Shlee Vincent

Which doesn’t have a title yet. And it is indeed unfinished. However, I promised a glimpse, and here it is!

“Tessa, Are you all right?”

She latched onto her friend and pointed toward the corner of the classroom that she assumed that the ghost had run.

“Honestly,” she started. “I don’t believe in ghosts. But this one was right there!!”

She picked up her camera and showed him the photograph – perfectly framed and eye contact. His eyes were pleading, their blue color almost shining in his obvious paleness.

“Badass,” he whispered.

“Can we go?” she asked.

He frowned at her. “We could, but why would we want to?” He started walking around.

“Shit,” she muttered and clung to his left arm aiming the bright blue key chain flashlight. Beyond the classroom, there was a kitchen and two smaller rooms. They peered into each room and perused the damage. The photographers instinct took over and despite the possible danger, Tessa crept into the dusty kitchen and snapped a few shots. Her right sleeve was getting crusty with the blood from her intrusion cut and it was getting tough to move her arm.

“So what do you think that was?” Lucas asked. “Think it was a ghost?”

(more…)

So, I’ve been working on a story that involves a myth I’ve heard about photography and souls.

The myth states that a photograph takes a part of a person’s soul.

I’ve always found this idea a little intriguing. Today, I was doing a little research on the myth to find out about its origins, and apparently it comes from many cultures (Aboriginal, Mayan and Native American to name a few) and its root is in mirrors.

In these cultures mirrors were thought to reflect the soul – for Mayans, mirrors were seen as a portal between this world and the next. Cameras got involved because of the mirrors used inside of them. Once a photograph was taken, it held a part of the soul that could never be returned. Any carelessness to the photo would be viewed as damaging to that part of the person’s soul.

This is the reason why some Native Americans refuse to have their picture taken and why in some churches photography is banned.

James W. Bailey, an artist with Native American roots, understands this belief. He created an exhibit called Stealing Dead Souls and questions the idea’s impact on non-living and inanimate objects, as well as commenting on the “death” of film. His now-defunct blog of the same name shows images, describes methods and begs questions which the project is trying to answer. He asks:

If taking a photograph of the living can steal souls, what happens if you photograph something dead or inanimate? Do the dead or non-living have souls? If so, can the souls of the dead be stolen by photographing them?

I’m feeling a little more enlightened and certainly more prepared to go forward with my story.

So, Saturday, I went down to Virginia – packing the basics and a bit more, thinking I wouldn’t need much for a day and a half.

As I learned soon after I got there, I found that I had a little cousin who did not like to get his picture taken and everyone was haphazardly trying to get photographs of him while he wasn’t paying attention. While eating lunch on the deck, I saw him and his grandfather playing with a little rocket launcher and smiling away. What did I do? I pulled out my camera and started snapping those candids. Little did I know how appreciated those photos would be.

Unfortunately, I didn’t bring my zoom lens, so the closest I got was still pretty far away – however, the resolution’s pretty high, so I think the cropped images will still be fine.

Shooting outside of a studio felt great. It’s been so long since I’ve had the opportunity to do so. Playing with the manual settings and capturing scenery and changing lights came back to me as if I’d never stopped. I didn’t realize I much I missed it until I had the chance to play again and it’s definitely a game I’d want to get back into.

The fun did have to be stunted because I didn’t back my battery charger either. Instead of letting the girls be able to play with my camera as they liked, I had to hide my battery in the case that any Kodak moments did happen, I’d actually have the energy to take the photographs.

My step dad chided me, “a photographer is always prepared.” After this weekend I definitely will be. I’ll be looking into a smaller camera bag for sure. I’m also considering buying another digital camera. That way, I could use my D40 for parties and smaller events, while for the bigger events, possible jobs and any sort of experiments I’d use the new camera.

And, as much as I like having my two lenses, sometimes when I’m trying to document events, two different lenses don’t give me the flexibility I need to take photos quickly. For now, I’m fine, but eventually, I might want to get a lens with wider range.

First, however, I’m looking into a light meter and hopefully when I’m in New York next weekend, I’ll get to be in possession of one. Then, my dreams of long exposure film photography will be accessible.

Now, after some conversations with my family over the weekend, I’m going to be trying to get back to my own career. It’s, unfortunately, been neglected. What that means is hopefully more updates, more photos and projects and a lot more validation!

Enter 2010.

I’m not one for year end of the year surveys. Instead, I just want to reflect on 2009 and what I’ve accomplished.

In 2009, I:

• graduated from Towson University, Cum Laude, with a B.A. in Mass Communications. I was short one course of completing a creative writing minor.
• completed two small websites – one which featured a multimedia project on Baltimore.
• created ShleeVincent.com and began to create and manage a blog and online portfolio.
• got a plastic toy camera called Diana F+ and began experimenting with medium format photography and film.
• attained a full-time job at a portrait studio.
• moved in and began collaborating with Kerri O’Neill.
• documented the Whartscape Festival for DTR Webzine.
• used my passport and ventured to Montreal.
• was inducted into Lambda Pi Eta (a mass communications honor society).

It’s been an interesting year and with no concrete plans for 2010, I can only say, “Is this real life?”

From Writer’s Digest:

M&M Candies “Melt in your mouth, not in your hands.” Miller Lite “Tastes great, less filling.” Describe yourself (or your writing) in ten words or fewer.

“Words and images, tickling your imagination.”