LOS ANGELES — Photography offers a window onthe world, and a recent photo exhibition showshow the camera is bringing people togetherglobally.

Artist Joy Feuer is arranging an art installation that combines objects from the site of a Californiawildfire with photography. They include door knobs, latches and other household items.

“Somehow the collision of hearing people say repeatedly, 'There is nothing left,' I kind of thought,what if we could put something beautiful back into the nothing," said Feuer.

The objects have been frozen in a block of ice, which is photographed repeatedly as the ice meltsand the composition changes. It is a project of the group ART from the Ashes, which Feuer foundedin 2007.

After a natural disaster, like the Japanese earthquake and tsunami of 2011 or Hurricane Sandy,the severe 2012 storm that struck the Eastern United States, the artworks are displayed in anexhibition that raises funds for victims.

“We all know that disasters happen, tragedy happens. We can not control Mother Nature, we cannot control people, but what we can do is create an answer with art," said Feuer.

The recent show called "Photo LA" explored the boundaries of photography and art.

Another of the show's displays was from a nonprofit group called Thuto, featuring photographstaken by children in Botswana. The word "Thuto" means “education” in the Setswana language, andmoney raised from the project will help educate children in a Botswana village called Mathangwane.

Annelize Bester spearheaded the project and distributed inexpensive cameras to the children. Shechose 32 of their photographs for the show.

“We got at least 1,000 images, not all good, as I said, but I am very excited. Of the ones that areup at the show, I am very excited about it," said Bester.

Faces from around the world are in another exhibit from the group Women in PhotographyInternational. Photographer Callie Biggerstaff says these photos from women in dozens of countriesshow similarities as they portray children, family members and friends.

“We have the same moments, regardless of the country, regardless of the clothing, regardless ofanything. We all can relate. And that is what is lovely about it," said Biggerstaff.

She says photos like these, collected in exhibitions and shared in online forums, are creating newcommunities and helping photographers around the world showcase their talent.