Darcy Kiefel has been a photographer for more than twenty years and began her career covering professional cycling throughout Europe including the infamous Tour de France. She is known throughout the cycling world as the first woman photographer to work from the back of a motorcycle and cover the entire nine month European calendar for an unprecedented ten years.
Darcy's passion for humanitarian work began in 1997 as media specialist and staff photographer for Frank Foundation/Child Assistance International (FF/CAI) based in Washington, DC. Traveling to Russia and the NIS monthly, she captured haunting images and personal stories to share with sensitive individuals eager to help. She also designed programs to encourage disadvantaged and disabled Russian children with a new spirit and self esteem through the vehicle of sports. In less than three years, through media contacts worldwide and special programs, FF/CAI's efforts were graced on the cover of eight national magazines, eighty-two US publications, and a feature story in People Magazine. Russia, Kazakhstan, Republic of Georgia, and the NIS highlighted FF/CAI's programs in over seventy-five publications while Western Europe published over thirty.
In December of 1999, Darcy began working as an independent contract photojournalist for Heifer International. She traveled to over 60 countries representing Heifer and their efforts to eradicate world hunger. In partnership with Heifer International, Darcy was honored with an exhibition at the United Nations in New York City. The exhibit, “One World, One Family,” featured photographs of community development programs and words of hope from poor families throughout the world. Over five continents, with thousands of miles traveled, Darcy brought leaders and visitors face to face with families overcoming poverty and hunger through the assistance of humanitarian aid.