Preparing for Academic Success

I grew up in Santa Ana, California, which is the poorest city in Orange County.  My high school was largely populated by low-income people of color and new immigrants, and the education standards there were ridiculously poor.  My advanced placement history class was a huge joke...the teacher simply had students take turns reading out loud verbatim from the text book.  No discussion or analysis of the material; no creativity whatsoever in learning.  I’m actually quite bitter when I think how academically ill-prepared I was when I made it to UC Berkeley.  With most classes in college graded on a curve, and having to compete with the brightest minds across the country, I practically flunked out of physics, chemistry, math, and other courses that would have allowed me to follow a pre-med course.

Perhaps fate decided I was better suited to becoming a photographer anyway.

Nonetheless, education remains important to me, and ensuring access to education for under-served minorities tops my social change priorities.  One of my favorite groups to work with is Level the Playing Field Institute (LPFI). Their Summer Math and Science Honors (SMASH) program works with low-income high school students of color to engage them in science, technology, engineering and math classes over an intense five week course at UC Berkeley.  Students also receive ongoing academic support over a span of three years. Recently this summer, they’ve expanded their program to the Stanford University campus, and I’m proud to document their growing success.  I often wonder if I had the support of organizations like LPFI when I was in high school, would my life have turned out differently?

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Seeking Inspiration

I've heard that when an artist feels uncreative, the best thing to do is go to the museum.  So I dragged myself away from the computer for an afternoon and went seeking inspiration.  My favorite place to view photographic works is 49 Geary, which hosts numerous fine art galleries.  Modernbook Gallery was exhibiting one of my favorite photographers, Fan Ho, who captured stunning images of people in public spaces in Hong Kong in the 1950's and 60's.  Feeling freshly inspired by the exhibit, I went home and dug through my old image files to see if I had any street photos of people worthy of a second look.  I figured, with dramatic post-processing work, I could turn a mediocre photo into something more.  Although this photo I picked will never find a place among the works of great photographers like Fan Ho who doesn't need cheap photoshop tricks, this process has allowed me to renew my interest in seeing, exploring, and experimenting.  I can't decide which image I like more...the color version, or black and white.

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Overlooked

I printed baby/family photos for a client this morning.....you know, the typical baby laughing, smiling kind of photos which every parent loves.  I always feel a little disappointed when the parent overlooks my personal favorite photo (above).  I totally understand why this image wasn't selected for printing; neither the mother's face nor the child's is showing.  But part of me, deep down, hopes that someone else sees the world the same way I do, and likes the same things I do.  I like quiet, tender moments.  I like highlights and deep shadows.   I like mood.  When the right elements fall into place, I get excited because it carries the potential to create something natural and beautiful...like this unplanned shot which was taken during a break.  Perhaps one day,  my vision of what I consider relevant will overlap with other people's taste. 

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