Weekly Challenge May 18-25: Heritage

[Browncoat]

Heritage
Weekly Challenge May 18-25

Carolina Photo Guy won the Self weekly challenge, and will be judging these entries.

This challenge is to honor those that helped to make each one of YOU who and what you are today. I am not looking for portraits of individuals. Rather, I am looking for what YOU feel has been most instrumental in reinforcing those traits that make you unique.

This can be an old camera that your grandfather gave you, or a set of books or even a toy
that pushed you into photography.

The above magazine cover is of my wife and her family as they sailed into New York Harbor back in May of 1959. She was 8 years old at the time. She has been my rock throughout my sister's death, my heart attack and subsequent slow climb back to health.

Be sure to visit the Weekly Challenge Rules & Guidelines for more information. This thread will be closed on May 25th...so get those photos in!


The Rules

1. Photos must be posted to the thread in order to be considered for the challenge.
2. Any photo submitted for a weekly challenge must be taken during the dates specified in the challenge thread and taken by you! Because not all EXIF data can be verified, we will use the honor system here.
3. Challenges will be judged solely by the winner of the previous week. There will be no individual voting.
4. Only one photo entry per member, for each challenge.

There will be no cash or prizes awarded for the Weekly Challenge, unless specifically noted by the site administrator. This is a member-run contest, and the purpose of the Weekly Challenge is to encourage member participation on the forums and to keep you taking pictures!

Any photo will be accepted for the challenge. Edited/straight out of the camera, it does not matter. You are left with complete freedom to do whatever genre of photography you wish to do, and your own interpretation of the challenge subject.

 

[jengajoh]

This is one is going to be exceptionally difficult.

 

[PavementPilot]

I was thinking the exact same thing. Does it have to be what steered us into photography, or anything that shaped and steered us into who we are in general?

 

[Carolina Photo Guy]

Perhaps I can help to clarify. Every single one of us has our likes and dislikes in photography as in everything else. I, to use a very poor example, prefer the photograph with just a little post processing. Honestly, I think this is because I have been deceived so many times in my past, that I want the truth. Others prefer photography that changes constantly, such as Helene. She has become amazingly proficient in HDR, soft focus, pet photography and on and on. I want everyone to examine WHY they have their preferences in photography. I am almost positive that you will find that your favorite or even your most hated relatives will have had an major impact on your choices.
The reason for this challenge is to push everyone to become the very best you can be. But if you don't know where you came from, how can you know where you are going?
I know, I'm long winded. But are you going to tell me that I have more faith in each of you than you do in yourself?

Blow my socks off.

Pete

 

[PavementPilot]

Well I dont know how to even portray this. No one that I knew was into photography. I just started into it myself.

 

[jcottone45]

Perhaps I can help to clarify. Every single one of us has our likes and dislikes in photography as in everything else. I, to use a very poor example, prefer the photograph with just a little post processing. Honestly, I think this is because I have been deceived so many times in my past, that I want the truth. Others prefer photography that changes constantly, such as Helene. She has become amazingly proficient in HDR, soft focus, pet photography and on and on. I want everyone to examine WHY they have their preferences in photography. I am almost positive that you will find that your favorite or even your most hated relatives will have had an major impact on your choices.
The reason for this challenge is to push everyone to become the very best you can be. But if you don't know where you came from, how can you know where you are going?
I know, I'm long winded. But are you going to tell me that I have more faith in each of you than you do in yourself?

Blow my socks off.

Pete

Hi Pete, I think I understand you but I have a problem, both my uncle & older brother who were camera bugs, are gone, can I enter a picture of their handy work which wouldn't be too hard. I have some of their pictures at home.?
It wouldn't be too creative on my part to do this but they both took some real good pictures in their time on earth. I hope you wouldn't mind my doing this.!!

 

[Carolina Photo Guy]

NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THIS CHALLENGE



NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THIS CHALLENGE

A Toy Bunny.

You know, its funny what you can find to hold onto a memory. What does a toy bunny have to do with this challenge? I know. It seems kinds strange to me, and I am the one that issued the challenge that seems to have confused so many. I even thought about asking Anthony to cancel this challenge rather than go through what I am about to tell everyone. But, why should I expect any of you to soul search if I am unwilling to do so myself? So here goes.

Back when I was 8 years old, my sister and I were taken by the Welfare Department. I went to a foster home and my sister went to the School for the Deaf and Disabled. To make a long story shorter, we were separated for 35 years. When we found each other again, I was going through my divorce and hated just about anybody and everybody.
My sister Peggy was, to use current vernacular, Learning Disabled along with being legally blind and deaf. Hell, she was a twelve year old in an adults body. She never progressed beyond the mental age of 12. Throughout her adult life, she had only 1 job, but through sheer determination she rose to be the head of her department.
I know that I am leaving a great many unanswered questions. They will never be answered by me because this is not really about me. Its about a woman that fixed me. I was blind to the world and a mentally and physically disabled woman healed me without even trying. I came to live with her to take care of her.
Because she had so much trouble seeing, my photography had to be bright and centered. Because of her mental acuity being limited, my photography had to be unambiguous.
Peggy taught me how to shape my photography to tell a story without using words.
What does this have to do with a bunny?
On August 19th, 2006, she was holding this bunny and my hand when she passed away from several forms of cancer. This bunny is my reminder to never stop trying to shape
my photography for everyone else. This challenge is not so much about the "who" as to the "why". Now you know the "why."

Pete

 

[ohkphoto]

Wow. What a beautiful story, Pete, and thank you for sharing.

I get the challenge and think it's an amazing opportunity to really look at why we do what we do. Does require some introspection which is sometimes difficult. Looking at "where we came from" will not only make us better photographers, but better humans.

I better get to work! Only 5 days ! Will probably be just under the wire on this one (AnthonY!)

Thanks for this opportunity, Pete!

 

[fotojack]

Pete, that is an amazingly human story. I know more about you now than I did before, and I'm the richer for it. I can see now why you take the pictures you do, and understand you better. I very much appreciate your telling this part of your life. Thank you.

 

[Rick M]

Thank you Pete, your story is wonderful. I think this may be the best and most insightful Challenge ever! I had a similar "awakening" in my life, involving one of my children, but I will focus on putting together a submission for the challenge.

 

[AxeMan - Rick S.]

I don't know how I'm going to pull this one off yet. This one is really personal.

Anthony what ever you do, DO NOT let Pete take down his challenge.

Pete thanks for an amazing challenge, and sharing a small look into your personal life.

Kudos to you my friend.

 

[Rick M]

Here's the History of how my love for Photography "Developed".

The Story-

My father was an "amateur" photographer most of his life. He loved the art and spent all of his free time persueing this passion. As a child, wherever we lived, he somehow constructed a darkroom and what he couldn't afford he would somehow build. Not having much money, he was a bit of a chemist making his own chemicals from formulas, instead of buying the "expensive" Kodak stuff. He built his own enlarger and tools, you get the picture, he was pretty crafty for an Insurance Underwriter. He would do weddings on the side for money (he hated doing Weddings!) to help support the family and of course, pick up something for the Darkroom. Growing up, my fondist memories of childhood are the times I spent with Dad in the Darkroom, it was like a whole other world as a child. I'll never forget the smell of the chemicals, its amazing what we remember from good times when we were young. I learned allot from my dad during those times, much more than just photography. He was an excellent Photographer, however he could not make a living at it, despite selling quite allot of work over the years. Dad was very humble, not one to frame and hang an award on the wall. Mom would get mad at him because he would rather take pictures of a fruit bowl than us kids, but now I understand.

Last Summer my father past away and I've had the difficult task of emptying the darkroom since the house is for sale. I get a laugh when potential buyers stare at the home-made enlarger (mounted to the wall and ceiling, ropes, pulleys, coffee cans full of cement as counterwieghts) and wonder what the heck it is!

Which brings me to the image below. In going through his files full of negatives, prints and formulas, I came across a file full of awards I had never seen. This reflects the kind of guy he was, he was probably more concerned about winning the money to support his family than for the gradification of being singled out for his work. $100 in 1965 was probably a weeks pay for him.

Anyway, I'm real proud of my dad and wanted to share this with you, even though it wasn't first place it means allot to me. He is the reason for my love of photograhy and the best person I have ever known. He started me out at a very young age with a brownie box camera and I have loved Photograhy ever since.

Since this is about taking pictures, this is a shot using my new 16-85 (awesome lens). 46 years later this will finally be framed and hung on my wall.

 

[Carolina Photo Guy]

Cnyram, I hope this make you appreciate the gift from your Dad even more. A humble man is a treasure.

Pete

 

[Browncoat]

Like many of you, I didn't really "get it" when I first read the summary of this challenge when Pete forwarded it to me. After mulling it over for a couple of days, it finally clicked. As for the rest of you, after reading the story of the bunny, there really shouldn't be any doubt as to the topic here. Yes, this is an extremely difficult challenge. Probably the most difficult one yet, conceptually.

The hard truth is, anyone can post up pretty pics of things easily found in their backyard. We get lots of submissions for challenges like those because they're easy. But it seems like whenever we are asked to dig deeper, to scratch what's beneath the surface, many of us back down. I shouldn't have to tell you that thinking outside the box is what makes us grow creatively, and that always taking the easy path will eventually make you stale and boring. Push your limits and you will be rewarded.

There isn't a single one of you who can not answer the question, "why". You all know who you are. And you all know there had to be something that led you to photography. Of all the choices you could make, all the things you could possibly do...and you chose this. Why? Surely there is something deep inside, some fire that burns that compels you to express your vision through photography. Otherwise, you would have chosen painting or drawing, or perhaps nothing at all. This challenge is about answering that question and using your chosen medium to express it.

We will be extending the deadline of this challenge for an additional week.

 

[Dave Hamilton]

I came to Louisiana in 1976 and started a new life. My father had just passed away and to me Louisiana represented a new beginning. Music was my life prior to my coming to Louisiana so that was the common thread between my childhood and my new life.

My entry is two pictures. The frame is made of a picture of my wife’s Yamaha Piano. She is the person who made me the person I am today. In the picture are my four trumpets (A Harrelson 750 C-trumpet, a Bach Stradivarius B-Flat, a Schilke P5-4 Piccolo Trumpet, and a Kanstul Flugelhorn). Sitting atop the Piccolo is my daughter’s Raggedy Ann doll which was a gift to her from one of my music students (I was a band director for over 20-years). The background is Cypress Lake at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette where I went to school. The swamp represents Louisiana. The building to the right behind the lake is the building where I worked when I was in college.

 

[happlegate11]

NOT FOR CHALLANGE
Well I won't be able to be part of this challenge..because the person that got me involved in photography is not going to be here for a week...which makes me sad...It is my oldest Daughter..she is the savior of my life! This photo was taken when I fist got my D70 and i had NO idea what I was doing...used it like a normal point and shoot camera...
Anyway I went through a horrible divorce and my daughter was what brought me through and gave me a reason to smile every day...I bought my camera because of her because I wanted to document her life...we didn't have a camera when she was little so she have very few baby pics of her. She loved having her photo taken and I decided that I wanted to take better photos of her to really remember how she was in that moment. It continues with my other daughter and my fiance now. Trying to grab that moment and capture it exactly how it was the emotion of everything.

 

[jcottone45]

For the life of me I could not figure how to go about finding something to enter into this weeks Heritage challenge. I went home ready to open the door when I realized that the mailbox was full when it hit me. So I hope this is acceptable for the Heritage Challenge.

 

[Carolina Photo Guy]

NOT FOR CHALLANGE
Well I won't be able to be part of this challenge..because the person that got me involved in photography is not going to be here for a week...which makes me sad...It is my oldest Daughter..she is the savior of my life! This photo was taken when I fist got my D70 and i had NO idea what I was doing...used it like a normal point and shoot camera...
Anyway I went through a horrible divorce and my daughter was what brought me through and gave me a reason to smile every day...I bought my camera because of her because I wanted to document her life...we didn't have a camera when she was little so she have very few baby pics of her. She loved having her photo taken and I decided that I wanted to take better photos of her to really remember how she was in that moment. It continues with my other daughter and my fiance now. Trying to grab that moment and capture it exactly how it was the emotion of everything.
View attachment 3230

This Challenge has been extended beyond the normal 1 week to a 2 week challenge. I look forward to seeing your submission.

Pete

 

[JoeLewisPhotography]

Here is my submission with a story following it.

Keep in mind that the creativity in this shot, is exactly that. it is IN the shot, not the shot itself. I sketched and painted this rear tail section of a 1957 Chevrolet just for this challenge. It is far from finished, but that was the idea. For me, there is no single person or time that directly impacted my desire to photograph. My artistic ability comes from my mother. She could sketch anyones portrait with amazing detail. Her mother was the same way, and many other members of my family are also artistic in many ways...several of them also being photographers. My artistic background is what I am made up of. It is what makes me want to do it. BUT, I also have an added element of who I am in this photo. A tried and true certified car nut. This I get from my father. As far back as I can remember (at least 30 years) there has been a 1957 Chevy BelAir parked in my fathers garage. I have stared at this car since i was a tike, dreaming of what it could be one day. Finally, in 2008 Dad finally gave it to me. I am currently restoring it with the hopes of finishing in time to take pops for a ride.

There is it folks. My Heritage. Artsy car photographer guy lol.

 

[udayan sarathi behera]

here is my story



Well some of you might think im nuts to post a canon picture in the forum of Nikon lovers . But this is true .
when i was in 5th grade , i remember my father getting this cam for my elder brother, from Newyork . All i ever had to touch in my life till then was the toy camera . My brother was obsessed with this camera and so was i , whenever he would click photos , i was there for him as a assistant , as a scrape goat experiment model, all in order just to hold the camera . As time passed by my liking for it grew too , all i ever wanted to click the photos as my brother did . i asked him for it , but he said i can only have it when im eligible to use it . i begged for a cam to ma mother , got hold of the KB10 kodak , and with that i always tried to take photos as my brother did , time changed , i changed my cam from one to another , at last i got hold of this after 8yrs . It sure gave me enough ideas of manual photography , the lighting . my brother gave it to me after i showed him my photos with it . But later on i jsst kept it as a memento . now i din't wanted to prove my family members that i could click , nor i wanted to show any1 . i jusst wanted to be me , myself and show the world what i look out , what i see , and thatz what i keep on showing .
and it all started out with this : )