Photography really took center stage for me two and a half years ago when I found myself with a lot of time on my hands. I eventually joined the local camera club and still remember the surprise and the kick of winning the first “Picture of the Week” contest I entered. Getting a public recognition for my work felt fantastic. This inspired me to shoot more and to keep shooting.
In February of this year I went to a self-publishing and book design course. While all the other participants came with a project, I brought a box of what I figured were my best images hoping to somehow put them in an album. One participant had documented the family life of a child with multiple disabilities who had passed away. Another was telling the stories of a class of teenagers and one told the very personal story of her own survival through several years of suffering from a burn-out syndrome. They had all experienced something worth sharing; I just had a shoebox of images with no interesting story to tell.
As I worked with the teacher and the other students, I realized my images could tell an imaginary story. Deciding which images fit the subject and which should be thrown out and how to combine them to create a story felt like an impossible hurdle to cross. We decided most of the images with people in them were keepers while the landscape and building shots were thrown out. The cover image and title of the book came from a reflection of the entrance to a restaurant named “Folk”.
The turning point for me came when the teacher shared what she read from my images. She saw all these people that were there but they weren’t really there. They were distant, in the form of shadows, silhouettes and reflections. They could be people far away that I wanted to be closer to or they could be ghosts that would not let me go. They were playful and sad at the same time. My jaw dropped because in general I’m not a very emotional person but this was a very emotional moment for me. How on earth could she read so much about my life from just a bunch of images?
2010 continued to be an eventful year for me. I went on a Within the Frame Workshop in Italy in April where I met David duChemin who was generous enough to write the foreword for “Folk”. He also invited me to write an e-book on how to shoot reflections and this led to connecting with Sabrina. Isn’t it strange how taking chances and being open to opportunities sometimes takes you to the most unexpected places and connects you with the most wonderful people?
Recently I returned from a Within the Frame Kathmandu workshop with both new friends and new images. I feel my photography has moved up a notch. It is like the hidden doors in my house of photography have become visible and opened themselves with an invitation to enter. Connecting with all these generous people we met on the streets in Nepal has been such a gift. I don’t feel that I have just learned a bit about travel photography. I think this workshop has also made it less frightening to ask people I meet in my hometown if I can take their portrait.
In preparing to write this guest post, I asked Sabrina what I should share. We spoke about how she feels my work is evolving, how people in my images from this trip appear more real to her and that these images possibly express more of me. I’m telling you – I got this déjà-vu feeling of being back in the classroom with that book design teacher again. Jaw dropping! “Don’t forget that the camera looks both ways!” Sabrina said.
The greatest learning experience for me has come from seeing my images through the eyes of others. So often I am surprised by when I hear the interpretation of what they see. It makes me wonder if others have experienced the same thing. Share your own “ah ha” experience in the comments below and who knows, Sabrina may have a surprise up her sleeve for those who do.
Eli Reinholdtsen is the author of Craft and Vision’s “Chasing Reflections”. She details using the juxtaposition of reflections and timing to create unlikely stories and capture powerful images.
Craft and Vision has a limited number of gift coupons available during this holiday season. Buy this $20 gift coupon and you’ll get a code to give to someone special to use on the Craft and Vision site when they select 4 or more books from the collection. And since Eli has twisted my rubber arm, I’m going to give one coupon to someone who shares their “ah ha” moment in the comments below. The winner will be chosen by random draw on December 7.
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Matea Michelangeli and Radek Kozak. Radek Kozak said: Doesn't get better than this: @elireinholdtsen on @SabrinaHenry's blog – "A Shoebox of Images" http://bit.ly/foe3rq -> Share your 'ah-ha'
[...]
Hi Eli R, I’ve pieced some of this together from reading your “Reflections” book (and your tweets), but it’s great to be able to read your story here. Of course, I LOVE the part about how your book developed.
I’ve been noticing lately that some of the best, most amazing ideas, come as a result of collaboration. ..some of the best taglines come from the observations of others. I’ve also come to realize that the insight/observations that I can effortlessly offer others, I cannot come up with for myself. This year I’ve really come to understand and embrace the need for collaboration.
I heard someone say recently that “you can’t get clarity in your head.” I believe that’s absolutely true. You have to get your work and your ideas out there. There’s no substitute for seeing your work through the insightful eyes of others who care about it. (..even if they ask “why?”)
Thanks so much Sabrina & Eli for sharing here.
Anita
I believe you can get and find your own ‘clarity’ it comes from experience and what is referred to as ‘time in grade’. The real learning can come from asking ourselves the right questions and being honest enough to listen to the answers. This can lead to more lasting ah-ha moments and revelations as well as leading to more of the questions we should be asking ourselves.
Collaboration is more about the ideas and execution of them not about growth as an artist or photographer.
Anita,
the “collaboration effect” becomes more and more obvious to me although of course I would love to immediately know myself which images work and which ones don’t. Of course there is not a one correct answer.
I’m in a group of nine women who get together once a month and discuss our photographic work. Earlier this year I asked them to suggest images for a competition I was entering and their choices placed me on a shared third with one of the other women in the group, Nina . In the meeting this week Nina talked first and said she hoped to win the final round. The room went quiet when I interrupted her by saying “I hope you don’t”. She gave me an evil eye and pointed her finger at me before we burst out laughing and had to explain the situation to the rest of the group.
The front page of “Folk” was chosen by the group and landed me a 1st in the camera club spring competition. I know not everybody does but I find entering competitions to also be a collaborative learning experience.
Ray -so much wisdom here. I completely agree with you that asking ourselves the right questions, soul-searching and awareness are crucial. In my experience, though, the clarity I got from that only took me so far. For me the learning comes as I try to apply the a-ha moments, connect and try out ideas (despite being intimidated about getting holes shot through them). Exponential growth for me seems to come as a result of working with others.
There’s magic that happens when you take what you’ve discovered, what you think you know, and expose it to the light of day and the scrutiny of others. You might find ..that it’s not so great after all, ..it’s good but it needs work, or even a completely new direction to explore. Sometimes I discover it’s something I’m willing to defend against all odds. (like the photo framed, despite the fact that no one else likes it)
Getting input from others helps me become crystal clear about my thinking and discoveries.
I think you make an intriguing point that collaboration wouldn’t be as effective without the period of introspection first.
After reading what you wrote, I’m wondering, do you think it’s important for us to connect and collaborate with a certain kind of people? ..those with gray beards who spent time in 9th grade, um, I mean, who have experience & our best interest at heart?
Eli, love your phrase “collaboration effect!”
How fabulous to have a place where you can have spirited competition yet know that you have the support of others. Sometimes these things are what we make of them. Thanks for the lovely reminder. I want to work to actively foster situations like that!
Anita
One question that is forgotten sometimes is what qualifies the opinion of those who offer critique or advice? The ability to sell something ? if that is the case I’d ask questions about selling or what sells. That something sells or has a large following has very little to do with what is meaningful. The background of someones opinion and what they think is very much of importance when we take that advice. I spend a lot of time with artists who aren’t photographers and also with just folks to get a cross section of what my work does or means to them.
I’m not much on popularity contests being a meaningful take on my images even when they are well thought of. There is so much more to the process and meaning than appeal to the masses and there is so much more to art than “I know what I like” as a measure.
Eli – an excellent post – it is interesting to hear about your evolution as a photographer. I like Sabrina’s comment that the camera looks both ways and what you said in your first book and how your work has evolved into being more about the real you.
In my case, my most personal (and I think my best) work was my project about my fear of getting Alzheimer’s and it was amazing to me to hear/see the reactions of others when they saw the photographs. A couple of people actually cried because they could relate to my experience. It was also very cathartic for me to express those feelings. So what I learned was about self revelation and emotions.
Ray, that project was also about clarity – my goal for the photos was very clear to me and when that happens, decisions become easier. One of my life goals is clarity. I am not familiar with the term ‘time in grade’. Does it mean – life experiences help you to see clearly?
Thanks Eli for posting, Sabrina for your blog and Anita and Ray for your comments – it is all thought provoking.
Maureen
Maureen
Yes- it is about life experiences and having them not about years. It is also about gaining something from those experiences, introspection and seeing more in them than just a ‘wow that was cool’ reaction to them.
The kind of experiences that bring a clarity to ourselves and our art need to be sought out they don’t just happen. Without curiosity and questions there is no clarity or growth either as a person or a photographer.
Thank you, Maureen. I love your Alzheimer images – especially the one where you stand in front of the mirror but it is your dad that is reflected.
I can resonate with this especially because my mum has become very forgetful over the last two years (She will be 83 this month) and we’ve had her for a full scan and they’ve found two grey areas in the brain. Which I understand means areas without blood circulation. As the same thing happened with her oldest sister one… wonders
So I follow you there. It is something I haven’t thought about before but when you start thinking about it more people in the same situation appears.
That said – some of the stuff she forgets can be a bit amusing. She asked what I wanted for Christmas and I said we should discuss my birthday present first because that one is four months overdue. Gave us both a good chuckle
Thanks Eli. When our parents age, a role reversal often happens – sometimes a lot and sometimes a little. It is always good to laugh about things, no matter what. A couple of days before my father died, he was still able to joke with the nurse in his brief moments of being somewhat lucid.
It is interesting how people come forward when you are going through something. When I was pregnant (all those years ago) all of a sudden, the world was filled with pregnant people. And when my Alzheimer’s photos were shown, dozens of people at the vernissage told me about their spouses/parents/friends who were affected by the disease – very moving. The more we ‘open our kimonos’, the more people can relate to us/our images.’ Our own personal ‘stuff’ often strikes a chord in others.
[...] a short update – I am guest blogging at Sabrina Henry’s blog today. Sabrina is the voice behind Craft & Vision’s appearance on Twitter and the [...]
Another thought-provoking post on Sabrina’s blog. Thanks, Eli! I have loved seeing your images from Kathmandu. It’s obvious you really connected with people on this trip.
You state my own ah-ha revelation perfectly. “Isn’t it strange how taking chances and being open to opportunities sometimes takes you to the most unexpected places and connects you with the most wonderful people?” A while back Sabrina asked on the Craft and Vision Facebook page something like “What’s the bravest thing you’ve done with/for your photography?” For me, it was stepping out of the shadows and participating in this community. It really felt like playing with the big kids. It was a huge risk for me to put myself and my work out there. But this is such a warm, supportive, encouraging group of people. It would be such a personal loss if I had continued to lurk. This has been a huge growth year for me too, Eli. I screwed up my courage and asked the T-Sisters to play with me, and those were some of my favorite images ever. I guess I’m starting to get out of my own way.
Looks like you had some great fun with the T-sisters, Dorothy! Fun images and it is easy to seee that they are enjoying themselves too.
The worst thing that can happen when we ask is to get a No, and when you have asked many enought times the No just isn’t a big deal at all. You dared to ask, that’s the most important bit.
When I went on my first photography workshop I had the same feeling of daring to go out to play with the big kids. But in the end we were just people with a passion. This connects us.