I am 27 years old, may the grace of god be with all of you who want to help us. I have 2 children under my care, and me and my mom are very poor. I don’t have a father, but I would like to start a small business. We are trying to whip water to make butter (Haitian saying for make something of nothing) to try and take care of the children. I would like to continue studying about photography.
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My name is Majorie. I am 25 years old. I have 3 children. I don’t have a husband. I would like to start a small business selling clothes and sandals, so I can take care of the children.
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My name is Migela. I’m going to have a baby. I love school. I’m 16 years old. My mother is very poor. My dad left me with my mom. There is no job, there is no money for me to start a small business. I would like to open a small shop to sell rice and other food articles.
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My name is Elias and I am 27 years old. My father and my mother passed away and left behind 8 children. I am the oldest and work to take care of the others. I don’t have a job, but I would like to go to school to learn a trade and also to start a small business so I can help the rest of my family. I have 3 little girls, they are 9, 4 and 2. I would also like a camera so I can continue doing photography.
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My name is Daline, I’m 14 years old. I love school. I would love to make something of my life. What’s important to me in life is my family and we are very poor. My mom has been struggling with us for many years. I would like to do everything there is to do in this life and I really enjoy learning about photography.
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After learning many techniques, the first group went through the hardest part. They selected 6-8 final photos, from all of their work. As a photographer, you tend to fall in love with your photos. You remember what happened when you took them, the feeling that was made during the photo and sometimes it can be hard to let go. But after deliberation and careful thought, each student was able to make their choices.
I will be doing posting personal statements written by the photographers with their final work throughout the week.
I am excited to announce an exposition of our photographers at Project Esperanza on Dec. 10th. They are a Puerto Plata based non-profit that works in the community of Muñoz as well, with a focus in education and the arts. Visit their site for more information and their online shop to buy jewelry and art made by local artists. From there the work will be shown at their Muñoz location and sold between the two locations. Now is the time to make a donation as we work to raise funds for printing costs. Thanks for all of your support from my students and from me. They appreciate you being a part of this process more than you will ever know.
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We’ll start with Clistofel
My name is Clistofel and I am a young student. I would like to finish school because I want to be a good person in this life. The problem for me is that I don’t have the possibility to finish. I don’t have a job. I am 21 years old and I am Haitian. I recently had a daughter. I would like to learn a trade and I would like to be a legal resident of the Dominican Republic.
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Assigment 4: Composition
Composition is a choice. This is the last assignment for this first group and having learned all the rules, they got one more chance to exercise ‘choice’ in their work. The rules of photography can be thought of as a set of tools. When I shoot an assignment, I go through them in my mind while I look for a creative angle and I always remember that I choose where my subject goes in a photo and that this choice has a meaning.
In just a few more days, we will select photos for the final story and each person will write a personal statements to tie it all together.
Everyone has been working very hard, with great focus. I’m excited to watch the stories come alive.
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Clistofel
Dalina
Elias
Majorie
Migela & Eria
Assignment 3: Rule of 3rds and Foreground
Each student of Be1Vision is picking up a different skill set, some are better at shooting everyday life, some shooting for light and some applying the daily lessons. It’s always interesting to watch a personal style develop, especially in such a short time. With one more week of classes before the final project, I’m excited to see what comes of the next few days.
Photos ideas for this assignment include, shooting sunrise or sunset, foreground, rule of thirds and shooting for light.
Clistofel
Dalina
Elias
Majorie
Miguela & Eria
Nancie
Now that everyone’s had the chance to experience making photographs and a critique from Assignment 1, we now focus on shooting real life. It has been a challenge to break the habit for many of the students to call out to someone before they take their photo. Due to an extreme language barrier, I’ve simplified the rules of composition and ideas of photojournalism for easier explanation. The following photos focus on first looking at like, second looking for true life and finally the rule of thirds. Today was our 4th Class and I can really see progress already.
Clistofel
Dalina
Elias
Majorie
Miguela & Eria
Nancie
Assignment 1: Shoot 30-40 photos of anything in your life
I learned early on in life, that it is important to first try something and make mistakes in order to improve. My mom taught me how to swim when I was 3-years-old by putting me in a pool, letting me flail a bit, then supporting me after I struggled until I learned the way. These ideas were reiterated through my photojournalism Professor, Dr. Edward Trayes and I applied this learning technique to the Be1Vision curricula. Some call it Baptism by Fire.
Here is an edit from each student’s first shoot.
Cristofel
Dalina
Elias
Miguela & Eria
Najorie
Nancie
