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In September I told you some things I learned while writing my first grant application. Today I received word that I did in fact receive funding based on that application. I wasn't granted the full amount I asked for but the amount I received is significant enough to really help me take a step forward with this specific project and my photography at large.

After I sent my grant application in I took a hard, critical look at all the materials I had included with my application packet. I tried to review the packet as objectively as I could. In doing so I realized that my sample works were far, far weaker than I would have liked them to have been and that the structure of my project still needs to be edited and fine tuned a bit. I considered those two issues to be large problems that it in all likelihood would prevent me from receiving the grant.That is to say I was completely certain I would not be receiving the grant. So I was of course overjoyed but also genuinely surprised when I received the letter from the foundation today.

There are several layers to my joy. The first, obviously, is that a committee of strangers reviewed my work, my descriptions, my letters of recommendation, etc and came to the conclusion that my work is worthy of their foundation's financial support. Naturally that is a bit of an ego boost (imagine me channeling Sally Field's "You like me" speech). On another level though it makes me feel so good to have some confirmation that this thing, this making art and making a life outside of the usual or even expected path is possible. It's also small bit of validation for those of us who came to our art a bit later in life than others or who took different paths to find our way to this spot, this place, this way of being in our lives.

This is a bit more touchy-feely than I'm normally comfortable being but please indulge me and allow me to say that if you're one of us, one who knows the corporate path, the 9-5 path or any of the other expected paths isn't for you have faith that you can make a different kind of life. It will not always be easy, in fact its rather hard and can be quite stressful a lot of the time, but it is so worth it. It's worth it every single day.

I'm in. I'm registered for the conference and I've got a hotel room. Hope to see you there.

As a SXSW newbie I've been advised to just take in the experience and not try to do to much. I'm not very good at that. I've always got a goal or a plan or an angle I'm working and this time is no different. As part of a long term documentary photography project I'm working on I'd like to do some quick interactive shooting with a variety of people from different backgrounds, ages and opinions. SXSW seems like a pretty good place to find such a group of people. Not only such a group of people but a group of people that are typically pretty open to new media and new art experiences and projects.

Basically I'd like to have people give a very brief (ten words or less) written response to a specific fill in the blank question. They'd write this response in big letters on a large piece of paper. I'd then quickly photograph them holding their response. They sign a release (the project may be published) and then they'd be on their merry way. Should take less than 5 minutes per person on average.

SXSW veterans please tell me if there is a good spot outside the convention center to set up such a project. Some place that will see a fair amount of foot traffic but won't impede people getting where they need to go. Some place where I won't get in trouble for setting up. Also please tell me if you'd be willing to participate in my little project.

I'm really excited about the long term project but I also think that doing this component of it at SXSW will be a lot of fun and a great way to meet people. Agree?

Tags: photography, sxsw, sxswi

"I live and work in a part of Indianapolis where the city ends, suburbs begin, and farmland is still being picked off plot by plot (though there isn’t much left to pick). This intersection of 3 living styles makes for an interesting visual landscape.

One aspect of this landscape that I find fascinating is the use of fences. On farms fences are practical tools for keeping animals in or crops divided. In the suburbs and cities practical fences keep dogs and children in yards and out of streets. At this intersection of city, suburbs and country, fences seem to primarily exist to keep people apart, both physically and psychologically.

Neighborhoods hidden behind 6 feet tall solid fences, beautiful green space bordered by spike-topped metal fences, natural barriers “reinforced” with weak fences that would keep no one out (or in) but that shout “this space is mine and you are not welcome.” These all seem to be part of a culture of separateness that builds barriers to community instead of fostering it at a point where so many lives and lifestyles intersect. I find that interesting. And sad."

That's the introduction to The Fence Project. Last summer I become obsessed with this totally unnecssary fence that sprang up near my office. It made me look at how many fences dot the strange mixed used land that I see every day. Thus The Fence Project was born. It is the first of several projects I'm in various stages of work on.

I'm rapidly approaching 30, I don't feel engaged or excited at all about my job, I feel like I've been coasting in my life. Days, months, years have gone by and I've just been passive and let things happen to me instead of living deliberately. I don't want to do that anymore. Being creative, an artist if you will, in various forms makes me happy. Photography makes me extremely happy. Writing makes me extremely happy. So I'm being much more proactive and trying to make those two things a major part of my livelihood. That means taking some risks (like buying a $1000 camera and taking on a photography assignment I'm not quite sure I'm ready for) and realizing that I might fail. But the alternative just isn't an option for me anymore. Maintaing the status quo isn't an option.

I don't want to wake up in 30 years and say "Fuck, I've spent my entire adult life spending the majority of my time doing work that didn't engage or excite me or matter to me even in the least. I've spent the bulk of my waking hours making money for other people and wishing I was doing other things." I don't want to wake up in 30 years and say "I didn't even try."

I'm not under any illusions that I'm the most talented person on the block. I'm not under any illusion that people will automatically support whatever it is that I'm doing. I'm not under any illusion that success is guaranteed. But I work hard and I'm dedicated. I think hard work and dedication makes up a lot of people's "talent" more than we want to admit. I've got hard work, I've got dedication. I've got some dreams and if I don't start actively (and not just talking about them like I've done for the past 5 years) pursuing them then I never will. I can't explain it but I've got this feeling that this is my moment. My moment. My moment to start new things, my moment to start pursing dreams and goals, to start making changes for the better, to start living on purpose, living deliberately and not just watching days gone by. It's my moment and it's pretty damn exciting. Scary but damn exciting.