So after a very tough process here is the final cut of 20 photos which I submitted to Eddie Adams: http://picasaweb.google.com/edanilkis/EddieAdamsFinalCut.
Although chances of getting in are very slim, the editing process was enlightening itself. Self-editing was extremely difficult and trying to select different subjects to keep the portfolio interesting while still maintaining a style across the board was a challenge. I’m still not totally happy with the final selection, but I hope it represents myself well. Getting external input was very helpful - from photographers and non-photographers alike.
I recently found out about the Eddie Adams Workshop and think it’s a fantastic concept. I’m going to put together a portfolio and see what happens. Chances are very slim, I know, but it seems too interesting an opportunity to pass up. I’m not sure what I think will happen, or even what I hope will happen, but I gotta give it a shot.
I plan to put together a rough cut of my portfolio photos and send them out for some ‘editor’ feedback from fellow photographers and friends. I’ll post my ‘top 20′ selection on here when it’s done.
I recently went on a week-and-a-half long trip to Mozambique. It was for my Master’s program and we are looking at how a mobile banking micro-finance service can be designed to fit the needs of the people and the goals of the banks. Why us? Well, that’s just how things work out sometimes! During the trip we were consultants, designers, usability engineers, economics students, journalists and photographers. This is roles people assumed we had. And I suppose at times they were all right a little bit.
The one that I found most difficult is that of being a photographer - more specifically, a photojournalist. Recently I have clearly found that my passion is capturing moments. Instance of spontaneity unplanned by those engaging in it. What makes this work is also what makes it difficult - the instance has to be anticipated to be captured. If you’ve seen it, it’s probably too late.
Yet, without actually being on assignment as a photojournalist, it seems rather difficulty to justify my desire to photograph such moments. Justify to whom? In theory it would be to all the people asking ‘why are you taking this photo?’ But in practice, I can hardly remember such a question actually being asked. So I suppose I’m just trying to justify to myself that there should be a reason why I’m doing what I’m doing. And it’s the fear of such a question being asked, especially in a foreign country with a foreign language in unique circumstance that makes the amateur photojournalism task difficult. I realized this to be true when we spent one whole day with a local loan officer following him around the market. I now had a reason - nay, an excuse! - to photograph and it made all the difference. I took many more photographs and much more comfortably. Now, I just need to learn to do this on my own.
I’ve posted some of the photos on flickr, and will start posting some of the selects as individual posts on here as well.
Taken on my first week on Madeira island on the south coast. The weather was warm but the winds were strong. In the background is a cafe (the white ‘chimney’ is an elevator) with a stone-sculpted beach at the bottom.
In Northern Thailand, one of our guides (and resident of the local villages) was enjoy a few hand-rolled cigars. We asked him what they were and found out that they were banana-leaf cigar. A buddy and I took a few puffs and they were smooth, strong and a bit sweet. A few minutes later, both of us felt a bit of a quick, short (but noticeable) high.
We didn’t follow up too much further but later than night three of us were quietly invited to a cabin in the village for some opium. There was one man already there, scars on his face in a dark candle-light filling up a small bong. We took turns having a few hits. The stuff was relaxing but not too strong. I’m guessing this is what was in the cigar we had earlier, but in much stronger concentration. Either way, that whole day was surreal and very memorable.
These monks joined myself and many other visitors waiting for the sunset at Bakheng Hill in Angkor. The actual sunset was nothing spectacular but there was a unique energy from having people all around the world gathered to watch the sunset in this magical place.
Nothing original about this photo, but seeing the sunrise at Angkor Wat was simply such a beautiful experience that I had to put up the shot. There was no shortage of other photographers taking almost the same picture I did. But they all did it for the same reasons; it was beautiful. Sometimes you have to find a unique angle or a new approach, but this time I think the cliche shot is a cliche for a good reason.
Ask me a year ago if it’d be living in Funchal, Madeira and I’d would have most likely said no. This would have been due, in large part, to the fact that I would have never heard of the place. Turns out it’s a beautiful Portugese island in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Morocco. And thats’ where I am and where I’ll be for the next year or so. I will be finishing my masters degree here and then see where the road (or ocean) takes me.
As for my photography, it’ll have to take a back seat. I plan to do some photojournalistic shooting around the cities and of course there are plenty of opportunity for landscapes. And who knows, perhaps I’ll look into wedding photography here in the summer as well. I’ll keep the camera close at all times.
On the site itself, i plan to keep posting photos from the past year and new ones from Madeira. I also will be doing a reorganization of the site at some point to highlight my wedding photography work.
I’ll keep shooting and I hope you do too!
On a trek in Chiang Mai, Thailand we had dinner prepared for us by the local villagers. The initially went easy on us with the spices, but upon request brought a few fire-roasted red chili peppers. They were really potent and brought a whole new level of kick to the dishes which were simple but delicious.
