Going Pink
I got back from China two weeks ago and jumped right back into a string of corporate events that I had booked. The first of these events was the Executive Women of Goizuetta’s annual conference, which you may remember, I got to shoot last year as well.
“Not just survivors, but Victoriassas!”
I always enjoy getting to listen in to the speakers when I shoot events and this one was no exception. The keynote speaker for the luncheon was the President and CEO of Susan G. Komen for the Cure® and breast cancer survivor, Hala Moddelmog. She gave a moving speech and passionate reminder for all women to continue getting annual mammograms. She also revved us up for last week’s “Go Pink or Go Home” experience at NASCAR and the exciting display of turning the pyramids in Egypt pink – all events lined up to celebrate National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Go support their corporate sponsors by buying their pink products, take care of your breasts, and let’s find a cure!
| Posted in » Color and Movement
Some days a tack-sharp, well-composed picture finds me well… but, of late, I am increasingly attracted to movement, color and the addictive simplicity and imperfection of the world at work…
The Glance.
Man at a local market. Tianjin, China.
“What is your favorite thing to take pictures of?”
That’s a question I get a lot. I always give the simple and true response – Hands down. People.
I explained in an old post how my father taught me the value of the human element inside a photo (go here to read it), but now I want to elaborate on the one thing that I can never get enough of in my photos… the one thing that makes me keep coming back for more… the one thing that makes me utterly incapable of tearing my eyes away…
What I’m talking about is ‘the glance’.
‘The glance’ is the look that I very occasionally am fortunate enough capture on a subject’s face just as they gaze in my direction. It is unique from any other look, because the person hasn’t yet had time to become naturally self-conscious in response to the camera. Because of this, I feel as though I am recording them as who they really are. The honesty of their gaze opens up a window to their soul and the image I capture transcends the moment to become totally timeless.
But that’s not all of it. That’s too simple. Even though I am trying, I really can’t fully explain what it is that is so captivating to me about these photos. I know from experience that few other people look at these photos and feel the same connection to them that I do. But I feel the gaze of the person as though they were really still sitting in front of me and have a somewhat emotional response. I would go so far as to guess that it is because I often feel as though the subject is peering into my soul in the same way I say that I can see into theirs. I feel as though they are truly seeing me, and not the camera. And when they see my soul, they lock onto it with that questioning gaze that makes me feel challenged to do more and be more and love greater…
I suppose it may only be the ‘Grand March’ that I’ve ascribed to and now seek for things to support, as Franz does in the Unbearable Lightness of Being, but, either way, it keeps me coming back…
Staff Portraits
I’ll be back in Atlanta, GA on October 13th. Please call 404.432.7410 or email cat(at]catnorman.com to schedule a headshot session at your office.
Chengdu International School
In addition to TIS, I have also gotten to visit the Chengdu International School Campus. This pictures should give you a glimpse of life on that campus…
