oaxaca day five, cerca nbc
m: the critiques today will be held in alphabetical order.
this put me toward the end of the day, right after michael richards.
name ring a bell?
yes, kramer from seinfeld. he’s one of my peers for the next ten days in the workshop. a new photographer. likes the anonymity he can find here to learn this medium. says he can’t shoot anywhere in the states without being recognized, and only shoots with a long lens at home to avoid being hassled by subjects.
that’d be so tough.
i sat next to him at dinner last night and talked a bit. he’s an odd guy. can be quite serious. gets up from the table or from sessions and paces, jumps up and down, flails his arms. but all in all, he’s kind and quirky and wants to learn from one of the best, like the rest of us. (the only difference is that his relationship with mary ellen started when she photographed him 17 years ago for a magazine.)
critiques were held today and went well. i was so freaking nervous and got that someone just punched me in the stomach feeling before going. her comments about my work:
how long have you been shooting? ahh, you’re new at this. (that’s just what you want to hear when you show your work.) i see great potential. you get people, you really do, but i want to see more consistency in what you’re shooting.
you need to focus on stories, because that’s what i think you’re good at. this seems more like a mish-mash of work. inconsistent. what is it that you love doing? this doesn’t show that.
you absolutely have the personality to make it. to get the stories. to relate to people. and that’s 70% of it.”
she then went on and told me strengths and weaknesses of specific photos, which was very helpful. i told her i love shooting photo stories and she came up with a direction for my work over the next week.
she wants to send me into a particularly difficult situation to shoot, as she said i need a challenge. thus, i will be shooting a story on a family who lives in a neighborhood situation on a public landfill. i just went and bought my thickly soled, rubber boots (thank you dunlop!) so as to avoid getting diseases from the many lovely things i’ll be stepping on for the next ten days. i will go tomorrow to find a family to shoot intimately.
i love this idea.
when planning this trip, i considered many situations that could potentially threaten my life. with the conclusion of today’s class, i have added one more:
- theft
- kidnapping
- montezuma and his stupid revenge
- heart attack from nervousness of being critiqued
- diseases from public landfills
goodbye for now. me & my new rubber boots love you.
breathe, girl, you rock!
stephanie
July 7, 2008 at 7:42 pm
Your website is pretty awesome. I found it through Josh’s.
That’s awesome. I have a few friends with the last name Cramer. But it has a C instead of a K.
adamwgarland
July 7, 2008 at 8:55 pm
wohow kenz!
you are incredible.
are you going out alone? pairs? i will be covering you in prayers… and cellophane.
can’t wait to see what comes next!
ruth
July 7, 2008 at 9:01 pm
That sounds like and amazing opportunity! And to get to meet Michael Richards is a nice bonus.
Reese
July 7, 2008 at 9:21 pm
mackenzie- wow is all i can say. i have loved following your journey from here- and feeling as though i’m there. and have loved seeing ruth and phil’s home from your eyes. and now i am laughing at the randomness of michael richards being there! i’ll be praying for your new adventure- and “for the personality made for this” to come shining through even stronger!
with love
melanie
July 8, 2008 at 12:18 am
Mackenzie! I am SO SO proud of you! I love that you are getting this opportunity! How amazing! I want to hear (and see) about it when you get home. I want to see the difference in your work! You are so talented! I love you and miss you friend!
Amy Pennell
July 8, 2008 at 12:18 am
apparently Kramer is losing the anonymity he sought by way of your blog
amoslanka
July 8, 2008 at 10:43 am
haha i sit here and wonder what the rest of your life is going to bring you…nothing but the best stories to tell our CHILL’NS!!! keep doing what you do my love, it makes me smile for you
j
July 8, 2008 at 1:26 pm
ha! you rock kenzie.
phil
July 8, 2008 at 5:24 pm
@ stephanie: we need to meet. i like you.
@ ruth: we did go out in pairs today, but that won’t be the case every day. the guy went with me today to introduce me to the bus route and village. tomorrow i’m on my own i think. eek!
@ adam: are your cramer friends quite bizarre, too? maybe its the name.
@ melanie: thanks for your encouraging words. i can’t wait to come back and share pictures at wit’s end. will make for an unconventional sunday afternoon…
@ j: tell your chilluns to watch out for girls like me. we’re trouble. only trouble.
@amoslanka: is it possible for someone like him to remain anonymous? one has to wonder.
goodmorningsarajevo
July 8, 2008 at 5:39 pm
i do believe that you are fantastic…can’t wait to see all of your pics.
schmichael
July 8, 2008 at 8:24 pm
miss u. your pics look awesome, i need an update on the life of smack. love u bud.
C
CS
July 8, 2008 at 11:37 pm
They are quite strange. They love cars. I find that quite strange.
Adam Garland
July 8, 2008 at 11:40 pm
Who would of thought, Kramer at a Mary Ellen Mark Workshop, completely crazy and freaking awesome. It sounds like your feedback ROCKS! You do have a great passion and connection with people. . .
Mel
July 9, 2008 at 8:00 am
@ shmichael: and i believe the same about you. blog up yet?
i’m waiting…
@ adam: they love cars? what?
@ mel: wish you could be here with me. you’d love her. she’s so tough and yet has this wonderful soft side. that is, if you can take the rough half first.
goodmorningsarajevo
July 9, 2008 at 8:03 am
will you still be our friend when (notice that i did not say ‘if’) you become super famous?
arpi
July 10, 2008 at 12:06 am