Shlee Vincent

What Dreams Are Made Of…

While I was browsing on Digg.com, I came across two intriguing photo series.

Dark Stores

The first was photos of vacant stores and malls that had been affected by the economic problem we’ve been having. Photographer, Brian Ulrich, has been documenting places that had been shut down.

Dark Stores, Ghost Boxes and Dead Malls is part of another project Ulrich has which focuses on consumerism. This particular project, started in 2008, caught my attention because I’ve always been intrigued by broken down buildings. I thought they had a feeling of modern ruins and I would always try to create some sort of history for them.

I like to explore and imagine what once went on in these places. In Ulrich’s photos, many places were so recently shut down, that they only looked like they had been closed for the evening. In his statement, he notes that since taking the photos, “some of the very stores I photographed at the beginning of the project are now emptied and laid barren in the hulking empty architecture of the big box, mall or store.”

Belz Factory Outlet Mall, 2009 (c) Brian Ulrich

Fallen Princesses

There is something so satisfying about messing with fairy tales. Dina Goldstein‘s modern take on fairy tales is an awesome set to look at.

Inspired by children’s’ aspiration to grow into fairy tale princesses, Goldstein’s Fallen Princesses spins the classic Disney ‘happily ever afters’ into something modern and rather Grimm-like.

The series features timeless princesses like Cinderella, Rapunzel and Snow White all facing their own personal demons along with other classic faces from our childhood.

Belle’s portrait is particularly interesting. She’s shown getting plastic surgery – which is a keen play on the fact that her entire story was based on looking past appearances.

Fallen Princesses - Jasmine (c) Dina Goldstein

Fallen Princesses - Belle (c) Dina Goldstein

Fallen Princesses - Ariel (c) Dina Goldstein

This is interesting…

My roommate, Kerri, is a photographer. By photographer, I mean fine art photographer. I do not mean it in the way I reference myself or any other person with a digital point and shoot. The girl spent four years of college studying with a camera in hand. That’s what I mean.

As I chatted with her tonight, I came to find out that a few of her friends applied and interviewed for the same position that I was hired for. The position is a Studio Associate at Portrait Innovations (a portrait studio based in North Carolina). Responsibilities include interacting with customers, taking portraits, selling packages and printing said portraits.

Boring, yes? What’s interesting is that I beat out photography majors for the “photographer” position. I have to give myself a little bit of a pat on the back for that.

To be fair, the job description did mention that photography experience wasn’t necessary and that the position was more focused on sales.

I don’t know Kerri’s friends, and I don’t want to put them down – but somehow, I was more qualified for the position. From what I can guess, either my personality or past job experience that edged me out.

Whatever it was, I’m happy I’ve got it. To be hired so soon in the “Epic Job Hunt,” while NPR News and most of the U.S. population is concerned about the economic crisis is a great accomplishment. I think so, at least.