blink! photography

Photography Course

On January 23 and February 6 I had the opportunity to guest-lecture for the Photography & Film course at Providence College. In the first class I spoke on some of the basics of photography - Rule of Thirds, aperature, shutter speed, iso, lighting, etc. Important stuff, but fairly mundane in a classroom setting. The second class is where I really enjoyed myself. In this class I talked about my philosophy of photography - which you are familiar with if you have read some of the history on this website. I love talking about my work as a vehicle for communicating the dignity of others. Key to this class was the invitation I gave to the students to present an image or two of their own and open themselves up for critique, always a worthwhile excercise, and to present what they could about their own philosophy - what motivates them to create images. A memorable class for me; I hope the same for the students.

Habitat for Humanity

During the week of July 12-18 I had the opportunity to volunteer my photographic services on the build site for Habitat for Humanity here in Winnipeg. There were three duplexes being built for six families - who I had the privilege to meet. I have a lot of respect for the work that Habitat does in providing families with the opportunity for owning their own homes.

Habitat does not give out freebies - they hold the mortgages on all the properties they provide and require that families continue to pay off their homes. The terms that the families have to work with, however, are a far cry from those the banks are able to provide, and are customized to each families individual needs. There is a lot of detail that goes into the structure of these financial terms, but I think the best part is that the homeowners spend a significant amount of time in the building of their own homes, as well as learning basic home maintenance skills.

If you are interested in making a very real difference in your local community, I encourage you to volunteer for a build. I encourage you to support Habitat financially, of course, but the opportunity to do some "hands-on" work is indescribably wonderful.

The people in the Habitat for Humanity image gallery are a mix of some of the soon-to-be homeowners (blue helmets), volunteers, and Habitat for Humanity staff.

Still at it

It has been awhile since my last post, but I haven't been entirely dormant in my activity. I was interviewed by a local newspaper, the Indo-Canadian Telegram, following the travel presentation on India which I delivered at McNally Robison Booksellers in February. They had a wonderful article and featured a number of my images in full-colour.

Since mid-March I have had most of my in-stock framed and matted images on display in the new(ish) library at Providence College. The college has been wonderfully supportive of my work and it looks like I may have an opportunity to deliver a class or two in their Photography and Film course. I hope that this works out - I would love the opportunity to share with aspiring artists both my technical methodology and my philosophical motive in my photography.

I have also been approched by the Manitoba Camera Club to be a guest speaker at their November 11 monthly meeting. I look forward to the opportunity to rub shoulders with others in the industry.

Travel Talk

I've been booked to deliver a photolog travel presentation on India on Tuesday, February 12 at McNally Robinson Booksellers on Grant Avenue. TravelCuts is hosting the evening and everyone is welcome to come on out at 7:00pm for the "Travel Talk".

Colour & Texture: Portraits of India - postscript

My first solo gallery, Colour & Texture: Portraits of India, has been a success. Over 50 people came out to the one-night event this past Saturday, nine images have sold thus far - raising $675 for World Vision development work in India; and two children in need of support have found new sponsors. Not huge numbers by any stretch, but it is my first show and my first attempt at making a difference in the world through my photography.

                      

On a personal level, I have received rather overwhelming response to my show - both from people who attended and those who have seen the images through this site. I am encouraged by how people are catching the vision for my photography: to try to portray the dignity of the people I am making images of – not to ignore their life circumstances, but rather to show their worth in the midst of their situations.

                  

My prayer is that I continue to learn how to create better art. Art that is great not because of wonderful composition, colour or texture (though I hope my images excel in these areas), but that finds greatness in its ability to provide a glimpse into the lives of very real people in another part of the world. The greatest pleasure I had in making these images was the interaction (dare I say relationship?) that I had with the people involved. In the process of meeting the people you see portrayed, I have been invited into the homes of families, shared countless cups of chai, been schooled by teenagers in street cricket, and had one mother try to marry me off to her daughter. While the sights, smells and sounds linger then fade, the memories of the people I met are as strong as the day that I made them.

                              

I encourage you to take a look at the images in the Colour & Texture: Portraits of India gallery. They are available for purchase if you like - just email me at info@blinkphotography.ca. I also strongly encourage you to take a look at World Vision and consider signing up for a sponsor child or three. 40ish bucks a month can make an absolutely remarkable difference in the lives of a lot of people.

Colour & Texture: Portraits of India

About a year and a half ago I made a decision to use my abilities in photography to try and make a difference in the lives of people around me. Shortly thereafter I began planning a photographic expedition to Northern India with my good friend David DuChemin of Pixelated Image.

   

After a year of contacting East Indian travel agents, hoteliers, and local friends we were ready to head out. To bring a personal element to the journey I got in touch with World Vision and signed up to sponsor a child in the slums of North Delhi.

   

Three weeks of trekking through the mega-city of Delhi, Agra of Taj Mahal fame, Jodhpur on the edge of the Rajisthan Desert, the holy city of Varanasi on the banks of the Ganges, and visiting my sponsor child, Shiv Kumar, in the slums of North Delhi has resulted in my having several gigs of image files. With the focus of the trip being humanitarian in nature, I have decided to host an exhibition and fundraiser to raise money for the development work being done by World Vision in the same slums where my sponsor child is from. I invite you to attend the one-day only event: Colour & Texture: Portraits of India.

   

June 2, 2007

5:00pm - 10:00pm

Adelaide McDermot Gallery

318 McDermot Avenue

   

Admission: $5

Matted and framed prints will sell for $100

$75 from each print sold will go to World Vision work in the slums of North Delhi

Success with more to come…

The Greening of the Spirit art show was a great success. Blink! Photography had six images on display and two sold for $100 each, with $75 from each going to development work being done in North Delhi, India by World Vision.

This show is a bit of a precursor to the Colour & Texture: Portraits of India fundraising gallery show being held on June 2^nd at the Adelaide-McDermot Gallery. Images at that show will also be selling for $100, with $75 going to World Vision in North Delhi. Keep your eyes open on this site for soon-to-come updates on this show.

Blink! Photography Gallery Show

Blink! Photography is participating in its first gallery display on April 12 to 14 at Adelaide– McDermot Gallery as part of the Greening of the Spirit show being held by St. Benedict's Table. It is an honour to be invited to display at this event and my hope is that my portrait images reveal the dignity of the people portrayed. This show will give you a taste of the upcoming exhibit in June. Keep an eye on this site for more news about the Colour and Texture: Portraits of India show.

odyssey of a photographer

Over the last couple of years I have had a growing desire to make a difference in the world around me but struggled with figuring out how to do that beyond volunteering time or money to social programs (both which I value doing). I really wanted to give something uniquely me, something that not just anybody could give. Through the soul-searching that this initiated I realized that my love for photography could be used to tell the stories of people and the stories of the work that development organizations do. This past year I had the opportunity to put this into action as I traveled through northern India.

I had heard how India can be one of the most challenging places on earth to visit, how hardened veterans of developing-world travel are brought to their knees by the hardship they witness. I had no idea what to expect, as most of the reports I read talked about the emotion the writers experienced. I went with few expectations beyond a desire to observe, experience whatever an outsider could experience, and try to find the heartbeat of the people. What I found was poverty and affliction so pervasive that my senses and emotions were overwhelmed to the point of numbness. I have only been able to process my sensual and emotional overload in bits and pieces since returning. There continue to be moments when I contemplate my experiences and am frozen in thought and feeling. Looking back, I wonder if my numbness while in India helped me in my picture-making. Perhaps because my reactions to the poverty and suffering were so numbed I was actually able to see the people there living their lives in a dignified and caring way – beyond their circumstances. I believe my images portray their stories in this way.

When I reflect on India now, the people and the conditions form two separate yet connected lines of thought. While embedded in the world, replete with struggles, pain, challenges and luck, life for individuals and families continue on filled also with joy, faith, hope and love. The people are the foreground of the image, their circumstances form the background. One tied to the other, but still independent. Joy in the midst of sorrow, love in the midst of calamity.

   

As I grow in my photography, one goal I have is to try to ensure that my images portray the dignity of the people I am making images of – not to ignore their life circumstances, but rather to show their worth in the midst of their situations.

back from india

i recently made a three week photographic trek through northern india, trying to capture the joys, life, and feel of the people that i encountered. the two galleries to the right are one man's vision of life up close and personal in the cities of delhi, jodhpur in  rajasthan, and the hindu holy city of varanasi in uttar pradesh.

stay tuned for news about an upcoming exhibit. proceeds from which will going to World Vision Canada and their work with children in the third world. if you would like to be kept up to date about the details please email me.