OR EDU

BEYOND THE PHOTOGRAPH

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This workshop will focus on photographers who want to begin a new project. However, the emphasis will be placed on aspects usually forgotten by documentary photographers and photojournalists: the written proposal, and the final editing. Each workshop participant will be asked to research and pitch an idea to the master, who will act as 'gatekeeper' or editor with final say before a participant begins their project. All too often, photographers have brilliant ideas, but without having focus and clarity in the presentation of that idea, then rarely can a commission happen. Once a participant's proposal has been approved, an intensive period of photography and editing will begin. The latter half of the workshop will explore ideas in editing, sequencing and consideration of where the final story will be seen. Once complete, each participant will have a solid proposal which can then be used for magazines, grants, galleries or for personal use, and a completed project that will push their ideas of what photo editing can be.

Please, add a project idea on the topic and 1-2 completed projects to your portfolio to be considered for this workshop.

Apply now! Application deadline - November 12th 2010
Participants announced on Monday, November 15th

Assignments

Messages

  • Can everyone who is in this workshop PLEASE email me. I've only heard from one person so far. Anybody out there? I need all of your email addresses SRAZY I SROCHNO! (Right now, for those not speaking Russian).

    2010-11-19 20:47:48 UTC

  • FYI - I am flying to Berlin today and will be out of internet range for two days. I look forward to seeing everyone's proposals by the 23rd... (vsyem tikho!)

    2010-11-20 20:05:34 UTC

  • my project involves the migrant population resident in france , notably in the outskirts of paris and other marginalised societies , which are mostly ignored and persecuted by the law at other times .

    i intend to work principally with the migrant bangla deshi,punjabi and arab-african populations,documenting the hardships they face :

    the last fews days have seen a significant increase in the population of bangladeshi migrant workers in france . they carry out small temporary jobs in and around paris.they lack the necessary permits to carry out their small scale businesses.hence ,trouble with the police is a routine affair . they live mostly in the barracks in the outskirts of paris , close to 'la chapelle' and 'sarcelles' , often twelve or thirteen men sharing a single 3-bedroom flat . most of them claim to be seeking political asylum. it would be interesting to delve into the lives of these men as they manouevre themselves through the trials and tribulations of life in france , documenting their work and personal life .

    some of the people whose lives i plan to document:

    mir,from the feni district in bangladesh ekes a living out of selling chestnuts outside the 'cit universit' metro station.his customers are mostly migrant africans but include some french as well.chestnuts bring back memories from childhood days for most.from the days when they put some into their pockets before going to school.he needs to send money back home regularly to his family,not an altogether easy affair .
    rafik bhai,selling fruits in front of the same station.he is frequently harassed by the police.it usually ends with his entire stock being confiscated.political cases pending against him,he was forced to quit bangladesh and set out for calmer lands.he frequently rues on the dream that he had while setting out for europe.it has not turned out as he had wished.
    pintoo,selling cds in the tunnels of the 'denfert rochereau' metro station.he plans to save enough money to bring his young brother over to france and provide him with a sound education.

    dreams galore,dreams unbridled,dreams shattered,dreams yet to mature.

    i plan to follow these men along their daily routines to bring out the struggle they carry on everyday to make ends meet and yet keep the flame of hope flickering when the day comes to a close.i will go to their homes away from home, to document their domestic life,or what little of it there is.i will document the small things that they keep with them to cherish memories of back home.

    there is a large population of sikhs living in the metropolitan regions of paris.they hail from punjab in the north of india.they are known to be very hardy and daunting folk.they live in closed communities,with a stong sense of brotherhood.religion plays a very strong role in binding them together.there are five gurudwaras in the outskirts of paris where they come to pray and share in the community spirit.
    i will focalise on the gurudwaras in 'bobigny' and 'bourget' where they have religious activities throughout the day. there is a kitchen from where devotees are fed at all times.
    they have even made provisions to help out members of the community if they are in need,by providing food and shelter.
    a portrait of the shared life of a migrant community and their modes of survival in a distant land.

    the ghettos on the outskirts around 'la courneuve' and 'seine saint-denis' comprising mostly arab-africans happen to be some of the most dangerous for outsiders . i made an effort to document some of what passes there but this has eventually proved a difficult task . it will be necessary to seek guidance on ways to proceed with such work in disturbed neighbourhoods .

    the 'bidonvilles' of the east-european refugees around the 'bondy' area in north of paris . it would be pertinent documentation given the anti-immigrant and deportation measures undertaken by french and other european governments .

    all in all, a compassionate portrait of migrant life along the outskirts of paris , along its hopes and aspirations,drudgeries and banalities,joys and sufferings.

    another point of interest for me,although it remains to be seen whether this can find a place in the project:

    this includes the physical spaces which serve as meeting points for the youth of the 'banlieu parisien',principally from immigrant families and the youngsters from the city.such places are few and far in between.they include,for example,the skateboarding arena in 'bercy' or the boxing rings of 'villette',or even the prinicipal arteries of the underground,like 'chatelet-les halles'.
    i have done a bit of work on this aspect which i can possibly include and even improve upon to illuminate the confluence of cultures in an ever-changing paris.

    2010-11-23 16:30:37 UTC

  • ЗАДАНИЕ ОДИН / ДОНАЛД ВЕБЕР

    Великая фотография наполнена выражением что один челвек чувствует о предмете съемки в самом глубоком смысле и это истинное выражение того что он чувствует о жизни во всей ее полноте. Ансель Адамс

    Тот факт, что люди на моих фотографиях появляются такими маленьким, уменьшенными и мои недавние потери близких друзей заставили меня думать о том, как может быть хрупка жизнь и человек. Если говорить о работе в процессе, которая началась из этой простой мысли и была немного развита случайно, с того момента как я начал бродить вокруг этих видов в Барселоне. Я сделал первую фотографию год назад в гостях у подруги. Она была сделана из окна ее дома и в этом году, когда я вернулся из Панамы, я переехал в тот же дом и он оказался тем местом, в котором я жил во время работы над проектом.

    Потом, я написал письма всем кого я знаю и спроси есть ли у них или у кого-либо кого они знают квартира с видом на площадь. Однако, мне толком никто не ответил я нажал звонить в двери, представляясь почтальоном, так я мог попасть в дома и на их террасы и сделать снимок. В некоторые моменты я чувствовал себя как вор или шпион, ведь я должен был врать для того, чтобы попасть в здания, но через некоторое время, делая это я начал чувствовать себя комфортнее.

    Мне стали интересны эти перспективы с высоты птичьего полета из-за имеющихся различных форм, которые я обнаружил. Также я почувствовал чувство власти и права, которое я получал обмениваясь с этой уменьшенной версией реальности через объектив. Все и все выглядели такими маленькими с высоты крыш, так как будто я мог бы управлять ими. И то, что я совершенно незамеченный, был в состоянии наблюдать и следить за людьми, проходящими в своей повседневной жизни и становясь поэтому еще более уязвимыми.

    Тема этой работы посвящена важному уроку в жизни. На протяжении нашей жизни у нас всегда есть победы, поражения, счастливые и печальные моменты, мы создаем наши собственные цели, которые с течением времени пытаемся достичь. В ходе проекта я должен буду говорить и убеждать незнакомых людей, чтобы они пустили меня в свои дома, иногда в свои квартиры, так чтобы я мог получить возможность к видом из окон и сделать фотографии. Это хороший вызов и очень приятно получить хороший результат, но он не будет по настоящему принятым, без попыток и неудач во время этих попыток. ASSIGNMENT ONE / DONALD WEBER

    A great photograph is full of expression of what one feels about what is being photographed in the deepest sense, and is, a true expression of what one feels about life in its entirety. - Ansel Adams.

    The fact that people in my photos appear so small, so diminished and the personal recent loss of close friends combined made me think about how fragile life and human beings can be. As a work in progress it stems from this simple idea and has since developed kind of by accident as I began to stumble across these views in Barcelona. I took the first photo about a year ago while visiting a friend. It was taken from the view from her building and this year, when I came back from Panama, I moved into the same building and happens to be the place that I;ve been living whilst working on the project.

    Initially I sent emails to everyone I know asking if they or anyone they know had a view of a plaza. However as people didn’t respond well I turned to ringing on doors pretending to be a 'mailman' instead so that I could get into buildings and their terraces to take the shot. During some moments I felt like a thief or a spy because I had to lie to get into the buildings but after a while I began to feel more comfortable doing it.

    I became interested in these bird eye perspectives because of the different shapes and forms I found as well as the sense of authority and empowerment I gained peering through the lense at this dimminshed version of reality. Everything and everyone looked so small from the roof tops it felt, for an instance, as if I could control it all myself. And the fact that I, completely unnoticed, was able to observe and spy on people passing their daily lives in made them seem even more vulnerable.

    The process of this work is about a general lesson in life. Throughout our lives we always have triumphs, failures, happy and sad moments, we create our own goals that over time we try to achieve. During this project I had to talk and convince unknown people to let me into their buildings, sometimes their homes, so I could get access to the views to make the images. Its been a good challenge and very satisfying when I got a great result, but it wouldn’t have been nearly as satisfying without the trying and failure in the attempt.

    2010-11-23 15:16:35 UTC

  • ВНИМАТЕЛЬНО ПРОЧТИТЕ ВСЕ КОММЕНТАРИИ ...!

    Я прошу о двух вещах: ваше проектное предложение должно быть размещено на этом сайте а также отправлено МНЕ по электронной почте - don@donaldweber.com

    Допустимые форматы (или я буду удалять не читая их) DOC, RTF, PAGES

    Часть этого семинара посвящена возможности исправить те небольшие вещи, все мелочи, которые не позволяют сделать фотографии. Поэтому, читайте комментарии и делайте то, о чем я прошу вас, чтобы сделать процесс проще.

    Наконец, я прошу публиковать все обновления на сайте, помимо электронной почты. Я понимаю, что все мы работаем и у нас есть своя жизнь, но если вы планируете пропасть, пожалуйста, напишите мне и скажите “Привет, Дон! Я уезжаю на две недели, у меня не будет интернета”. Это очень просто и мне не нужно будет писать сообщения такого типа...

    Итак, о чем я прошу?
    Электронная почта для меня (мне нужен имейл каждого, мне кажется, троих участников мне до сих пор не хватает)
    Посылайте свои предложения в одном из трех форматов.
    Напишите мне, если вы планируете уехать или что-либо в этом роде.

    ХОРОШО!??? PLEASE READ ALL THE COMMENTS CAREFULLY....!

    I request two things: your proposal should be posted on this website, and should ALSO BE EMAILED TO ME - don@donaldweber.com

    Accepted formats (or else I'll delete and not read them: .doc., .rtf., .pages THAT'S IT.

    Part of this workshop is being able to do the little things, all the messy crap that makes photography happen. So, read the comments, and do what I ask of you so we can all make this a little easier.

    Lastly, I request updates either on this website or to my email. I understand we are all working and have lives, but if you plan on disappearing, please email me and say "Hi Don! I'm going away for two weeks, internet will be unavailable." It's very simple and I won;t have to keep writing these types of messages...

    So, what am I asking?

    1) Email me (I need everyone;s email address - I think I am missing three people so far)
    2) Send your proposals in only 1 of 3 formats
    3) Email me if you're planning on being away or whatever.

    KHOROSHO!?!?!

    2010-11-24 23:03:36 UTC

  • Я заметил, что в каждой из историй, представленных мне до сих пор, все говорят “это будет хорошая выставка, или история для журнала, или...” Нет необходимости говорить об этом в проектном предложении. То что вы делаете, это объясняете идею, ищите что-то визуальное, что поддержав ваш аргумент, а затем делаете вывод о том, что вы планируете найти. Это хорошо когда есть идея того где и как будет представлена ваша работа - будет ли она жить в книге, выставке, или DVD, чем то еще? Но финальная презентация и так зависит от этого, поэтому не нужно заявлять об этом. Это просто разбавляет само предложение, которое должно быть сфокусировано на идее.

    Во-вторых, старайтесь не говорить такие вещи как “Я буду”, “Этот проект”, “Я заинтересован” и т.п. Это только ослабляет вас как фотографа - в словах должна быть представлена сильная вера, без колебаний. Все предложения должны убедить кого-то в том, что то что вы делаете важно, срочно, изобретательно, интересно, все что угодно. Я знаю, вы пишете это мне, Дону, инструктору, но пишите это с верой в то, что с этим предложением вы можете получить деньги от кого-то чтобы действительно снять проект по ваему замыслу.

    В-третьих, есть очень простая формула для написания предложений.
    Провокационное заявление. Здесь вы можете поставить вопрос или высказать гипотезу о чем либо, она должна быть понятной, но должна незамедлительно увлечь читателя и заставить его читать дальше. Это пресловутый удар ногой в дверь.
    То, что вы действительно будете фотографировать. Слишком часто фотографы пишут “я буду фотографировать что-то про рак”. Не достаточно хорошо. История о раковых заболеваниях это неплохо, но вы используете замысел этой истории как визуализацию вашей теории или того, в чем вы заинтересованы.
    Исторический сюжет, цитата, небольшая история, память, что-нибудь, что поможет человеку подумать визуально. Это ключевой фактор, Мы фотографы, в конце концов. Кроме того, это покажет, что вы знаете о чем говорите и вы заинтересованы в истории, вы были там, все что угодно.
    Основной текст, большинство подробностей должны быть тут, что вы хотите сказать и как вы хотите это сказать?
    Заключение. Понятно само собой. I noticed through the photo stories presented to me so far, that every single one of them all say "it would be a good exhibition, or magazine story, or…" There is no need to say this in a proposal. What you're doing is explaining an idea, finding something visual that supports your argument and then making a conclusion of what you think you'll find. It's good t have an idea of where and what you believe the work will become - does it live in a book, an exhibition, a DVD, what? But noes the final presentation is dependent upon this, then no need to state this. It just dilutes the actual proposal itself, which should be being focussed on ideas and such.

    Secondly, try not to say thing s like "I will," "This project is," "I became interested in," etc. This just weakens you as a photographer - present a strong belief in the word, no hesitation. All the proposal is meant to do is to convince someone that what you're doing is important, urgent, creative, interesting, whatever. I know you're writing this to me, Don, the instructor, but write it to believe that with this proposal you can get some money from somewhere to actually photograph your idea.

    Thirdly, there is a very basic formula for writing proposals.

    1) A provocative statement. This is where you pose a question, or conjecture about something, it is open, but must immediately engage the viewer and make them want to read further. this is the proverbial foot in the door.
    2) What you'll actually photograph. Too often, photographers say "I'll photograph someone with cancer." Not good enough. The cancer story is fine, but you use this story idea as a visualization of your theory or what you're interested in.
    3) An anecdote, a quote, a little story, a memory, anything, to get the person to begin thinking visually. This is key. We are photographers after all. plus, this shows you know what you;re talking about, you've been interested in the story, you've been there, whatever.
    4) The body of the text, more detail happens here, what do you want to say, how do you want to say it?
    5) Conclusion. Self explanatory.

    2010-11-25 22:10:11 UTC

  • Привет Доналд, вот второе задание Hello Donald here is the second assignment.

    2010-11-30 13:50:35 UTC

  • Наконец, у меня есть время чтобы рассмотреть все предложения, которые вы мне отправили. Вы ребята, очень быстрые! Я попрошу об одном, подождите с комментариями до того момента, когда я пошлю вам изменения, иначе я запутаюсь! Пока, я впечатлен идеями и текстами. Я уверен, что вы все уже очень хотите начать съемки, но я действительно хочу подчеркнуть именно этот аспект семинара. Фотографиями мы займемся очень скоро - но если вам не совсем ясен ваш замысел, как вы сможете снимать? Если я забыл кого-либо откомментировать, пожалуйста, дайте мне знать об этом. Вы все должны были получить комментарии по электронной почте. I've finally had time to review all of the proposals that were sent me. You guys are very quick! One thing I ask is to wait for the comments until I send the revisions back to you, I'm just getting confused! So far, I'm impressed with the ideas and the writing. I'm sure you're all desperate to go out shooting, but I really want to stress this aspect of the workshop. Pictures will follow very shortly - but if you're not clear on your ideas, then how can you shoot? If I've forgotten anyone with revisions, let me know. You should all be receiving the comments via email.

    2010-12-06 20:05:55 UTC

  • Еще одно обновление от меня - я буду молчать в течении нескольких дней, я сейчас работаю. Однако, я прочитал и сделал пометки во всех предложениях. Я все еще должен отправить Оксане и Миле мои первые мысли. Также, от большинства из вас я жду вашего предложения из 40 слов, у вас есть время до 4го декабря, чтобы прислать его мне. Если нет, мы просто пойдем дальше, без тебя! Пожалуйста, примите это во внимание. Поговорю со всеми вами 4 декабря. Another update from me - I am going to be silent for a few days as I am currently working. However, I have read and made notes on everyone's proposals. I still have to send Oksana and Mila my initial thoughts. I'm waiting also for most of you for your 40 word sentence assignment, so you have until say December 4 to get that to me. If not, we'll just march on ahead, without you! So please get going on that. Talk to you all come December 4.

    2010-12-01 00:02:35 UTC

  • Привет всем. К сожалению, последнее время я молчал, просто работал в Берлине. Сегодня последний день работы и у меня будет больше времени на выходных чтобы посмотреть все предложения, связаться с вами и дать новое задание. Hi Everyone - Sorry I have been silent lately, just working in Berlin. Today is last day and I'll have more time over the weekend to look at all proposals and get back to you and assign a new assignment.

    2010-12-03 15:28:46 UTC

  • Я ВСЕ ЕЩЕ не получил имейлы от всех!! ЛИБЕРТО, ПОЖАЛУЙСТА, НАПИШИ МНЕ!!!!!!!! Прямо сейчас. Для меня удобнее общатся через имейл. Как было указано много раз раньше, отправляйте ваши описания и фотографии на этот сайт И НА МОЙ ИМЕЙЛ!!!!! I have STILL to receive an email from everyone!!!! LIBERTO PLEASE EMAIL ME!!!!!!!!!!!! Now. It's best for me to communicate through email. As stated many times before, send your proposal and photos to this website AND TO MY EMAIL!!!!!!

    2010-12-06 20:08:40 UTC

  • Как отправлять мне фотографии по имейлу:

    Это очень просто, но, ПОЖАЛУЙСТА, СЛЕДУЙТЕ ИНСТРУКЦИЯМ...

    1000 пикселей по длинной стороне.
    72 dpi.
    Качество: ‘8’ JPEG.
    В папке с вашим именем.
    Название каждой фотографии с вашим именем и, если фотографии идут в определенном порядке, пронумеруйте их ТРЕМЯ цифрами начиная с нуля - 0 -.. Например - Donald-Weber-001.
    Понятно? How to Email Me Photos:

    Very simple and PLEASE FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS....

    1000 pixels on the longest side.
    72 dpi.
    Quality '8' JPEG.
    In a Folder with your name.
    name each photo with your name and if it's in a specific order, number it with THREE digits starting with a zero - 0 -.. For example - Donald-Weber-001. Sharish?

    2010-12-06 20:11:02 UTC

  • Окей, медленно но верно мы все добились значительных успехов! Я надеюсь, вы все видели разработку ваших предложений и довольны их развитием. Я перечитываю предложения от первых черновиков до последних версия, и они развиваются в интересной форме. Они становятся все конкретнее и яснее, идеи становятся все сильнее и сильнее. Я надеюсь, вы все сможете понять, почему я трачу так много времени на разработку самих предложений. Большинство людей уже подошли к моменту, когда уже можно начать съемки. Однако, я надеюсь, что все вы ждете, пока я дам вам разрешение приступить к съемкам. Мы должны привести предложения к совершенной форме и тогда начнем следующий этап проекта.

    Я буду в поездке в дикие части Украины на следующей неделе, поэтому буду без доступа к интернету... Вы можете задать мне вопросы по электронной почте, я смогу прочитать их в своем телефоне, но не смогу отправить вам обратно комментарии по готовым предложениям. Таким образом, говоря просто, у вас есть неделя чтобы развить и укрепить ваши предложения до того, как я отвечу вам... Okay, slowly but surely we're all making good progress! I hope you have all seen the development of your proposals, and are pleased with the direction. I have been re-reading the first drafts to the latest versions, and they all have been developed in an interesting manner. They are becoming more focussed and clear, and the ideas are becoming stronger and stronger. I hope you can all recognize why I am spending so much time in developing the proposals themselves. Most people are getting to the stage where we can begin photography. However, I hope that you all wait until I give you the clearance to begin shooting. We need to get the proposals into perfect form, then we begin the next phase of the project.

    I will be heading into the wilds of Ukraine for the next week or so, so will be out of sort-or internet range.... You may email me questions etc., as I can check email on my phone, but won't be able to send you back comments in the actual proposals themselves. So, you basically have a week to develop and strengthen the proposals from the feedback I have given you...

    2010-12-09 13:55:05 UTC

  • Hi Donald,
    Here I am posting the proposal one more time.

    "DEMENTED FAIRYTALE"

    The cinema house called "Russia" in the center of Yerevan is used as a market for cloth. The monument of a girl is standing without a hand. Statue of Lenin disappeared from Republic Square, and reborn in the village Lernamerdz.

    There was a time, when in the city Abovyan, where I used to live twenty six years of my life, had a cinema house, open air cinema, two artificial lakes, many factories, culture home, parks and many scraps about Lenin and Soviet Union. I could just sit in our yard and watch from the top an Indian movie shown in lower placed open air cinema. Ones I went into that cinema with neighbors and slept during the movie. But I still remember, it was the best I have ever seen.


    I should have become a pioneer (member of mass youth organization for children of age 10-15), but Soviet collapsed in 1991 and Armenia, like many other countries, became independent. I didn't know what the independence is. My memories of it are not having electricity in the house, not having water, and very cold classrooms of the school.

    On the way we became independent many things changed: cinemas disappeared, artificial lakes became empty, kinder gardens became to the private houses, carousels stopped to work, and monuments lost their hand or foot. People lost their money in the banks. Many people lost their chance to get a house, for which they had paid beforehand. Many people had to continue their life living in the dormitories or temporary shelters. Privatization spread the whole country. Factories left from USSR became property of some individuals, books of libraries became a toilette papers, and long lines appeared for bread, for petrol, for everything.


    With the time independence changed its smell for me. As a teenager I noticed that the number of the shops and restaurants has increased, many elite houses were built, new bars and carousels, other private profitable businesses ... Some people easily became businessmen and owners of state property. Others lost what they had and were looking for ways to survive.


    Today after about twenty years, life is still collapsed in the small cities and rural places. When I am going out of city center the memories of the past are appearing again and again.

    Here are examples of small cities Byureghavan and Nor Hachin.

    Byureghavan city, with a population of 8000 inhabitants, had five big factories during Soviet times. One of them was a factory of "Yeraz" cars. Now the glass factory is the only working one. It is obvious at the first sight that city became empty, without any activities and no progress. The carousel of Byureghavan was destroyed, cinema houses are closed.

    The city Nor Hachin, with a population of 10300 inhabitants, was another industrial city during Soviet times. After Soviet collapsed the factory of diamonds was still working. Now that factory is closed as well. The Culture House of the city is in very bad condition. One room is using by "Almast" dance group, another one became a church for the
    inhabitants of the city.

    Similar changes happened in capital Yerevan. The cinema house called "Russia" in the center of Yerevan is now being used as a market for cloth. The monument of a girl is standing without a hand in Avan district of Yerevan, another statue doesn't have a foot, "Lenin" disappeared from the capital and reborn in the Lernamerdz village. During Soviet times in Lernamerdz village were only 5 registered communists. Today, 20 years after collapse, all of the villagers claim that they adhere to the socialist ideology. They hope it's better for them.

    Photos showing changes and emptiness, loss and achievements, can help me to keep my memories, to help the others to see what's going on.

    2010-12-28 15:40:41 UTC

  • Hi Everyone - Happy New Year, S Novim Godom....

    So, I have received about 5 final proposals, please send me the remaining. Some of you I have barely heard from - have you been sent to jail with Khodorkhovsky? Anyway, send what you can in the next few days, Phase II of this workshop is about to begin. Also, starting next week, I'd like to schedule a skype call with all of you, so EMAIL me your preferred dates....

    2010-12-31 06:30:34 UTC

  • I'm still waiting on revised proposals from the following people (if I'm wrong, sorry...)

    Romanova
    Rudenko
    Stephanian
    Datto
    Teshaeva
    Yushko

    I think you're all pretty much there, I'd just like to have the final to go over it and make some small corrections.

    2011-01-01 20:12:12 UTC

  • Hi Everyone;

    It seems we're near the end of our workshop, a few days left. I just want to say something - where are some of you???? I know this workshop was free, but that doesn't mean you have to give the effort of something for free, you have a great opportunity here to work with others and frankly, myself. I have been travelling a lot and quite busy with work and have tried to make time for all of you, I think it's a good idea to return the effort. There were also many students who applied to be a part of this, perhaps you took their spot? So, I am a forgiving fellow - there have been most of you consistently sending me updates on your proposals and photographs. This is a last minute reminder that if you work on this level, you won't be going very far... Sorry to be a jerk, but as I reflect back, some of the dedication to this workshop has been rather lax.

    For those of you that have been diligent, I thank you for exciting me with your ideas and photography, and will try to help you in the future. Some of us have already chatted via skype and you have your marching orders. Send me the revised proposals and your photos, not much time is left...

    2011-01-17 05:42:45 UTC

  • I photograph plazas and the people moving around them in the center of Barcelona. When Im working I initially focus on the space itself, then the people. Unnoticed I watch them and wonder about their lives: who are they? Where are they from? Where are they going? Who’s that beautiful girl? How did that couple meet? Who is that guy waiting for? In doing this I try not to attach any particular story, just imagine endless possibilities. By presenting the images in this way I make the viewer use their imagination and create their own thoughts and stories in regard to the space and the activities held by the people in it.

    At the end of 2009 I traveled back to my home country, Panama, for 5 months. While I was there looked for similar types of views, but I didn’t find any because of the way Panama is built. The way I was looking at and capturing the spaces began to form the aesthetic and style of my photography.

    Barcelona has a culture, climate and urban design that lends itself to out door social activity. People have coffees in squares, set up chairs and tables outside their houses in the street to play cards and dominos. There are squares that are busy, public and grand and others that are private and intimate, there are small residential courtyards, children’s playgrounds and hippy hangouts. They all relate to the houses and people that surround them and in turn reflect the many different aspects of the city.

    In the words of Manuel de Sola-Morales (Spanish Architect and city planner)

    "A square, an avenue or a garden were not the result of an accumulation of gratuitous abstract geometrical forms; rather they were related to the topography, the scale of the site, the surrounding architectural elements, the physical magnitude of thoroughfares and the material arrangement of greenery and urban furniture".

    Life is transient, it is constantly changing and developing. This is no better exemplified than in the plaza pictured in my very first photograph the one entitled ‘‘Jardins del Dr. Fleming’’ that is currently having an architectural make over. The space you see in the picture no longer exists and life goes on. Through photographing these places I witnesses how life comes and goes. Crowds can gather and disappear within minutes, emptiness can appear in seconds. Life works in the same way, people enter and leave, things are never static, memories and photos share the remarkable ability to preserve people and places forever.

    2011-02-05 22:05:17 UTC

  • Проект «Отчуждение современного городского жителя от природы».

    В современном мире уровень урбанизации постоянно растет. По прогнозам Организации Объединенных Наций к 2025 году процент городского населения в мире составит 58%. Объем искусственно созданной среды (техномассы) уже превышает объем биомассы. Становится всё больше заводов, машин, небоскребов, и всё меньше деревьев, озер, чистого воздуха… Возможно, наши потомки будут называть Землю не «голубой планетой», а «серой», так как рост искусственной среды приводит к разрушению биомассы.

    Развитие техномасса и мегаполисов в частности позволяет городам быть самодостаточной системой. У типичных городских жителей, героев нашего проекта, больше нет необходимости контактировать с природой. Все их потребности могут быть удовлетворены результатами технологического процесса. Нет необходимости охотиться, ловить рыбу и заниматься земледелием. Всё можно купить в магазинах. В результате наши герои отдаляются от природы. В нашем проекте мы будем исследовать, как современный человек чувствует себя в природной среде. Мы покажем разные аспекты этих отношений: отчуждение, страх, гармония, боль, одиночество и т.д.

    Мы будем снимать портреты обнаженных людей в природной среде. Герои будут обнажены, так как мы хотим показать их в естественном состоянии без каких-либо технологических признаков или признаков времени. Проект будет длиться год, так как мы хотим снять все четыре сезона.

    Краткое описание проекта.

    Современные городские жители отчуждены от природы. Мы забыли вид голубого неба, чувство свежего воздуха, вкус натуральной пищи. Мы должны жить в гармонии с природой, иначе в один прекрасный день мы забудем, как она вообще выглядит.
    “Estrangement of modern city dwellers from nature”.

    The level of urbanization constantly grows in modern society. United Nations Organization predicts that percentage of city dwellers in the world will be 58% by 2025. The volume of artificially created environment (technomass) becomes bigger than the volume of biomass already. There becomes more fabrics, cars, skyscrapers and less trees, lakes, clean air… Perhaps our issue will name Earth not a “blue planet” but a “grey” one, because artificial environment’s growth brings to destroying of biomass.

    Developing of technomass and megapolises in particular allows cities to be self-sufficient system. The typical city dwellers, heroes of our project, don’t have the need to be in contact with nature anymore. All their needs can be satisfied by results of technological progress. There is no need for hunting, fishing and farming. Everything can be bought stores. In result our heroes become to be alienated from nature. In our project we’ll explore how a modern man exists in nature. We’ll show different aspects of relations between human and nature: estrangement, fear, harmony, pain, loneliness etc.

    We’ll photograph portraits of naked people outside in real natural. Our heroes will be naked, because we want to show them in their natural condition without any technical touch and signs of age. Our project will last one year, because we want to photograph all four season.

    Project into 40 words.

    Modern city dwellers are estranged from nature. We forgot the look of blue sky, the feeling of clean air, the taste of organic food. We should live with nature in harmony, otherwise one day we’ll forget how it looks alike.

    2011-02-16 14:09:53 UTC

  • Proposal

    "DEMENTED FAIRYTALE"

    The cinema house called "Rossia" in the center of Yerevan is being used as a cloth market. The monument of a girl is standing with a broken hand. Statue of Lenin disappeared from Republic Square.

    This is called that Soviet collapsed and a new Republic of Armenia appeared.

    There was a time, when in Abovyan city, where I used to live twenty six years of my life, had a cinema house, open air cinema, many
    artificial lakes, factories, culture house, parks and many scraps about Lenin and Soviet Union. I could just sit in our yard and watch from the top an Indian movie shown in lower placed open air cinema. Once me and neighbors went into that cinema and I slept during the movie. But I still remember, it was the best I have ever seen. I am one of the many who were born in the big Soviet Union, but got passport of Republic of Armenia.

    On the way we became independent many things changed: cinemas disappeared, artificial lakes became empty, kinder gardens became to the private houses, carousels stopped to work, and monuments lost their hand or foot. People lost their money in the banks. Many people lost their chance to get a house, for which they had paid beforehand. Privatization spread the whole country. Factories left from USSR became property of some individuals, books of libraries became toilette papers, and long lines appeared for bread, for petrol and for everything.

    With the time independence changed its smell for me. As a teenager I noticed that the number of the shops and restaurants has increased, many elite houses were built, new bars and carousels, other private profitable businesses ... Some people easily became businessmen and owners of state property. Others lost what they had and were looking for ways to survive.

    I found many interesting things. In a city of Byureghavan in a destroyed big factory there is a sport club. In another city one room of Culture House is being used as a church. Similar changes happened in capital Yerevan. Cinema houses became a car salon, cloth market, market for used things, etc.

    It is always interesting for me to look what was changed, how people are reusing the places, which were designed for other things.
    With this project I want to see what happened to that places and which kind of changes happened. Photos showing changes and emptiness, loss and achievements, are helping me to understand the new life around me, refresh my memories, and tell the others what's going on. The coming generation may never guess that in the market or the church were a cinema house, where their parents used to watch movies.

    Captions

    001 - In every dormitary usually there was a free space for children to play. Now it is a home for a poor family.
    002 - One couldn't find any tree in one of districts of Artashat city. Just buildings. From the window of my aunt, where I used to stay during summer holidays.
    003 - A building of a village club...
    004 - became to a house.
    005 - Carousels in Zvartnots.
    006 - The culture house of Nor Hachn city. One room is being used as a church and the other room is a room for dance group.
    007 - The culture house of Nor Hachn city. One room is being used as a prayer room.
    008 - A red building in a center use to be a Cinema House of Abovyan city. It became to a market.
    009 - Inside of Cinema House os Abovyan city.
    010 - Cinema House Rossia is being used as a cloth market.
    011 - A wedding dress for a rent inside of Cinema House Rossia.
    012 - View of Yerevan. Old and new.
    013 - Hotel Praga is now a dormitary.
    014 - A monument of a girl standing without a hand in Avan district of Yerevan.
    015 - A lake in Abovyan city bacame empty since Soviet collapsed.
    016 - A monument like this built in past for looking from the up and to see next image.
    017 - So, this is what you see from the up.
    018 - Here was an open air cinema, now it is a factory.
    019 - A well known Sipan Hotel in Abovyan city became to a Elite house.
    020 - A boy at their house in the hotel building.
    021 - A building on a right had a long-long life of building. Construction started during Soviet Times and finished last year.
    022 - New church in Abovyan. Soviet used o destroy churches to built a cinema houses ad clubs. Now things changed.
    023 - A typical building in Abovyan with a new floor build by inhabitans.
    024 - Bus station.
    025 - A monument without a foot standing on a way to Sevan lake.
    026 - A monument on a road to a Sevan lake. This girl was stolen and then returned.
    027 - A bath in Yerevan which became to a gold market.
    028 - One could see this small markets for vegetables in every area of city. Tha private house in the back used to be a boiler room during Soviet Times.
    029 - Inside of a private house. In this place there was a boiler room, where I used to play.
    030 - There was a small bear cafe in the snowy place, where I used to buy an ice-cream.
    031 - This building used to be a kinder garden.
    032 - Now it is being used as a house.
    033 - After Soviet collapsed our playyards are bacoming to a garage and private house spaces.
    034 - "Zontikner" we call a station like this, which is from Russian word zontik (umbrella). Now they just stad in their places, unused since Soviet collapsed.
    035 - A dining house in the center of image for the labour during Soviet Times became a private house.
    036 - Inside of a private house which used to be dining house for labour during Soviet Times.
    037 - A Cinema House Sasumtsi Davit is a second hand market.
    038 - A factory in Byureghavan...
    039 - became a sport school.
    040 - People are using every free space even on a roof.
    041 - An empty lake in Yerevan.
    042 - Inhabitants are building more and more rooms. Ejmiatsin, Armenia.
    043 - A building of institution became to a church.
    044 - Sunday pray.
    045 - Growing grave yard became a play yard for a children living in Massiv district of Yerevan.

    2011-02-16 15:28:18 UTC

  • This is themost recent edit from my work on the Punjabi community living in the outskirts of Paris. Featured here are the two gurudwaras from Bobigny and La Corneuve.

    2011-03-09 11:07:41 UTC