The photographs relate a powerful story in scenes of landscape and environment; of community life and the daily struggle to obtain water; of water sources, contamination and the resulting health impact on local populations; as well as scenes of great success and celebration, including water initiatives and micro-enterprises that have enabled the communities documented to expand education and health efforts.

Garcetti’s book, WATER IS KEY, includes 78 black and white photographs and features essays by prominent leaders, President Jimmy Carter, former United Nations Secretary General, Kofi Annan, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robinson, and the President of Liberia, Ellen Johnson Sileaf. (All proceeds from the sale of the book go to non-profit organizations working on safe water related projects in West Africa.)

Many people remember Gil Garcetti as the Los Angeles County District Attorney. Much of his life, however, has been as an urban photographer. Since leaving the District Attorney’s office in 2000, Gil has six photographic books published and has had photographic exhibitions around the world including the United Nations, the National Building Museum, Washington D.C., the Millennium Art Museum, Beijing, China, New York City Public Library for Performing Arts, and the Fowler Museum at UCLA.