you had enough already? what got up Sister Christine’s hind end?
sorry. but it sounds like the kind of reaction that comes from her having some kind of bad day and deciding to make you the problem, without really considering the positive response/impact you’ve been generally getting OR the respectful agreement she’d entered into with you.
i say this, of course, not knowing a thing. and i’m sure she deserves the benefit of my doubt. but i am very sorry for you to be cut off right when you’d gotten your groove on, and in such an officious way.
Bon, I have to come to Sister Christine’s defence here. I think above all, she’s just so down-to-earth, so practical, that she doesn’t see and isn’t interested in taking the time (she runs the drop-in centre and at least two shelters!) to think about what good could come from my photography. I think she’s very protective of the people she serves (and rightly so), and she’s not been around to see the good responses I got from people. And really, how indulgent is this whole project? She serves people who don’t have enough food to eat or roofs over their head. Art is pretty optional.
I also think that if even one person was made uncomfortable because of me, that’s unacceptable. And maybe someone said something to her, and she had to act on it. I think she let me shoot more than most people would have been able to, and for that I am grateful. She was cute too. When I said that I liked it there, she said, “I know you do. And we like you too.”
And there are important lessons me for here too. That it’s possible to gain access and then lose it. That people can get a sort of shutter exhaustion long before I expect it. And I think I was occasionally shooting stupidly. Just in a blind rush, without taking time to be a bit more deliberate and thoughtful about the images I wanted to make.
After I left, I ran into Door (from yesterday) and told him about what she said, and he said, “Oh. She doesn’t see that you’re actually part of the healing.” I swear that guy’s dropped into town last week just to help me.
obviously yes, she does good, good work – and your photography is not central to the shelter and the people who depend on it in the way that her management and service are.
but it still sounds like a dismissive way to close you off. perhaps what you’re doing is indulgent, from her point of view. i know you’ve struggled deeply with that yourself – and i’m just not wanting to see you take this as vindication of that fear. because i do think that what you’ve been doing also has potential for bringing a dignity or validity to the people at the shelter – in their OWN eyes, in the “somebody wants to take my picture” that for whatever reason seems to matter so much in our society – that is also worth considering. like Door said.
that’s all. i mean no disrespect to Sister Christine or her work. but i also believe you and your work deserve respect too.
Kate, have you shown Sister Christine any of your photos? I can’t help but think that if she saw just how respectful and true to the subjects your photos are, she might change her mind. We all know photographers (particularly in the media) who use the down-trodden to perpetuate stereotypes or take advantage of their subjects through the lens. To see how you’ve shown this group of people to be just another bunch of humans doing what people do is nothing short of exceptional. You’ve managed to avoid the morose or cliché and instead focus on the actual person – something that Sister Christine would certainly respect and encourage.
I am with Bon–it sounds like maybe something else was going on with her taht day, and it might be worthwhile to try asking again in a week or two. Maybe with some photos in hand, and maybe with some of the regulars vouching for how they feel about your project.
Oh Cin! I’m so sorry. It sounds like she was a bit brisk with you, which probably would have made me just wither up. I don’t take that sort of thing very well. I hope that it doesn’t make you second guess yourself or your vision.
Oh no! I can’t add to what Bon has said already, but I too think it might be worth pursuing again in a little while — maybe to give her some time so she doesn’t feel like you’re pestering, and let whatever bothered her enough to cut you off in the first place subside.
I also think you might want to offer to show her the photographs, because the dignity and humanity in your pictures is truly beautiful and I think if/when she realizes that, she’ll feel less protective over your subjects.
I wonder if one of the client’s said something?
It’s a shame – your photos are gorgeous – but I wonder if she was worried, ultimately, that certain boundaries were being crossed.
Beck, it’s possible, but funnily enough I was just photographing some parsnips and fiddleheads when she reacted. Not even people, so I kind of doubt it.
Everyone, I probably will follow up with Sister and show her some of my pictures in a little while. Not so much to challenge her as to just show her more of my perspective.
Oh no! Rotten. I’m sorry.
you had enough already? what got up Sister Christine’s hind end?
sorry. but it sounds like the kind of reaction that comes from her having some kind of bad day and deciding to make you the problem, without really considering the positive response/impact you’ve been generally getting OR the respectful agreement she’d entered into with you.
i say this, of course, not knowing a thing. and i’m sure she deserves the benefit of my doubt. but i am very sorry for you to be cut off right when you’d gotten your groove on, and in such an officious way.
Bon, I have to come to Sister Christine’s defence here. I think above all, she’s just so down-to-earth, so practical, that she doesn’t see and isn’t interested in taking the time (she runs the drop-in centre and at least two shelters!) to think about what good could come from my photography. I think she’s very protective of the people she serves (and rightly so), and she’s not been around to see the good responses I got from people. And really, how indulgent is this whole project? She serves people who don’t have enough food to eat or roofs over their head. Art is pretty optional.
I also think that if even one person was made uncomfortable because of me, that’s unacceptable. And maybe someone said something to her, and she had to act on it. I think she let me shoot more than most people would have been able to, and for that I am grateful. She was cute too. When I said that I liked it there, she said, “I know you do. And we like you too.”
And there are important lessons me for here too. That it’s possible to gain access and then lose it. That people can get a sort of shutter exhaustion long before I expect it. And I think I was occasionally shooting stupidly. Just in a blind rush, without taking time to be a bit more deliberate and thoughtful about the images I wanted to make.
After I left, I ran into Door (from yesterday) and told him about what she said, and he said, “Oh. She doesn’t see that you’re actually part of the healing.” I swear that guy’s dropped into town last week just to help me.
(But thanks for coming to MY defense.)
fair enough.
obviously yes, she does good, good work – and your photography is not central to the shelter and the people who depend on it in the way that her management and service are.
but it still sounds like a dismissive way to close you off. perhaps what you’re doing is indulgent, from her point of view. i know you’ve struggled deeply with that yourself – and i’m just not wanting to see you take this as vindication of that fear. because i do think that what you’ve been doing also has potential for bringing a dignity or validity to the people at the shelter – in their OWN eyes, in the “somebody wants to take my picture” that for whatever reason seems to matter so much in our society – that is also worth considering. like Door said.
that’s all. i mean no disrespect to Sister Christine or her work. but i also believe you and your work deserve respect too.
bummer. maybe she’ll change her mind one day.
Kate, have you shown Sister Christine any of your photos? I can’t help but think that if she saw just how respectful and true to the subjects your photos are, she might change her mind. We all know photographers (particularly in the media) who use the down-trodden to perpetuate stereotypes or take advantage of their subjects through the lens. To see how you’ve shown this group of people to be just another bunch of humans doing what people do is nothing short of exceptional. You’ve managed to avoid the morose or cliché and instead focus on the actual person – something that Sister Christine would certainly respect and encourage.
I am with Bon–it sounds like maybe something else was going on with her taht day, and it might be worthwhile to try asking again in a week or two. Maybe with some photos in hand, and maybe with some of the regulars vouching for how they feel about your project.
I’m sorry, though. I would be crushed.
Oh Cin! I’m so sorry. It sounds like she was a bit brisk with you, which probably would have made me just wither up. I don’t take that sort of thing very well. I hope that it doesn’t make you second guess yourself or your vision.
Oh no! I can’t add to what Bon has said already, but I too think it might be worth pursuing again in a little while — maybe to give her some time so she doesn’t feel like you’re pestering, and let whatever bothered her enough to cut you off in the first place subside.
I also think you might want to offer to show her the photographs, because the dignity and humanity in your pictures is truly beautiful and I think if/when she realizes that, she’ll feel less protective over your subjects.
I wonder if one of the client’s said something?
It’s a shame – your photos are gorgeous – but I wonder if she was worried, ultimately, that certain boundaries were being crossed.
Beck, it’s possible, but funnily enough I was just photographing some parsnips and fiddleheads when she reacted. Not even people, so I kind of doubt it.
Everyone, I probably will follow up with Sister and show her some of my pictures in a little while. Not so much to challenge her as to just show her more of my perspective.
And how did I miss this? Seriously. How in sam hell did I miss this? Did it go up on a Thursday or Friday?
I am so sorry to hear this, Kate. You will find other opportunities, though. I am sure of it.