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.