, falling, and fleeing, I was still trying to shoot and change lenses, exposing these cameras to gas and moisture. In all, 3 camera bodies sustained damage + 4 lenses took a beating, including:

Camera Bodies

FUJI GFX 50r (sensor damage from tear gas: operable with smudged images)

FUJI XE2 (sensor damage from tear gas: inoperable/replace)

FUJI XT5 (cracked rear LCD screen: operational from viewfinder only)

Lenses

Mitakon 65mm (operational after professional tightening performed at courtesy)

Sigma 20mm (operational but damaged aspherical lens hood)

Fujinon 16-55mm (inoperable/replace with new)

Sigma 50mm (operational but requires repair to calibrate barrel)

Nikon 105mm (operational with dented lens)

Viltrox 75mm (operational with dented non-removable lens filter)

Strobe Light

*Elinchrom One (inoperable/replace with new)

I've put every dollar I can toward repairs and really need your help.

TRiiBE briefly brought attention to my cause in a newsletter featuring me being tended to by trained organizers (credit: Jon Stegenga), and I'm grateful for the care and attention of such courageous folk, especially in that chaos. The image, however, was a snapshot, not a story, and netted $10 on October 15th when the newsletter ran. I'm presently asking for $5150 to restore my locker and get back to work. 3 months without my tools is already enough. Feeling compromised in capacity and confidence is excessive. Solving this alone like no one cares? Something breaks. I'm accepting donations far and wide, but am especially reaching for those I've performed sweat equity for. If I've positively impacted or advanced your mission, personally, professionally, purposefully, please consider giving.

To bypass GB fees, please send donations to:

Cashapp $seedlynn

Venmo: @SeedLynn

Zelle: seedlynn@gmail.com

Alternatively, I'm running a promotional special alongside this campaign that can be booked here:

https://travelinmercies.pixieset.com/booking/heirlooms-seasonal-family-portrait-special

Use Coupons:

1GEN (up to 2 hr session ~ 1 family generation) =$400

2GEN (up to 3hr session ~ 2 family generations) =$600

3GEN (up to 4hr session ~ 3 family generations) =$800

Total session time includes design, staging, and grouping alterations and include 1 complimentary print.

Lastly, I'll host a limited number of 'pay what you can' offerings to families who plan to share their stories!

Seed Lynn Camera Care + Restoration

Repair + Replacement for equipment damaged at Broadview Protest (quotes incoming)