# Despairing Disaster Photography Rick Bajornas Documents the Devastating Flood in Awash Valley By Meghan Young | Published 2010-10-26 | Fashion Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/rick-bajornas References: [behance.net](http://www.behance.net/gallery/Awash-Valley-Flooding/764545) & [bajornas.net](http://www.bajornas.net) Capturing the devastation of the Awash Valley flooding in Ethiopia, American photographer Rick Bajornas has put together a [poignant portfolio](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/still-life-1) that documents the people's will to survive. Considering that [natural disasters are occurring more often](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/tide-loads-of-hope), images such as those found in Rick Bajornas' portfolio are incredibly important to catalyze assistance for these ravaged countries. Unfortunately, as you can see from this [Rick Bajornas photo documentary](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-last-resort-exhibition), recovery is a long, arduous process. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 2.4/10 - Popularity: 43% | Activity: 22% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 30% men, 70% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial - Top markets: North America, Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Fashion](https://www.trendhunter.com/fashion) > [Photography](https://www.trendhunter.com/stylephotography) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Disaster Relief Funding:** Increased frequency of natural disasters has caused a need for disruptive innovation in disaster relief funding to aid countries ravaged by natural disasters such as the Awash Valley flooding in Ethiopia. - **Virtual Reality Tours:** Disruptive innovation in virtual reality tours can help provide a more comprehensive and immersive experience of natural disasters, such as the Awash Valley flooding in Ethiopia. - **Eco-friendly Rebuilding:** Disruptive innovation in eco-friendly rebuilding can address the long-term effects and sustainability of areas affected by natural disasters, such as the Awash Valley in Ethiopia. ### Who This Affects Most - **Insurance:** Collaboration between the insurance industry and technology could create innovative solutions to improve the efficiency of post-disaster insurance payouts, like those affected by the Awash Valley flooding in Ethiopia. - **Tourism:** The tourism industry has the potential to leverage virtual reality technology to create immersive disaster tours giving people a more in-depth understanding of root causes and promote empathy and action like the Awash Valley flooding in Ethiopia. - **Sustainable Building:** The development of sustainable building materials and methods can help vulnerable areas, such as the Awash Valley in Ethiopia, to build resilient buildings limiting the devastation of future natural disasters. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Disaster Preparedness Homeowner Solutions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/documenting-for-disaster.md) - [Dramatic Doomsday Bunker Images](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/alastair-philip-wiper.md) - [Flood Data Management Solutions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/iceye.md) - [Pet Disaster Plan Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pet-disaster-plan.md) - [Destructive Nature Art Exhibitions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/keita-miyazaki.md) - [Disaster-Striken New Furniture Exhibits](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/future-perfect.md) - [Disaster-Ready Housing Prototypes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/essential-homes.md) - [Wildfire Relief Luggage Donations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ricardo-beverly-hills.md) - [Drought-Awareness Rug Designs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/dryland-rug.md)