Personal Project: September 2008
As of this month I'm starting a monthly post called, "Personal Project." My hope and goal is to further share and express who I am through my photography.
For a long time now I've meant to do this and just finally got around to doing it.
One of my favorite times of year is right now, not just because it's my birthday month, but because all of life seems to settle. I don't know why, but I get a feeling of calm as soon as the flowers start to change color and the evenings come a little sooner.
Take a journey with me on this first assignment, to find beauty and hope in Long Beach.
My project this month was inspired by the week our nation has had. I was ambitious to find glimpses of hope and glimers of beauty in my city. I think my journalism background has made me a little idealist when it comes to reality. I half expect to come across some amazing story while I'm driving in my '65 Mustang.
Midway through my shoot I began to get discouraged - thinking I had failed on my assignment if I didn't come back with a soul-shaking photo shoot. But oddly, in the simplicity of wandering down my block, through the rough Northern side and down Pine Ave. I found peace.
I discovered the sky wasn't falling (even though the stock market has taken a hit); I discovered people are still friendly (scroll down to read about "Jimmy"); and the world still has beauty as close as your front door.
Take a look at what I saw today:
Above: Jimmy and friend at his shoe shine booth on Pine Ave.
Above: What caught my attention in this photograph was Jimmy's own shoes. Often, those who work in a service based business don't treat themselves to the service they provide others. I know I'm hard pressed to find a photograph of myself that's not shot in the ever popular "MySpace self-portrait" style (to my mother's chagrin). And yet, Jimmy's own shoes are perfectly shinned. It is an interesting reflection of his seemingly positive self-perception.
Blessings,
Christine Lee Smith
For a long time now I've meant to do this and just finally got around to doing it.
One of my favorite times of year is right now, not just because it's my birthday month, but because all of life seems to settle. I don't know why, but I get a feeling of calm as soon as the flowers start to change color and the evenings come a little sooner.
Take a journey with me on this first assignment, to find beauty and hope in Long Beach.
My project this month was inspired by the week our nation has had. I was ambitious to find glimpses of hope and glimers of beauty in my city. I think my journalism background has made me a little idealist when it comes to reality. I half expect to come across some amazing story while I'm driving in my '65 Mustang.
Midway through my shoot I began to get discouraged - thinking I had failed on my assignment if I didn't come back with a soul-shaking photo shoot. But oddly, in the simplicity of wandering down my block, through the rough Northern side and down Pine Ave. I found peace.
I discovered the sky wasn't falling (even though the stock market has taken a hit); I discovered people are still friendly (scroll down to read about "Jimmy"); and the world still has beauty as close as your front door.
Take a look at what I saw today:
Above: Jimmy and friend at his shoe shine booth on Pine Ave.
Above: What caught my attention in this photograph was Jimmy's own shoes. Often, those who work in a service based business don't treat themselves to the service they provide others. I know I'm hard pressed to find a photograph of myself that's not shot in the ever popular "MySpace self-portrait" style (to my mother's chagrin). And yet, Jimmy's own shoes are perfectly shinned. It is an interesting reflection of his seemingly positive self-perception.
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| From Personal Project: 9/2008 |
Blessings,
Christine Lee Smith
Labels: news, personal, personal project
posted by Christine Lee Smith Photography at
5:46 PM
1 Comments:
As I scrolled through the streets of Long Beach as seen from the creative lens of Christine, I heard the volume of the song in my head build to a crescendo and Mr. Louie Armstrong proclaimed...
"What a Beautiful World"
Jack Tanner
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