SPRING 2009 - The Next Semester Adventure!

I began working in the studio during the first week of school, uploading, editing and assembling additions to the Real Americans series. The new images were taken during my time in my hometown and I am following the same style & layout as the first diptychs in the series. The new images lend support to the concept because I am portraying a different section of society, environment conditions, a different state even. I now have documented towns in Oregon, Washington & California. All of this has led me to realize I need to keep going and expand on the places documented. I don't know how I could afford to do it, but I would like to learn about grant writing so that I might be able to get the funding needed to take this project on the road. During the process of editing & assembling the new images, I spent approximately 10 hours on it, probably more. I obviously shot the images during the break, but the studio work didn't begin until school had started. I still have another set of images to process (I took a lot of photos in 5 towns in California) and after that I want to proceed with assembling the 50+ final images into book form using lulu.com. I have had a lot of interest from people along the way who have heard about the concept, but not necessarily seen the final images and this will give me a way to satisfy those who want to experience it or see their business and how it has been documented. I have yet to have a negative reaction, so hopefully this will be a positive experience without any upset subjects. I've made an effort to be true to the character of each place photographed without manipulation. Yes, I know we had the discussion in FA 385 about the photographer's vision automatically manipulating what will be photographed - I did not forget. :)

Touching on the project with Stephanie...we are still talking it out and I have spoken with both Rhoda and North Bank about it. We are discussing a proposal for North Bank in order to be approved for use of the gallery and Rhoda and I will be meeting this weekend to have further conversations about her involvement. Like I said in our meeting (the 3 of us meeting), I will just keep on with my own work and I know I will easily fill my required hours. I also should add that I have been in the darkroom and developed 7 rolls of medium format b&w film I took while in California as well. I will be going back in to process contact sheets and prints and will put some up here asap.