| The holiday season impacts each and every one of us, each in different ways. This year is different in the fact that more people than ever are faced with uncertainty and unique personal challenges that will define their character, and challenge who they are as citizens, neighbors, family and friends.
Each year many groups in our community work together, most under the umbrella of Operation Helping Hand, to assist our neighbors in making sure everyone has a holiday season and to help them when they need it most. I have helped with OHH every year that I’ve been in Pagosa, since I was about 5 years old. Though donations of food, money, clothing or gifts are always welcome and raise the recipients’ spirits, there is nothing quite as fulfilling as donating your time and skill as well.
I’m always on the lookout for photographic inspiration. I’m currently striving to find my niche or a project I can immerse myself in to develop my photography. While going through portfolios on the Internet, I revisited one that I’ve looked at several times - by graphic designer turned photographer Jeremy Cowart. He’s done interesting things with photography and portraiture and keeps his online portfolio fresh.
He’s started a movement that many of us think about but don’t know how to really grasp and actuate. Rather than donating time or other things during the holiday season, he’s looked at what we, as photographers, can do to not only help during the holiday season, but to lift others’ spirits and make them feel special.
The amazing grass roots project blew me away and really made me want to continue it our community. I just wish I’d known about it sooner. It’s built on a simple four-step process:
- Find someone in need.
- Take their portrait.
- Print their portrait.
- And deliver them.
The project requires that those with expertise (photographers, make-up artists, stylists, assistants, printers, etc.) in the community come together on one day, Dec. 12, and take people’s pictures for free. The idea isn’t to give away free photography, but rather lift people’s spirits, make them feel special, if only for just a day, and to show people the value of photography.
There are already 600 groups in different cities across the globe committed to Help-Portrait even before the first one takes place. The closest projects to us are in Denver and Colorado Springs and almost 100 professionals in Colorado are committed to the one-day effort.
I already have plans for Dec. 12 and will not be in Pagosa. I will instead be in Boise, Idaho, which does have a group I can shoot with if I can rearrange my schedule.
The question in my head is whether there are enough people in Pagosa, mainly photographers, willing to donate a day to shoot photos of people in our community who normally wouldn’t have that opportunity — photographers and others to serve for the sake of serving, to help people see the beauty of who they really are?
Would enough artists be able to set aside their own egos and personalities for one day? Would enough photographers be willing to shoot, not for their own portfolios, shows, or agendas? Would local photo groups and their members donate the time and effort to shoot photos for people who would appreciate them, instead of going out to take pictures to make a book for themselves and pat themselves on the back?
I hope so.
I hope that even if you are not a photographer you watch the video below, spend a few minutes at the Help-Portrait Web site and are inspired to use the gifts and talents you have to help someone this holiday season.
Link: Jeremy Cowart the explaining project
Link: Help-Portrait promo video
Video Below: Help-Portrait Nashville test run
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