Coming into David’s “At Home Workshop,” I was looking forward to taking a whole week off of my regular life to take fabulous photographs. What I didn’t expect, what I don’t think anyone expected, was that this would also be a week of personal growth.

The following few days were a struggle for all of us in the workshop. Some of our stories fell apart at the seams, some of us had a lot of trouble getting access to the people we hoped to photograph, and some (including myself) just had difficulty getting our narrative to translate photographically. In short, we all had to confront our insecurities in some small or big way. At one point in the week, I felt like we were all in a really bad episode of Project Runway where the contestants feel confident with their point of view, only to find during morning critique that they were off the mark.

Just when most of the class was at its wit’s end, the workshop seemed to take a dramatic turn of events where all of our projects seemed to finally come together. David’s influence and support — we heard a lot of words like patience, intent, zen and even “work it”– helped us realize our projects and an intense week of hard work and stress finally paid off.

Thanks David, for one of the most difficult yet personally and professionally enlightening experiences of my life.

Brian Camarao

Well, what words are left? I can only say that Bones is even more powerful than I’d anticipated. After three images my heart started pounding like a drum. Further on I started shaking, and later still I found myself gasping for breath. And these were my just visceral responses. Bob, I am speechless. I’m sorry but any words I’d say would seem trite. Let me go through it a few more times and try again to speak of this work. I now must go take a friend to dinner for her birthday but I shall return.

in awe
Patricia

There is a new conversation going on at

sunday morning ramble.

Please join us there!

It was recommended by David that I start to look at what other photographers are doing so I decided to start here. I have looked at all portfolios posted in student work and many links posted in the day to day. I am inspired by MANY great images I have seen in your portfolios, the words of encouragement and the camaraderie that flows back and forth. Through the blog smog, what I find here is a generous group of individuals coming together for the common good of all to see. Something truly special is here bringing peeps from around the world together to discuss photography, their work, hopes, fears and even dreams…. a joy to find in the vast regions of cyberspace …. something I just don’t have living in the mountains of Oregon……what I find here is truly, a community…..

I am grateful for the links and suggestions to follow for further knowledge… my nature is communal and not competitive, so when I see the images that make an impact I think “Wow” and I am happy someone has created that image but at the same time I feel sick to my stomach feeling that I am just not good enough….I know I can take that 2 ways, put my head under the covers or just go out and try harder…

What I am touched by most is the generosity and good nature of David to selflessly give advice and a nudge of encouragement. Never have I met someone with such tenacity, commitment and love for the continuation and sharing of passion and knowledge. A catalyst for others to become inspired and create a forum to share their love for photography for life and for each other. It is with deep sincerity that I say thank you to D.

Your conversations have prompted me to question my basic assumptions about life, about photography and my particular path ahead. I’m just trying to allow myself to feel comfortable without knowing exactly what to do next. So I humbly offer my photographs for critique and with an unfamiliar feeling of apprehension I put my work forward to anyone who cares to look and yes, brutally critique! It is the only way I can move forward. If you care to, please look mostly at recent imagery and my eventual & recent book project on Hot Springs.

http://HillaryAtiyeh.com/

Originally I thought I would document environmental issues and started my career doing so…Then I got married, helped raise 2 great stepkids & took ample time to travel around the world making pretty pixx but never showing them to anyone. This year I felt the need both emotionally and financially to take my photography to a deeper level, put together a portfolio and brought it to Fotofest in March. Granted it was a venue for fine art photography & my work was straight nature, the responses were mostly the same… great composition, color, light…seen it before…Cliché….ouch!

Knowing I needed to change & never wanted to shoot stock I looked for something different and that’s what led me out of my comfort zone and into David’s Look 3 photo essay class. Wanting to muster up enough courage to photograph people as in his work it seems effortless. Well, no peeps shot in VA…. cemeteries, which I happen to have a fondness for… at least pushing myself to photograph in a completely different way.

Something fundamentally changed for me this year & after working with D. I’m still not sure what that is, but D’s disapproving look is the one in my head every time I want to shy away from making photos with peeps & I push myself to do it. So with a knot in my core I do it, and with the knot I edit this Summers photographs and try to put together “essays” and with that knot I am putting it out there for whomever wishes to see it.

Soon I will edit and scan slides and show the work from past years but for now I can’t stop shooting….looking for something deeper, meaningful, something that moves me and potentially touches someone else.

Eventually, I want to use photography as a tool to make a difference in the world…right now it is making a difference in me.

Thanx D and to this community for inspiration to be better and go deeper than I’ve ever gone before.

PEACE,
Hillary

            :-D

go get ‘em gramma…

anton

Patricia

please move along..
nothing to see here..

*smiley*

Patricia

Patricia

help james’ TED wish along..

Patricia

Posted by: Patricia Lay-Dorsey | September 28, 2008 at 11:30 AM

Patricia… we need to stop this…
we are making the rest of the blog jealous…
;-)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

AKAKY IRL: Are you still going on about this?

AKAKY: Yes, I am. I want to go. Glenn says we should pull our finger out and get on with it. Patricia’s going, Bob’s going, everyone is going except us.

AKAKY IRL: We have a day job, remember?

AKAKY: And how much vacation time do you have?

AKAKY IRL: I dont remember.

AKAKY: When was the last time we went on vacation anywhere?

AKAKY IRL: May.

AKAKY: Of?

AKAKY IRL: [mumbles]

AKAKY: I can’t hear you.

AKAKY IRL: May of last year.

AKAKY: And how much vacation time did you forfeit because you didnt use it?

AKAKY IRL: I forget.

AKAKY: About a month’s worth, right?

AKAKY IRL: Yeah, I think so.

AKAKY: I know so. So why can’t we go to this?

AKAKY IRL: Let me ask you something.

AKAKY: Sure, fire away.

AKAKY IRL: Did you book this guilt trip on line or did you call a travel agent?

AKAKY: You’re avoiding the issue.

AKAKY IRL: And I mean to keep on avoiding it, too, bubba.

I just now read the entries posted here this morning and am delighted to welcome you to our blog community! I can already tell you are have lots to teach us.

Your series on your Mom is strong. There is a mood you’ve set, both by the use of b&w and by the photos you’ve chosen to take. I see/feel a woman who has had a hard life but doesn’t give up, a woman with tremendous determination.

I encourage you to continue this project and, as you do, to find NEW ways of seeing. When I say that, I mean to twist your perspective, come at things from the side, below or above (as you did in #7). Start finding more subjects that are not specifically your Mom but of material things or settings that tell something of who she is, for example her mussed up bed or the top of her dresser, etc. Try showing only PARTS of her instead of always showing her full face or figure.

These suggestions come from things I’ve been trying to do in my own work. But, Alex, you have YOUR OWN way of seeing and that is what already shows in this series. Go deep, get close, take risks. You are REALLY onto something here! I look forward to seeing where you go with it now…

And I am incredibly honored that my work would have in even a small way inspired you to start this series of photos. Thank you.

Cheers
Patricia

GO GET ‘EM GIRL !!!!!!
great great great news…

love
anton

also – advise of any events you’re hosting in europe next year.
hopw all is well.

I’ll be there on Friday! Yes, you heard me right…I’M COMING TO THE FIESTA!!!! And don’t worry about my getting my scooter up the steps in front of the kibbutz–I’ve got two portable ramps that should do the job. Sure hope the elevator is working ;=)

My best friend Pat Kolon and I will be driving from Detroit on Thursday, arriving that night. We’ll be staying 3 nights (Th, F, S) at the Nu Hotel at 85 Smith Ave. in downtown Brooklyn, then will drive over to David’s for the Fiesta and/or any other time/place you bloggers will be gathering. We’ll drive back home leaving early Sunday morning.

Let’s share phone numbers so we can contact one another while we’re there. My cell phone # is 313-410-0454.

I want to thank AKAKY & AKAKY IRL for getting me off my duff and trying to figure out some way to make this happen. If I was going to get on his case for not going, why wasn’t I going myself??? Sure it’s 1300 miles, but what’s that when you can meet up with friends and see great photography at the same time!

I am SO PSYCHED!!!

Patricia

good one..
we must get your afghanistan ‘war-scapes’ organized and show them here..