Memphis, TN

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Comment by Robert Landrigan on February 5, 2010 at 4:45pm

i like it, a riff on the we're not here to take your pictures, we're here to give you one - instead, it's giving a voice to those who don't have a platform. I was rather violently against the earlier ill-thought idea that they H-P team had to make a book of the project, but this is different, in that the participants are aware of what's going to happen from the start. Would be nice if the gallery/site would be able to serve as a means of support - it may not raise much money, but any bit would be helpful for many of these folks.

It would be compelling in a very many ways to see a person through the prism of multiple artists, although that may too demanding for many folks.

though a lens, darkly....

Comment by Jim Allman on February 5, 2010 at 11:06am

I've been tossing around an idea for a little while that might be something to consider. Let me see if I can give you guys a high-level summary.

Ultimately, I believe it would be great to think about how to give voice to those without a voice and how to humanize them in the process. What better way then through pictures which axiomatically are each "a thousand words".

My thought is roughly that as photographers we can identify voiceless people: the homeless, refugees, the elderly, the terminally ill like AIDs patients, the outcast and marginalized, etc. and sit with them to hear their story. I believe there is a care in this that though doesn’t meet a physical need meets some yearning we all have: to feel known and part of. After hearing the story, our artistic, photographic skills come into play: translate the story to an image (or several). I’d love it if we took time with this one. Time to listen and time to REALLY make art for them (about them). Afterward we’d give them prints, negatives, whatever. But I’d like also to consider gathering the images for a gallery show. Not to profit or otherwise exploit but to thoughtfully and sensitively expand their voices so as to bring them into a corporate story further humanizing and validating them as individuals who matter.

Let me know what you guys think.

Comment by Robert Landrigan on February 1, 2010 at 2:45pm

Sorry for the late response - while it doesn't look like the photos for haiti is going fly(i have been part of some other efforts to raise money, tho - it's terrifyingly bad down there and they really, really need help - and it's tax deductible! /soapbox off) a H-P type event before December would be great. It would be neat if we could wrangle a partner or two for location - although i know it wouldn't happen, imagine the community impact of a such a shoot at the new Theatre on the Square, for instance. Admittedly, I also think that the take pic/give pic workflow is a lot easier and less likely to get messy over a take pic/donate money issue.

Comment by Cindy Neal on February 1, 2010 at 2:03pm

I would be more interested in doing something locally as well. Any interest in finding a new project? We don't have to wait for an official help-portrait event. Right?

Comment by Jim Allman on January 28, 2010 at 9:55am

Personally, I'm not as charged up about this one. Not that it isn't a great and noble thing, but the personal quality of Help-Portrait is its most endearing quality. I definitely feel for the Haitians, but my limited resources (including my time) are committed to more local endeavors. There's plenty of things to be done in Memphis. I'm still committed to Help-Portrait 2010.

Comment by Brad Kolodzaike on January 27, 2010 at 7:49pm

Is there any interest out there for Jeremy's current project for Haiti?

Comment by Jim Allman on December 15, 2009 at 4:32pm

For those who didn't get Jeremy's tweet on final stats:

36K portraits
3002 pohtographers
4422 volunteers
511 locations
41 countries.

Comment by Robert Landrigan on December 14, 2009 at 10:23pm

What I learned from Help-Portrait:

1. Art is collective. Just watching everyone work with her subjects, and how she interacted and posed them, gave me a thousand ideas - I can;t tell you how many times someone looked across the room and said 'That's Nice', 'Wow', etc - getting a chance to be around people as nutty as you are and who have a different eye is amazingly freeing, and helpful.

2. Simplicity is king. Paring down to the bare minimum is very useful, although you didn't see me practice this this weekend:) On friday, I shot with an 85 1.4 and had a dead-simple 2 light setup - and was happy with my shots. On saturday, I didn't have the white ceilings and walls to fill in, and kept playing with lights to try and replicate that effect. I was also using a 17-55 zoom due to less space and larger groups, and that was another fiddly bit. Spent too much time on physical details and not enough on the dang picture.

3. Post-Processing is key. Having a dedicated guru churning out the files was awesome, Brad's work both Friday and Saturday made it possible for us to get our shots out quick.

4. More Ambient light! There a number of times on Saturday where there just wasn't enough light to check focus or pre-image very well - here's where studio strobes and model lights really help.

5. This is fun!!!!!!!!! The only thing better than shooting all day and seeing winners on the screen is seeing a print pop up in the developer tray under a safelight, and this is a lot more social:) Having the chance to help other folks, work with people who wanted to get things done and are willing to sacrifice their time and efforts to do a good thing, and having such an amazing end product is a heck of a rush. Thanks for coming out and doing this, and I hope to play with yall again:)

Comment by Jim Allman on December 14, 2009 at 11:23am

Just posted my thoughts on help portrait 2009.

http://www.continuumarts.com/2009/12/14/help-portrait-memphis-2009/

I really want to thank all of you for making it a reality. I know that I left genuinely blessed. It was possible b/c of the heart you all showed. I look forward to our next shoot together.

Comment by Kimberly Ford on December 13, 2009 at 6:13pm

Thank you to everyone who helped to make this event a success. It was an awesome experience. I think everyone on both sides of the camera had an enjoyable experience. Jim, you are so right about Brad. I told my husband last night that I did not know what we would have done without him. His expertise has been invaluable. My thanks to you Jim for starting the ball rolling. And last but not least, I am thankful for all of the family and friends who helped by staying at home and keeping the kids for those of us that had to have a babysitter. ;)

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