Project Update

Fig. 1: Slade. A Real Life Ms. Frizzle.  Featuring Mrs. G's class in 2018

After last semester my project is undertaking a major evolution.  I really would like to try working with students in a classroom to produce some respondent generated images.

I approached a local teacher who's teaching style and classroom atmosphere would be conducive to my project.  I was imagining a project in increasing the students awareness concerning media literacy.

While meeting with Mrs. G she was in favor of my ideas and then mentioned that the students are undertaking a major project this year with National Geographic Society's Geo Challenge.

The Geo Challenge is a project based

multi-leveled competition for teams in grades k-8 

(National Geographic Education 2019).

The students are supposed to research the problem and create real world solutions to solve them- this year the focus is PLASTICS and the issue it creates in our environment.  The students are supposed to focus on their circle of influence, their own environment. 

What Mrs. G mentioned her students really need is to learn how to use imagery, such as photography, to give a VOICE to their projects.  

"My students this year are very wordy," Mrs. G explained.  They think to get a message across you have to use words and words and words.  She wants to show them the power of an image.

This lead to my new 'working title' for my project:

My Lens Is My Voice.

My goals: to help students express their ideas and passions, and learn to share a message with the world using the medium of photography.

I will use the GEOCHALLENGE as a catalyst for the project and then branch out to more personal messages from the children.


You can see more about the GeoChallenge here: https://www.nationalgeographic.org/education/student-experiences/geochallenge/




Figure 1. Bren SLADE. Real Life Ms. Frizzle. 2018.  Available at www.OnceUponAPix.com.

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC EDUCATION. 2019. GeoChallenge 2019-2020 [you-tube advert]. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGABwDC8gXM [accessed October 2019]

Brief: Headway East London

www.HeadwayEastLondon.org

Headway East London is a charity that focuses on helping those that have been affected by brain injury.  They both offer services to the survivor and their families, as well as help spread greater public awareness.  They strive to help those living with brain injury to feel valued and reach their full potential.

Brain injury is one of the 'unseen' disabilities, as the person often remains unchanged in their appearance, but inside they are like a whole new person.  Headway helps the individual discover that new person- and find value in the life they live now.  

"We provide therapies, advocacy, family support and community support work alongside our day service: a community venue where members can make the most of their abilities and interests. We believe that every one of our members has something to contribute to both Headway East London and the wider community. Our occupational projects include an art studio, writing projects and a professional kitchen where members cook each day for other members, volunteers, staff and visitors.

We also promote awareness and understanding of brain injury by providing information, acting as an educational resource for universities, offering training to professionals and businesses, and running projects engaging our members with the public," (Headway East London 2019).


Headway is looking for a public awareness campaign, probably via social media, that brings to life the 'hidden disability,' as well as highlights the services they offer to the individual.


This could be a good match for me.  Though I am nowhere near Headway East London I feel like I could offer some input and help edit images that may lean toward the goals of this organization. 

Whichever brief I am selected to work on will definitely be a STRETCH of my skills and a JUMP out of my comfort zone!


HEADWAY EAST LONDON. 2019.  'About Us.' Headway East London [online]. Available at:http://headwayeastlondon.org/about/ [accessed October 2019].

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. 

Oral Presentation: Surfaces and Stratagies 2019

A presentation about my current photography practices, including my methodologies and presentation strategies and the impact they have had on my own approaches:

Summer Workshop #2 "Lost Boys"

Fig. 1: Slade 2019 The Girl Who Slays Her Own Dragons

This "Lost Boys" themed workshop was already in the works when I decided to change my project and therefore planned an entirely new workshop with children participants (you can see that post here: Summer Workshop 1)  But since the photographers were already on board for this set up I went ahead with both, and this turned into more of just a photographers meet up.

There were 8 participating photographers (3 professional, 4 beginners) and over 15 child models- half with special needs or facing difficult childhood circumstances (like foster care).  The goal was "storytelling" and I created a small intro/cheat sheet for storytelling tips:

A location was set up and proper fees paid.  A professional face painter came on board and generously donated her time and amazing skills.  The beginner photographers 'shadowed' the professionals, while the professionals were able to have some creative time for themselves.

Since the workshop was so recent, most photographers aren't done editing.  But here are some sneak peeks courtesy of Jayme Christensen Photography:

Being in charge and keeping everything flowing, I barely got to take any images myself.  But the purpose of the workshop wasn't for me to take photos so all it well.  I can't wait to see all the results, and all the different styles and perspectives.



Figure 1. Bren SLADE. 2019. The Girl Who Slays Her Own Dragons. Private Collection.
Figures 2-6. Jayme CHRISTENSEN. 2019. Private Collection of Bren Slade.

The Art Show

“Photography is, first of all, a way of seeing.” -Susan Sontag 

The culminating moment of the summer photography workshop with kids: The Art Show.

My brother-in-law was renovating some offices and allowed us a bit of space:

After much sorting/editing/printing I got my first opportunity to do some curating!

I started with a floor lay-out to get a better idea of how it might flow together.

It took a bit of rearranging but in the end I was pleased with the space, and the results. 

Since my target audience was the children themselves I wanted the art at a child's eye-level. 

(This is a panorama of the final lay-out.  The room itself + the photo's led into a circular movement) 

The medium was a photo poster/ card stock, casually hung with pins on twine or directly to the wall. This proved to be a good choice since all the kids wanted to touch the images, almost petting them as they walked by.  Fine art in frames may have inhibited this interaction with their own art. 

The children and their families were invited to attend. 

The reaction was enthusiastic and motivating. It was interesting watching them observing their images, especially the ones taken in multiple perspectives by multiple kids at the same time. The wheels were turning and you could almost see them planning for 'next time.'

Quote: Susan Sontag (2007) Photography: A Little Summa. In: At the Same Time. London:  Penguin