What You Make It

There is one phrase that I never like to hear, "boring assignment." I heard it just the other day when I ran into a photographer from a newspaper at the same assignment. I think that an experience is what you make of it. If you go into a situation assuming that it is boring, you just might produce boring work. If you go into the same situation curious, interested in the people and what is going on, you may have a better chance to shoot something different. I don't think you should go through life assuming that everything is boring, or great things may just pass you by.
Here is something that I shot for what my editor told me was a "boring assignment." I surprisingly had fun, I learned a whole lot and I think I got a decent pictures from. And I have to give credit - light was on my side.

The Horse Whisperer

Amazing people can be found anywhere... even in Victoria's Secret dressing rooms.
JeanneMarie is one of those people whose presence can change your life. She connects with people and animals with out saying a word or doing anything. Its amazing thing to witness.

The Epiphany

We are called storytellers. We are granted this amazing access into people's lives. We live their life for hours, days, weeks and months at a time. It is our job to tell their story.
Something about "storyteller" doesn't stick right with me. Dictionary.com defines story as:
1. a narrative, either true or fictitious, in prose or verse, designed to interest, amuse, or instruct the hearer or reader; tale.
2. a fictitious tale, shorter and less elaborate than a novel.
Etc.

With writers tweaking details in stories, with photographers toning their pictures to suit their imagination rather than the truth, the word "story" scares me a little. What is fact and what is fiction?
I have thought about this for a while. I don't want to be a storyteller. Everyone has a story to their life. EVERYONE. Some show it more than others. Some peoples' stories climaxed in their past, some right now, some have yet to see that time. Everyone has something they have experienced, they have a lesson to teach, and lessons they still have yet to learn. I don't want to think of myself as a storyteller. I want to take other people's lives, just as they are and show it to those who may not have the same understanding or concept of what it is like to lead a different life. Storytelling isn't for me. I want to be a translator.

Perseverance

This is one of my favorite portraits. I had tried this same shot once before during the ACP workshop in eastern Kentucky. It wasn't sharp the first time, so I drove four hours back to give it another go. We set up the lights, and had everything ready, and before I could snap a picture, I tripped over the cord to the guitar light and shattered it.
I was determined to get this photo one way or another. Derek Price, who is a guitarist and singer in the band Stellar Kin, just so happened to have a guitar lamp, and thus I finally got the portrait I wanted.



This is the original. Scott Nantz was in the band Farewell to Yourself at the time. Thanks Scott for having a good sense of humor. RIP guitar lamp.

New Years Resolutions

I created this blog account this summer and neglected it once school started. Among other things, tending to this photo blog is my New Year's resolution. My hope is to catch you up on the old and update you with the new. Please Please critique!! I look forward to hearing what you have to say and seeing what you have been working on!