Collaboration (Part 2)

Opportunity for Collaboration Number 2:

Fig. 1: Eastern Idaho Down Syndrome Family Connect

Eastern Idaho Down Syndrome Family Connect is an organization with the mission of connecting individuals with Down Syndrome and their communities.  It is support for the families, and awareness for the general public.  It's an amazing and growing organization.

In October EIDSC is teaming with Brian Donovan (star and director of Kelly's Hollywood) for a 'Dream Big' event featuring acting classes, dream building sessions and more for the more mature set of the Down Syndrome community!

Fig. 2 Brian Donovan and Sister

Brian created Kelly's Hollywood to bring to life not only his devotion to his sister but the zest she had for life and to recognize her life was not so different than anyone else's (O'Laughlin 2016).  Brian participates in these event to help the dreams of others with Down Syndrome be recognized and fulfilled. 

I worked with one of the directors of EIDSC in a previous project and she approached me about helping with this one.  I have presented a few ideas for the event and in the end told them to decide how I can be the most useful to their organization.

I am excited to be a part of it!





Figure 1: Eastern Idaho Down Syndrome Family Connect. V&A [online]. Available at: https://www.easternidahodownsyndrome.org/ [accessed September 2019].

Figure 2: Brian Donovan and Sister. V&A [online]. Available at: http://chqdaily.com/2016/08/filmmaker-brian-donovan-turns-lens-on-firecracker-sister-with-documentary-kellys-hollywood/ [accessed September 2019].

O'LAUGHLIN, Lindsey. 2016. "Filmmaker Brian Donovan Turns Lens on 'Firecracker' Sister with Documentary 'Kelly's Hollywood.'" The Chautauquan Daily. Available at: http://chqdaily.com/2016/08/filmmaker-brian-donovan-turns-lens-on-firecracker-sister-with-documentary-kellys-hollywood/ [accessed September 2019].

Other Photographic Options and My Life

This week we are considering 'other' careers that circle the planet of Photography, minus the role of photographer itself.  Here are my thoughts on some of the options, and whether I think this would be a good match for my own possible future choices:  (with note that this is not a complete list- there are many 'out-of-the-box' opportunities as well)

1. Photography Producer: like the role of a director.  Yes.  Pulling a shoot together is a creative and visionary process, that takes critical thinking and problem solving skills. one of which I think I would enjoy and be successful with my own skill set.

2. Photography Agent: Representing work for others: No.  I  find joy in the creative elements and while I have some people negotiation skills I don't particularly enjoy it.

3.  Photo Editor: Newspaper, magazine etc.  No.  I don't think this is where my skills set lies.

4.  Picture Researcher: The collector for others: Maybe.  I could do it but not sure if its the direction I want to take. 

5. Photographic Lab Tech: creating the finished product: No.  Been there, done that.

6. Set Designer: Yes.  Again the creative and visionary elements of this angle attract my interests.

7. Retoucher: Maybe.  I like working in this area, not sure how I would enjoy working for other's images.

8. Photographic Director:  Yes.  This is one I recently started considering and will look more into.

9. Curator: No.  This is not my skill set.  I can't even make up my mind about where to arrange and hang art in my own house. 

10. Book Publisher:  Probably not. This is like curating in paper. 

OTHERS I've considered:

Educator: Online or local.  Teaching and developing passion in others is a skill set I recognize in my core.  I believe humans are born creators, also if something pays the bills then I am free to create for myself as well! 

Brief: CITY ID

Wayfinding


Wayfinding is important for these reasons:

1. Safety- like crowd control

2. User Experience (also known as UX) - if New Yorker Tourists like the city, they will return and encourage others.

3. Rules and Regulations- disability discrimination, accessibility for all, with reasonable adjustments

4. Commercial Viability- people can benefit commercially as well.

5.  Navigating-  getting from point A to point B successfully.

Fig. 1: http://www.cityid.com/  Screenshot by author 

City ID

Is proposing two briefs:

1. The evolution of the car and the 'American Dream'

2. Agency in the smart city future




Figure 1. http://www.cityid.com/ Screenshot by author.  [accessed September 2019]

Brief: OXFAM

Sustainable Prospects 19/20: Live Brief Introduction with OXFAM, Wednesday 

18 September 2019, 3pm GMT

Fig. 1 OXFAM (screenshot by author)

OXFAM- their mission is to end the injustice of poverty. 

They work in emergencies, people affected by conflict or disaster.   And also long term development work- chronic poverty and the causes. 

Fundraising and awareness is important for this organization.  As well as campaigning and influencing governments etc. 


Climate Change

How we can all work towards reducing carbon emissions and greenhouse effects.

Poverty and Inequality: Countries that are middle class + often contribute the most to these climate change issues, and they are also the countries with the power to adapt when change happens.  Countries with poverty often do not.  That is where the inequality lies. 


COP

Conference of Parties.  Connected with the UN. 
The next event is happening in CHILE in December.  Scientists, Environmentalists, Government people, etc. will attend. 

Working under the umbrella of loss and damage OXFAM is trying to push for rich countries to try and pay and support until the other countries can become resilient to the effects of climate change. 


THE Brief: Develop ideas on how to engage people in this campaign.
1. Tell us the photographic approach (visual) 
Photography is Key to this work.
2. What is your communication strategy?
(who is the audience)
3. How will the work be shared?
4. What is the timeline?
5. What resources do you need?
6. How can you measure your success?

Option 1:
Your Street and Climate Change
How can we as individuals make less of an impact on the planet?  What's the story of our street?
How to transform a local story to a global campaign.

Option 2:
COP
How to visualize that the poorest people on the planet are the most effected by climate change, how can they be better supported?
Organize an exhibition
Social Media Campaign
Series of projection events
Local advert

OXFAM is open to new ideas. 


Thinking of my own work and my current location this brief could be the most difficult to complete successfully.  Not saying it couldn't be done- there would have to be some serious outside-of-the-box thinking going on.  

Opportunities for Collaboration

"...working within the collaborative has the advantage of helping to constitute a group identity, which in turn led to the development of a mission statement in which a series of ethical and political objectives could be clearly defined" (Scott 2016: 230-4)


I have some opportunities arising for collaborations this semester.

Opportunity 1: The Christmas Wish

Fig. 1: Alsop 2016

The Christmas Wish was started in 2016 by the well-know, Australian based, composite photographer Karen Alsop.  Karen also heads 'The Heart Project' and is sponsored by the likes of Nikon, EIZO, WACOM, CANSON, SMUGMUG,  and more (Alsop 2019).

 (Side Note- Karen is a great example of a photographer following her passion AND making a living.  Sustainable Prospects at its finest!)

For a few years The Christmas Wish project took place in multiple locations across the Au, and last year it went GLOBAL with 10 locations in Canada, New Zealand, Australia and the UK.

THIS YEAR Healing Hope Images (that's me!) is COLLABORATING with Karen and her crew in the role of a TEAM LEADER to bring The Christmas Wish to the US!  There are also US teams working to secure additional locations in New York and Florida. 


THE Process:
The Christmas Wish is a global effort to bring education, awareness, and some GOOD WILL at the holiday season.  At the end of November in hospitals world wide, coordinated teams of photographers take a series of images with children who frequent hospital stays, possibly over the holidays themselves, shot 'green screen' style.  The SOOC images are then distributed to hundreds of volunteer remote editors throughout the world, to create magical Christmas and Holiday scenes.  The images are printed and gifted to the families.  Everything fueled by volunteer hours and service.

I am excited to be part of it.

Note to self:

1. Contact the hospital.
2. Put together my team.
3. Identify families and children
4. Choose a date for the shoot
5. Aquire additional local sponsors needed (printers etc).

I'm sure there is more involved but that is where we will begin.

Fig. 2: SLADE. 2018. Waiting for Santa.

UPDATE:



Figure 1. Karen ALSOP. 2016. The Christmas Wish. V&A [online] available at: https://mymodernmet.com/karen-alsop-christmas-wish-project/ [accessed September 2019].

Figure 2. Bren SLADE. 2018. Waiting for Santa. Available at www.OnceUponAPix.com.

Alsop, Karen. 2019. https://storyart.com.au/ [accessed September 2019].


SCOTT, Conohar. 2016. In READ, Shirley and Mike SIMMONS. 2016. Photographers and Research. Focal Press.

Shirley Read

"...when I'm researching I'm still looking back fourteen years and thinking about the line that runs through and joins up my work."

-Simon Norfolk (Read and Simmons 2016)

What is at the CORE?

What are my 'authentic concerns' as a photographer.

These are the questions discussed by Shirley Read in her chapter: Finding and Knowing- Thinking about Ideas in Photographers and Reasearch (Read and Simmons 2016).  

The work may be expressed in various ways but typically there is an underlying concern that drives the images.  This may come from passion or life experience. 

For instance, Simon Norfolk is known for his work featuring landscapes of war.  At his core is "time, the strata of time, photography as archeology and archeology as photography" (Read and Simmons 2016).

While the shyness Georgina McNamara in her youth, contrasted with her bold personality adapted as a compensating teen became the core of her images featuring either concealment or revealing (Read and Simmons 2016).

Fig. 1: McNamara. Bay, Unicorn, and Pile.

  

Finding the core of your photography is a combination of life experience, research and making work.  

Sometimes you may feel your concerns and recognize your core from the on-start.  More likely it reveals itself through chosen projects and images.  Sometimes it's pointed out to you from the observations of others.  But what's in your core often defines what and who you choose to work with, and how you represent them.  

Figure 1. Georgiana MCNAMARA. From: READ, Shirley and Mike SIMMONS. 2016. Photographers and Research. Focal Press.

READ, Shirley and Mike SIMMONS. 2016. Photographers and Research. Focal Press.