HallmarkHIPsters.net

The Official Networking Site for Hallmark Institute of Photography Alumni & Students

Driving for inspiration (Boonville)



Driving at night in the middle of nowhere, with no one else on the road and your high beams blasting, has always been a favorite "hobby" of mine. You see things you would never see when your flying around corners, only being able to see thirty feet in front of you, with bright-white clouds flying past a full moon and the yellow glow from a farm-house window in the distance.

A few nights ago, after driving for inspiration, I stopped into a closed gas station to collect my thoughts when a truck pulled up and three guys came out, complete with some sort of gear and a bright light coming from one of their heads. After about four minutes of twiddling my thumbs, I gathered the strength to approach them and introduce myself. They were "Coon" hunters (Raccoon hunters, for you city folk). After a subtle hesitation, they agreed to sit for a portrait. They pulled out their dogs and rested themselves on the back of their truck. I got off two sheets of film and then they were gone.

Moments like that are what keep me going when I am struggling to find inspiration. Regardless if that image is winner or not (I think it will be stunning), I am happy I found the will to go forward and talk to them. Approaching a stranger or strangers, especially late at night and in a foreign place, can be difficult; But when the approach is made, the payoff is usually outstanding. This project has been filled with amazing photographic opportunities, some embraced and some lost. The ones that have been lost will often leave a painful feeling in my gut. But with day sixty approaching, the ratio of moments won to moments lost is quickly falling in my favor.


Dusty and Joanna with Dale, Boonville, NC, 2007

Dusty and Joanna are a perfect example: I first met them in town (Boonville, North Carolina) and after making that initial jump to go talk to them, they spent the next forty-five minutes as my very patient subjects. That initial approach resulted in a number of great images as well as them inviting me over for dinner the next night. I spent five hours with them at their home, enjoying a fine roast, talking for hours, and taking even more photos. Our conversations were amazing. We discussed all sorts of things: Life, love, Dale Earnhardt and everything in-between.


Photo: Joanna Simon

I came to learn a lot about myself and my art that night. It's almost difficult to explain, but when I am doing this work, photography is often my main focus. I really learned how to separate myself from the "image" and invest myself into their lives as a person and not a photographer. In that last hour, after I really discovered who Joanna was as a person and a friend, rather then a photo, was when I was able to capture her true likeness onto film. It was a huge moment for me and my work.

More on my Boonville project on my blog at www.boonvilleusa.com

posted by Timothy Briner @ 6:51 PM,

0 Comments:

Post a Comment

Links to this post:

Create a Link

<< Home

Are You HIP?

If you're a graduate of or a current student at the Hallmark Institute of Photography use the SIGN UP form to become a Hallmark HIPster and get connected with other Hallmark Alumni. 

Get The Latest News

 Subscribe in a reader

Official HIPsters

  • Sylvia Webster (2008)
  • Sharon Giroux Panek (1981)
  • Beth Gunnison (2008)
  • Gus Noffke (2008)
  • Maribel De La Rosa (2008)
  • Maximo Tejada (2008)
  • Matt Stacey (2008)
  • Hani Matkovic (2008)
  • Allysia Sneed (2007)
  • Anne Silva (2006)
  • Renee Davis (2008)
  • Zachary P. Stephens (2004)
  • Courtney Robertson (2009)
  • Jonathan Hardin (2009)
  • Lynne Powers (2009)
  • Jewel Anderson (2009)
  • Natasha Skeean (2009)
  • Ali DonzĂ© (2009)
  • Betsy Rich (2009)
  • Chrisopher Myska (2009)
  • Konrad Brattke (2009)
  • Mark Nelson (2009)
  • Erin Kirschner (2009)
  • Jan Baumgartner (2009)
  • Gage Thompson (2009)
  • John Paul Halford (2009)
  • Erin Gutierrez (2009)
  • Justine Rosazza (2009)
  • Darryl Dobson (2009)
  • Colleen King (2009)
  • Gidget Clayton (2009)
  • Emily Grangrade (2009)
  • Steven C. Robertson (2009)
  • John Quilhot (2009)
  • Charity Goh (2009)
  • Malori Miller (2009)
  • Gudjon Sigurdsson (2009)
  • John Corning (2009)
  • Katie (2009)
  • Natalie Jauss (2009)
  • Emily Walen (2004)
  • Michael R Bretz (2009)
  • AJ Smollen (2009)
  • Jennifer Frazer (1999)
  • Randy Ahart (2009)
  • Jess Campbell (2009)
  • Jade Dodson (2009)
  • Cody Gantz (2009)
  • Jen Dederich (2009)
  • Jami Carroll (2009)
  • Kristen Graham (2009)
  • Paola Balbuena (2009)
  • Heather Norris (2009)
  • Ashley Thomas (2008)
  • Tara Roadarmel (2006)
  • Johnny (2009)
  • Shaunae Teske (2009)
  • Amy Zahn (2009)
  • Becca (2009)
  • Kristi Dalton (2009)
  • Alyssa Archibald-Reed (2009)
  • Chayanne Marfisi (2009)
  • Kevin Landes (2009)
  • Azucena Solorio (2006)
  • Scout (2009)
  • John Stevenson (2009)
  • David Winthrop Hanson (1995)
  • Michael Thomas (2009)
  • April Sweeney (2004)
  • Lilliah Summers (2009)
  • Sionnie LaFollette (2009)
  • Maria Fernanda Ortiz (2009)
  • Emily Waldmer (2009)
  • Bryan Bayutas (2009)
  • Michaela Karle (2006)
  • Kim Moore (2003)
  • Ali Dombrowski (2005)
  • Rachel Pelletier (2009)
  • David P. McMasters (2009)
  • Desirae James Boucher (2009)
  • Benjamin Spell (2009)
  • Tucker Stokes (2009)
  • Jacob Melton (2009)
  • Sara Renee Murray (2009)
  • Ashley Hardiman (2009)
  • Tj (2009)
  • Kemachat Sirichanvimol (2004)
  • Jessy Howard (2009)
  • Leia Jobe (2009)
  • Angelique Ambrosio (2009)
  • Jacqueline Puoci (2009)
  • Amy Pearson (2004)
  • Amy Dieker (2009)
  • Angel (2009)
  • Leia Jobe (2009)
  • Meagan (2009)
  • Kimberley Mansfield (1993)
  • Brianne Campbell (2009)
  • Chad Champoux (2009)
  • Elizabeth Reis (2001)
  • Matthew Campagna (2009)
  • Alicia Bodkin (2008)
  • Keelia Pinkerton (2008)
  • Rachel Guzzardi (2008)
  • Llewellyn Simons (2009)
  • Trevor Lee (2009)
  • Mark Sickles (1997)
  • Natalie Jauss (2009)
  • Jon Kamantigue (2008)
  • Tammera Silva (2009)
  • Megan Mellis (2009)
  • Katie Malone-Smith (1999)
  • Rob Spring (2006)
  • Fallon Hutto (2009)
  • Juanita Hong (2009)
  • Amy Marie Roberts (2009)
  • Tyler Sharpe (2009)
  • Gabrielle Linden (2009)
  • Tobias Hibbs (2009)
  • Jill Shuttleworth (2003)
  • Krista Derrickson (2009)
  • Ginger (2009)
  • Nicole Tomaselli (2009)
  • Courtney Stevens (2009)
  • Natasha Butler (2005)
  • Jude Hathaway (2009)
  • Althea Brown (2008)
  • Andy Bardon (2009)
  • Angela Brimberry (2009)
  • Jackie Young (2009)
  • Jenna Whyte (Warner) (2007)
  • Oliver Scott Snure (2010)
  • Julia Rodriguez (2010)
  • Alexxus Vargas (2010)
  • Adam Caron (2010)
  • Jason Esposito (2010)
  • Jeff Sambuceti (2010)
  • Catie Elliott (2010)
  • Colin Pattison (2010)
  • Matthew McGrath (2010)
  • Kevin Bohren (2010)
  • Shaun Bailey (2010)
  • Milissa Pitel (2010)
  • Hilary Rosa (2010)
  • Sarah Averill (2009)
  • Zack Brescia (2009)
  • Ricky Rodriguez (2010)
  • Andrei Popovici (2010)
  • Bailey Rose Hancock (2010)
  • Katie Donnelly (2010)
  • Michael Tessier (2009)
  • Kristen Black (2009)
  • Sylvia Webster (2008)
  • Michael Quiet (2006)
  • Jenna Lebert (2009)
  • Chelsea Boothe (2010)
  • Helena Sullivan (2001)
  • Lee Ann Barker (2010)
  • Jenn Bakos (2010)
  • Archives

    Recent Posts

    Links

    HIPsters Badge