NEW DIRECTION

I'm working with one of my friends with some interviews for his column in a local newspaper and blog. This is the first of the interviews I will be photographing and we went with a Mexican visual artist called Joaquin García Quintana. His work is wonderful; out of this world. We had a wonderful time in his studio, he talked about many different topics, especially about Diego Rivera, and also about his philosophy in general topics that made me feel great about some things I've been struggling lately. Hopefully this isn't the first time I get to hang out with him because he's great in every sense!

I think I will be doing this work with my friend often. He wants someone to go with him to his interviews to photograph and use them in his posts. I'm so happy he chose me to work with him. So anyway, just a couple of days ago I decided to stop trying to get clients and stuff, I'll just simply stop and work on my own. Well, since then, I've got a couple of messages asking me about prices and stuff, but the most recent was from yesterday. A local University wants me to shoot some photographs for the publicity of the school. I'M SO SCARED, I don't think I have the tools to work on something that I feel it's bigger than me. I think I'll end up calling it off... I don't want to do a bad job.

HOW CLOSE

I've been feeling terrible because of some personal issues my family has gone through. This has been reflected on my performance at work, school, and personal pursues, but I'll try not to be dragged by all these problems. I'll try as much as I can to focus on work and start a photography project. Last year I had a series of portraits I wanted to produce and they're still on paper, terribly drawn.

About the photos. Yesterday I went to the Unitarian Universalist Church in Brownsville with my boyfriend and his friends. I've never been to that place to be honest, I heard about it many times before but never went there. I fell in love with the garden! It made a small place look enormous. The guy in the last picture is Grady, he's the caretaker of the place (or that's what I understood). My boyfriend is currently working on another musical project so these guys went to rehearse there, while I talked with some girls I just met there. I ended up having a long conversation with a girl who started to talk about her problems, and I was glad I got to help her, at least so she could be listened to. It was very unfamiliar of me to approach new people but I just felt like doing so, I've been feeling terrible these days.

2013 MIGHT BE A GOOD YEAR

So this year seems to have started great. I finally got a job at the University and I'm super nervous! I'll be the studio steward that  means I'll have to take care of all things related to materials used by art students. My "supervisor" who's not going to supervise me at all (?) explained a lot of things in such a short amount of time; I couldn't remember most of it to be honest, especially the indications given to me towards the ceramics and photography room. I'm so nervous since I've never taken ceramics or photography course, I know nothing about maintenance of all the equipment, clays, and materials... I really don't want to screw up. On the other hand, I'll get paid, and a very fair amount, which will allow me to upgrade my equipment very, very soon and I couldn't be more excited! Plus, I'll get to know about materials, processes and just anything related to art off the record without having to take the classes.

I also might be comissioned to do some photodocumentary work for a local theatre association that will be presenting a play in April. I'm very nervous because of the low light conditions I'll have to endure with my limited equipment, but hopefull by that time I'll have some new gear to use. Hopefully. 

I can't wait to start working and also, I can't wait to get my first payment. I have a lot of things I want to do and I will finally be able to plan these out! If everything turns out well, by the end of this year I'll have:

      -Canon 5D Mark II

      -Canon TS-E 45mm f/2.8

      -Canon EF 50mm f/1.2 L USM 

And I'll might be able to schedule for a photography seminar here in México in December. Save for a trip to SE Asia for 2014, and whatever comes next.

I feel silly for planning ahead and having all these high expectations but I think it is a good strategy for me in order to give it a 100% at the job and everything else in general.

Anyways, here are some photos of my niece Matilda:

Like my Facebook page