In Protest by Yalda Pashai-F
I am a 20 year old photography student currently studying at Ryerson University in Toronto where I learn to express my opinions and inner feelings through image-making. Born in Iran, I always believed in freedom and equality. In this spirit, I participated with the protest to close down the School of the Americas funded by the U.S. Army, located in Fort Benning, Georgia. The protesters are composed of various peacemakers and are here dressed as the dead. This particular image is from a series based on this protest.
(editors note: Yalda is a student assistant for the Magnum workshops going on now during the Contact Photography Festival in Toronto….i may also publish some of the best from all 6 workshops running now. -david alan harvey)
Sometimes the photo itself itself swamps the message.
A certain someone has backpedalled from an initial positive review of the photograph: ‘the photo is fine technically’, to a little later in the same thread: ‘extreme darkening of the original image done there…too much PS manipulation of images going on’. On my monitor there is substantial detail in their black cloaks and also detail in the girls white face.
Such an ‘about turn’ on the same photograph tells me that you like to provoke a negative reaction, well just because you can. mudslinging. If the topic of the discussion is not centered on you as opposed to the photographer, then you drop your milk like a spoilt child. Sure everyones opinions change over time, but yours seem to change in such an unusually short space of time. Hence, it doesn’t stand to reason. I’m not going to mention names, because then we would be back at square one.
“I don’t see how anybody can criticize pictures – I really don’t. If an art critic is a good writer, then a review is worth reading, but I don’t think it has much to do with the pictures” Harry Callahan
Also, thanks David for the reply, I got that note. In my case, I try to procure as much information about photography and from as many eclectic sources as possible. I am from the ‘newer’ generation, but that doesn’t mean I prefer looking at photograph’s digitally on the net. Actually, it is quite the opposite. It is just the cost of photography books that are quite prohibitive to building a nice collection. Hence, all of the photography books that I have purchased were secondhand from markets and secondhand bookshops.
In a way, I also prefer second hand photo books/literature, because they seem to have a soul compared to newer books. I remember once reading in the ‘English Patient’ that you never know a books ultimate destination. I have collected six in the Aperture Masters of Photography series (Kertesz, Strand, Hosoe, Smith, Callahan, Bravo). I love this particular series, not only because they are affordable, but because the essays are thought provoking.
“I have stopped trying to say anything about anything – there is no statement or message other than the presence of the flowers or light – that is enough”. Morris Graves
When I leaf through an old photography book, I sometimes wonder what the former owner/s impressions were of the photos, because some pages are handled more heavily than others. Sometimes that is a small clue as to their favourite photographs. Also, libraries seem to have an excellent choice of photo books. I remember reading a book called ‘The Lives of Lee Miller’ in my ‘local’. I am fascinated with photography from that generation and hers was an amazing life story as well – it also didn’t hurt that she was smokingly beautiful.
So, what I am trying to say, is that this younger generation isn’t always solely reliant on the net for information. I surf the net everyday looking at more contemporary photogapher’s work, as well as borrowing, buying and ‘stealing’ older master photographers books. So, in my instance, I take it where I can get it.
Coming back to Yalda’s haunting photograph, I want to leave a quote that I thought was applicable from Harry Callahan’s: Aperture Masters of Photography.
“Could a greater thing take place than for us to look through each other’s eyes for an instant?”
Henry David Thoreau
Johann, I still think it’s a good photo technically. Haven’t changed my mind. Which is why I made a point initially to specifically use the word “technically.” I assumed, though, that it was an attempt at journalism, and I hate the overuse of PS in journalistic photos. I now realize from the photographers recent post that her intent wasn’t journalism. It was composition. As art I think the image works fine. She has a good eye.
This is such a stunning image. It should be judged on the merit of its inherent beauty, and the art involved in its creation. Everything else is brought to the table by the viewer. The visceral and instinctual reaction that one has are a mirror of one’s own perception.
“I have stopped trying to say anything about anything – there is no statement or message other than the presence of the flowers or light – that is enough”. Morris Graves”
Then David needs to close the forums and let the photos stand alone.
JOHAN…
what a pleasure to read about your love for the tactile nature of photographic books…when i mentioned the younger generation being so drawn to the net, i never for a minute wanted to suggest that many in this “newer generation” did not also respect and treasure the finest work in print…
a slipped cased version of Callahan color has a special spot in my home…he would have liked Yalda’s photograph…..by the way, she has done a masterful job in literally running all of the logistics of my class….talented AND a really hard worker….i suspect we may hear of her again someday…
cheers, david
With digital photography, the word technhique – from a lexicographical stand point, encompasses not only the original composition/exposure, but also post-production, as this is an important element of color digital photography. However, some could say that it is unfortunate that ones technique is also measured by this very ability to control photoshop histograms in the post-production process.
Jim, that quote by Morris Graves was a play on words. Instead of leaving the image stand alone with a positive message as you initially had done, you decided to backpeddle and play the absurd role of a ‘digital sherlock investigator’. Hence, your natural inclination to give negative feedback got the better of you. It is a shame that you couldn’t let this image stand alongside the presence of flowers and light as it rightly deserved…
David, yes that’s true – I have many amateur photographer friends who not only take refuge in the net, but also have a passion for books, magazines and printed materials in general. They are probably what you would describe as from the newer generation and there interests also draw them away from the monitor.
In addition to books, I also enjoy collecting brochures from exhibitions and shows at galleries and museums. These brochures tend to show just as much about the curators intent/creativity on them, as the photographer/artist in question. At retrospectives, I invariably find a pleasure in a private review in the curator’s selected ‘best of’ as opposed to those photographs in that I would have selected.
As you already mentioned, it would be fair to predict that Yalda has a bright future in photography. We will no doubt see her name a lot over the years to come. I look forward to seeing her new work/projects.
Thankyou,
Johan
Johan, is it your intent with the ad hominem attacks to get me to stop posting? You seem to have an agenda here. Why should your opinion of the photo have any more weight than mine?
Either my opinions have some merit or they don’t. You didn’t take me to task when I praised “Safekeeping.” You appear only to think my opinions are rubbish when they do not agree with yours.
I have no agenda Jim, except to try and enjoy both the photographs/essays and then hopefully make a valid contribution/response. Both positive and negative feedback are important in the early development of a forum such as this.
However, to raise doubt about a photographer by ‘pulling’ their photo into photoshop to prove a point about the author’s ‘photoshop integrity’, certainly makes me wonder. Given that you’ve been a photographer a lifetime longer than I have, certainly from a pragmatic perspective gives weight to your opinions. I would like to respect that. But I’m afraid in this case, experience and integrity don’t necessarily facilitate one another.
Incidentally, seeing as you brought up the word agenda, one may wonder where you stand with that word in the context of this forum as a whole.
“It is what we do every day in the simplest way that counts”. Frederick Sommer
Thankyou,
Johan
Yalda,
I love the image. Nicely done!
‘photoshop integrity’,is a pretty big issue in journalism and there are a lot that have been caught out of late. One is free to bring this issue to light as they please and they feel that it is warranted.To me this image is about a kid who was dragged off to a protest and it really isn’t their preferred activity.
Personally I don’t give a damn as I am happy to prostitute myself to any technique or technology at my disposal to get my ideas, what I have or don’t have to say across to an audience.
Thanks for the update, Yalda.
I am a bit miffed at this “over-analyzing” bit, though. If caring about somebody’s work enough to try to take it a step further in questionning aspects of it and our own perception of it also, is over-analyzing, I am left wondering if you’ve ever read any literature, or even simple critiques, commenting on photos and photography.
*gag*…
for chrissake..is she kneeling or standing, are the shadows burned in, would she rather be playing playstation, was the paint just sprayed on them, is she 9, 10, young, teen-aged, woudl she rather be somewhere else, sniping, back-peddling, histogram snooping, propogandizing, misleading middle east allusions, and Herve, your catty condescension (that i have also been on the receiving end of)..crap, to so many of you..reading a lot of these comments makes me bloody sick..i really wonder who´s photographs would please you? whose? nobody´s, that´s who!!!!!! There is nothing wrong with this photograph! Not a goddamned bloody thing! It is well done, it evokes the spirit and the theater of the protest which she says quite clearly the protesters were dressing and made up like they were dead. Since when is a shroud purely a Middle East form of dressing? Talk about narrow-minded, petty, shrewish, catty, comments. I hope to GOD i am never published here. I couldn´t bear a lot of what i´ve read here. And you wonder, Herve, why Yalda snapped a neuron or two? I think she behaved quite well to tell you the truth.
To quote Frank Michal´s comment which seriously bears serious re-reading:
¨It should be judged on the merit of its inherent beauty, and the art involved in its creation. Everything else is brought to the table by the viewer. The visceral and instinctual reaction that one has are a mirror of one’s own perception.¨
*sick at heart*
kat-
Yalda,
This certainly is an arresting image and it immediately intrigued me. To me it has reference to the Arab world (burqa) and my initial reaction was that it was a protest by women in a Muslim country, strong, radical and brave stuff.My imagination was going into overdrive. I felt a little let down to find it was a performance piece in the US. This is not to say that the protest it is part of is not valid.
This reinforces for me the strenghth of photography and instant reaction it can bring. Saatchi’s in the UK ran a brilliant ad campaign for the Met Police during the 90′s trading on this initial perception of circumstances, prejudices and ambiguity. I can’t find a link to it.
As mentioned above “Everything else is brought to the table by the viewer. The visceral and instinctual reaction that one has are a mirror of one’s own perception.”
It is a strong image, and well seen and presented.
Hi Kat,
There is a strong negative influence on this forum that always seems to send threads into a negative spiral. I,to my shame, sometimes get dragged into it too.
Ian
I am just unspeakably sad about what´s happened here, that´s all..
ALL
forgive me for erupting..*thoughtful*..i still feel the same but i should have kept it to myself. You´re all grownup people. You all are smart and most are far more epxerienced photographers than i will ever be. I´m not your boss or your mom or your censor. I don´t have to tell you the right thing to do or say. You all know what you´re about..but..but..i think some of what went on here speaks so poorly on our behalf.
that´s all…sorry..
kathleen
I can’t see what is negative about a saying that the kid looks like they don’t want to be there, to me that’s what makes the image work.
Kat,
I agree with you, that is why I feel shame, in stooping and reacting with knee jerk responses.
Imants, you are not the negative influenc.
Cheers and hugs all.
Ian,
Not to worry, i´ve done it myself in the past and no doubt will do the same thing again. I think you are incredibly honest to say what you´ve said and i thank you..
Imants:
Ian´s right..it´s not about you..but sad to say, this forum is a sum of its parts.
kathleen, if it is not to analyze the photos, to think and talk about them, why are we here? Perhaps we need a macro, a boilerplate where we can click a key and have pasted on every photo or essay here, “My God, that the greatest photo I’ve ever seen, it has changed my life and my soul and I will never be the same.”
We all have completely different reactions to photos, some artistic, some technical, some ethical, some religious. I’ve asked before about the purpose of the magazine and never really received a concrete answer. Is it to praise the work of all photographers and photographs and the decisions of the editors? If so, then just put a big quote at the top of the home page, “The Greatest Photos In The World.” There is nothing else to say.
KAT,
the thing about inherent beauty and art is that their recognition, acknowledgment and resonance are still in the eye/heart/mind of the beholder.
iconic image
KATHLEEN…JIM
the value of keeping the featured photography here open to comments has been one of our most long term discussions…i would say that 80% of the time it all works just fine…most comments are constructive in nature whether pro or con with regard to the success of the photo or essay…
the photographers featured here always have the option of closed to comments…
so far, they have all chosen to have open commenting…i have not read one single author here who reacted negatively to the comments given about their work…all have remained totally diplomatic in reacting to even the most blunt reviews….the clashes always arise among others….if one reads carefully, collisions tend to come from semantic misunderstandings rather than true conflict of values….i think most of us have quite similar values of photographic representation in terms of integrity…..aesthetic tastes have no boundaries and it would be foolish to impose some sort of visual barometer on any given set of work….all of our reference points are so totally different, and i find it fascinating rather than frustrating to read various viewpoints when respectfully presented…
the purpose of BURN, which has been stated so many times, is simply to provide a venue/forum for emerging photographers at a time when the nature of photographic communication is in a clear state of revolution and discovery…
all this week i have been surrounded by young photographers from around the globe who are telling me to my face how much this means to them….after a week like this, i feel even more committed to making BURN not only an online exposure outlet, but hopefully to soonest provide funding for original work to be produced specifically for BURN from both the legendary and the emerging….i should know in the next several weeks if this is a possibility….
simply having BURN as a channel off of the Magnum site in the coming month will give the photographers and writers published here unprecedented exposure…keep an eye out for MAGNET…
the published photographers here almost always write and tell me of some positive gain they have had from being published on BURN through either print sales or other commissions….my goal is not only international exposure, but in real time, real career gain….
i appreciate both of you….you both add something…..even when in verbal combat, you add….and i doubt if we were all in the same room that there would be the rancor that often appears here in print…in my class right now there are students who if they were writing to each other might appear totally in conflict…the demographic of any class of 10, is pretty much the demographic of our online family..
there are really only two degrees of separation…in the context of eye contact and body language, conflicts are often viewed as something either humorous or just accepted with a wry smile.. everyone is able to totally enjoy the moments reflecting on a craft that has been so much a part of all of our lives…
please view each other in that light….i will do all i can to get us all in the same room at the same time….trust me, there will be smiles…
peace, cheers, david
Kathleen
No need to apologize. I think you nailed it.
David
Well said. and I do think discussion and analyzing can be good and should be encouraged. I just feel that many times it goes a bit over the top here. Kathleen expressed it best.
EDITORIAL COMMENT:
“Piglet sidled up to Pooh from behind. “Pooh,” he whispered.
“Yes, Piglet?”
“Nothing,” said Piglet, taking Pooh’s paw, “I just wanted to be sure of you.””
–Winnie-the-Pooh
First, let me say congratulations Yalda for the fine and potent photograph. So, David and I (cover your eyes if you don’t want to be embarrassed) spoke about you on Thursday evening and David spoke of you and your commitment to work in the highest words one can imagine: “Bob, Yalda is the real deal. Incredibly hard working, self-less and commitment not to accolades but to making something from this picture life.”…It is a value that, in an age all too swamped by compmetition and back-biting and embittered, lime-light blindness, seems often all-too rare. I’d just like to remind, that there are still folks whose ethic is just that: to work hard and to carve out seeing from the world around. A terrific photograph.
As to the commentary on the thread, well, David’s said it more eloquently and succinctly. I wish to just remind people that it is possible to, when in an attempt to dig, we dig hard and scarring into each other instead… and that is a shame. The words here are, in the end, much less important than the relationship, the bonds, the connection, the human connection, that lay at the heart of our waking. It is such a shame that that simple truth gets lost over and over again. Including, by me….
take care of one another
see you all tonight….
running
b
“If the person you are talking to doesn’t appear to be listening, be patient. It may simply be that he has a small piece of fluff in his ear.”–winnie-the-pooh
Katleen, No one is snapping a neuron or 2 here other than your intolerant (of others opinions) self. Your, once again, going personal and insulting towards me, is totally uncalled for (we are talking about a picture and the impressions it left or not on us, for god sake!), and for that reason, convinces me it has little to do with me.
I hope to GOD i am never published here.
—————————————-
for condescending towards the whole BURN readership, you do take the gold, or better: ivory (tower)! :-)
On the topic of a picture being wrong. No one said so.
For example, many photographers have made available their contact proofs, explaining why they chose one picture over the others, from the same subject. One can often see that the discarded photos are fine photos with nothing wrong with them, and fine for publication (as is Yalda’s). yet their exacting professionalism and well-honed sense of esthetics (which Yalda is gearing forward, apparently, only promises in seeing such picture from an 18 yo) does take them one step further. In that realm of the “best” that David himself, I repeat, told us to judge our own work against.
Last:
1) black shrouded women (alive, today, not the virgin Mary!). why couldn’t we think of muslim women, or muslim something? I challenge anyone to tell me of women dressed likewise other than under a muslim code of dressing in any street around the world? That it is a theatrical display, upon reading the note, does changes everything, but as photography critiques go, it is quite OK to deal and speak of perception, conscious and unconscious.
Think the picture of Nachtwey in El Salvador. A wounded soldier is taken away by his peers , his arms stretched as if on a symbolical crucifix/cross. Should we be assailed verbally for “perceiving” a symbol of christian origin, with “a guy stretches his arm and you think Christianity”…..
You’re tops with me Herve :))
My last Jim comment. DAH says
“The purpose of BURN, which has been stated so many times, is simply to provide a venue/forum for emerging photographers at a time when the nature of photographic communication is in a clear state of revolution and discovery…”.
Mike.
On reflection, perhaps I should give Jim another chance, now that he has found his voice?
Mike.
JIM, DAH
JIM, DAH
gosh that was weird, my keyboard just started posting by itself..ok..well, anyway
DAH and JIM
DAH i am sorry for creating conflict..i have been trying to avoid that lately. Maybe what i should do is take a little trip to see some friends in Beaumont this summer and dash up to Tyler County with you and Jim and have a Long Neck (on Jim of course) hehe…just long enough to get a whiff of that summer honeysuckle, meet you both and and kiss and make up with Jim. Let me know. Could be good. Jim, do you know Frank Gerriets by any chance? He´s a pretty renowned water color painter in the region. He lives in Port Arthur and is a very very old and dear friend of mine. He´d die of bliss if i said i was going to visit.
JIM,
i stay out of discussions involving you, and they all involve you. i am not sure why that is. i have some theories but that´s all they are. What is depressing to me is that these discussions COULD be so much better, so much more productive than they are because as i have said to you before, whether you like it or not, you are a leader. You have the tools at your disposal to be so positive, to generate so much discussion in an upward spiral as opposed to the downward one that Ian referred to. For reasons i just do not understand you just don´t step up to the plate. There are amazing people writing here, so talented in many ways and your posts act like a spark on the gasoline of their minds and there it goes, WOOF, forum fire spreading like crazy. Damn, Jim, can´t you be more creative than you´re being? Can´t you use the time at your disposal to raise issues that you are well aware of that will LEAD the discussion in a postive manner? You are diabolically manipulative and i am not saying that to insult you. It´s a powerful tool. Can´t you see how much you could contribute here? I mean, sometimes i read your one-liners and i cringe. i can see what´s gonna happen and it does. And it´s not just me who´s upset about this..there are many who write here expressing their frustration with the situation. I´m just asking you to think hard about this. You have the time, the energy, the mind and the wherewithal to make a really big difference in these forums. Why not give it a try? Just put aside your personal prejudice against a photo and dig into it a little, think about how to phrase it from a positive perspective..like the way copywriters do..i know you know what i´m talking about. Just be a little more ingenious and consider how it will make you feel to have a different kind of discussion. Please? I know DAH isn´t crazy about every photo he posts here but his mind is very open and very big and he can see 360 degrees around images. You could do a LOT better than you´re doing and i am far from the first person who has said this. So how about it?
my best to both
kat-
Jim..oops Gerrietts…left out a T
Herve..
can we consider our discussion on this subject closed? We both made our respective points and i´m not about tit-for-tat.
take care and have a really nice evening wherever you are, Herve
kat-
I love winnie-the-pooh quotes, thanks for posting those Bob Black. Your choice of words always gives a perfect take on photos and comments on Burn.
Well after indulging in some strong coffee, I thought that I would share one of my favorite quotes from that lovable bear – I thought that it could be applied to my recent addiction to the Burn website!
“There are two kinds of people who go to the zoo – some people run around making sure they see every animal. But I go straight to my favorite animal and stay there”
Have a great weekend everyone, I’m off now with friend and camera in tow to take some portraiture.
Thankyou,
Johan
Johan
or would that be off with camera and friend in tow? *wink* :))
kat-
Kat, that made me laugh, thanks for that^^
I now have this dizzying surreal thought of trailing my little digi camera on a dog leash behind me, while holding hands and hopelessly attempting to lick the top of a Baskin Robbins mint chocolate chip (best flavor by the way), meanwhile the ice-cream is dropping all over the camera lens and I’m left with some very graphic green and black shots that has me reviewed in the New York times as the Jason Pollack version of modern photography. Well, one can only dream.
Gotta go and start this project before I get what my favorite flavor was to begin with!
Thanks,
Johan
Johan,
sorry i didn´t see this before the mint chocolate chip melted so i could tell everybody that i was the stimulus package that incited the Johan Pollack riot. Well, as they say, I dream, you dream, we all dream for ice cream.
Have a great session..don´t drip all over your great photo books unless of course you feel that would add to the patina of age!
g´night
kat
make that dream OF ice cream..blame it on the late hour..zzzz
haunting.
Kathleen, I’m no leader. No interest in being a leader. I am an advocate for photography and its future. And I, and a lot of other folks, are concerned about its future. So I say what I think. If that generates discussion, fine, buy I’m not playing devil’s advocate. I’m saying what I think.
Burn exists in a strange time for photography in general. Pulitzer prize winning photographers are having trouble getting enough work to pay the bills. Photojournalists are having to shoot weddings on the weekends to make ends meet (NPPA (National Press Photographers Association) is planning sessions on wedding and portrait photography at their next convention because of this.)
Good photography is common, excellent photography is everywhere. Merely good or merely excellent isn’t good enough. And I cringe when I see post after post of “haunting,” or “life changing,” or “the best I’ve ever seen.” There have been a number of singles and essays here that I have liked and have posted so. But there are many that don’t strike me as good enough or excellent enough. Or maybe I didn’t think the photographer thought through the implications of their photo, regardless of whether it was “good.” So I say so.
I hope Burn opens a door for some of these photographers. But their success on the other side of that door is going to depend on their work being better than excellent and a lot of things that have little to do with photography. In my opinion, endless cheerleading is not in their best interests. Others here disagree. If that results in discussions, good.
ALL…
there is no pretense here that BURN is an anthology of photography….books and sites exist which show the “best of the best” of all time….what we are doing is showing the work of photographers/readers who have submitted it to BURN now…today….and as i prepare now a BURN movie for Look3, i can see that if we show our own “best of the best” from the last few months, we will look very strong indeed…
producing from daily submissions is indeed tricky…i am totally dependent on what comes in to me from you….my behind the scenes mentoring/editing with several of you should manifest itself soonest with some fine essays….but, these things take time….the very nature of five updates weekly means that i do not think there is any way to make all days equal…some days will just be better than others…however, if you peruse the archives and compare what we have published so far from our readership and compare with any publication “best of the best” over the same time period, you will quickly see where BURN stands…
“good photography is common…and excellent photography is EVERYWHERE” …yes, it is…that is the problem…it is everywhere…not gathered….not edited…just everywhere….
ok,i have more thoughts…but must pack my bags quickly..running late for airport…running a bit tired from week of seeing some terrific work by young photographers…i will be showing some of it to you all of you soonest…no cheerleading….i will just put it out there for your discussion…
cheers, david
p.s. new post coming tonight…..
KATHLEEN…
as far as i can read and remember , you have never created conflict….quite the contrary…and your points above so so well taken…there is a way to disagree and have lively and thoughtful discussion without insulting someone…seems so so simple to me….nobody here is looking for a pat on the back…but a knife in the back is not really wanted either….middle ground??
cheers, david
20 years old – fantastic..
of course great photography is enough.. however, seeing great photography from a 20 year old is such a treat.. to think there is the potential for 50 years ahead of great photography.
i think that is why magazines love to catch people so young.. invest in talent that has the longest time to evolve.
it´s not an agest thing – i´m certain in myself – just a congratulatory expression to you yalda, that you have found your calling early enough, and have the confidence the ´wear the coat you want to wear tomorrow, today´.. i´m sure it will take you far and if you get out there and meet magazines and editors your phone may start ringing.
great.
DAH
safe travels..
JIM
i think burn is already opening doors – mishas ´in your face´ piece being picked up by PDN, who asked him for an interview is the only example which i think to have been reported back.
i think the mix of photographers to non-photographers could account for the wildly varying responses.. what a views and fan of photography wants to say is sometimes vastly different to what a photographer wants to say..
no doubt that, as you know, hard work and excellent photography is only just enough to pay the bills.
DAVID B…
looking forward to skype editing with you this week…
BOB…
i owe you forty bucks…don’t worry , i will not forget..sorry….
cab waiting..bye and thanks….
YALDA…
you are the best…many many thanks for all of your hard work and great rapport with the class…i have your book which i will send on monday…viva geminis!!!
cheers, david
Jim
“Photojournalists are having to shoot weddings on the weekends to make ends meet (NPPA (National Press Photographers Association) is planning sessions on wedding and portrait photography at their next convention because of this.) ”
Umm, exciting news to all the portrait wedding shooters out here who are struggling to make a buck too.
They can join the legions of weekend warriers and shuttermoms already flooding the scene. Digital technology has made everyone a photographer these days.
And there are some amazing amateurs out there. This is a good thing. The bar continually gets raised.
I think its a good thing for the pj and art crowd too. They will find out quickly that it is not as easy as it seems, and may even discover how satisfying it can be. Think of it this way: You are creating an essay documenting the most significant ritual our society observes. You do it with major time constraints, with nervous sometimes uptight people, and if you miss something, you can’t re-shoot. As an added bonus you must produce a series of portraits, which are the best ones they have ever had done, in about 1 hour. A walk in the park.