Reflecting on the Visual Storytellers

In preparation for writing this reflection, I took some time to reflect on what this course has meant to me as an instructor. In short and technically, the course was truly not much different than most other courses. It was as simple as: complete assignments to earn credit.

I saw the girl with the flag, and I knew I had to tell her story.

Since each of my students was asked to cover the same event, I requested one thing from each of them from the start of the semester… to just share their story. During those few weeks before the race, they were to explore numerous processes through several assignments that were meant to challenge them to step outside of their comfort zone. They were also encouraged to take a different look at those things commonly around them.

Upon the UCI Road World Championships arriving in Richmond, I encouraged them to take what they learned in the weeks prior and capture the international event through their individual vision and stories.

What most of them delivered was a collection of shared light, texture, motion, and spirit. They shared Richmond and VCU. They shared friends and strangers, days turning into night, and on occasion, nights into days. They shared emotions, and color, and life in the spotlight, but also the ever-important life of those behind the scenes and far, far away from the stage. They shared the quiet, the loud, and the heart of an urban environment. They shared the details of the beauty often hidden behind the grit. They shared the energy of the world, all taking place in a town that each of us calls home. These are just a sampling of the things that I have seen through the incredible and honest work of my students.

When I proposed the concept for this course last spring, it seemed like an interesting and fun idea. On paper, it was simple. Capture and document the event using a mobile device solely. Technically, that was the assignment. What they delivered, however, was far more than I could have ever imagined. The photographs and words they shared during the six-week course are a genuine and remarkable reflection of their passion for creating. It was also a reflection of themselves.

What gives them strength? Maybe a spiritual power, or maybe the thousands of hours they have put into their honing their skills and stamina. And as a result, the real race may just be another trial session for them.

There was a remarkable visual story shared with the world during this course, and each of my students was the storyteller.

I am grateful for such a rewarding opportunity to be involved in this project. Thank you to VCU, to VCU ALT Lab, to the VCU Robertson School of Media and Culture, and especially to my students. For me to say that I am proud of what was accomplished during this course would be an absolute understatement.

In the end, we each leave behind a story. Without it, how will we ever share where we've been? Keep your eyes open as you continue to capture and tell your own story.

Look for the good in your day.. Then share it.

New Semester Invites New Media

Checkered Past ©2015 Gary Garbett

Creating a powerful and impactful story or image no longer requires that the photojournalist carry a bag of expensive cameras, lenses, and tripods. Capturing and sharing creative, personal, and engaging stories has changed with the technology of today’s smartphones and handheld devices.

This semester I'm teaching a New Media Photojournalism course at VCU. All student work for the course will be created using mobile media exclusively for capturing and post-processing. Registration for the course is open through August 24, 2015.

By challenging ourselves to step outside of our comfort zone, each of us will uncover new artistic approaches. By layering them, and molding them, we'll make them your own. The result will assist in developing your own unique and personal style.

Being creative requires practice, practice, and even more practice. The return will inspire us all.

It's Christmastime

That time of the year is here again. And with it, I look forward to seeing those I love in the next week. I'm counting on those days being filled with plenty of soul-filling goodness: puppy kisses and wagging tails, teary-eyed laughter, reading, studying, loads of fab music backed by a tad more groovy tunes, and a dinner and movie date (heck, maybe even two). It's Christmastime.

As another year passes, another one of promise and dreams will begin just behind it. Seems I'm still the same kid that would loudly sing along to his favorite song as it played through the single mono speaker on that lime green portable AM radio.... the one with the matching lime green wrist strap and the retractable chrome antenna. I still dream. I still laugh to myself ...and frequently laugh at myself. I'm still curious about life and sometimes wonder what if? ...what happened? ...where are they? …and often just a simple why? Why?

Through it all, it seems that I'm still defining me. Why would I ever stop? Each day is a gift, a lesson, an opportunity to smile at someone; not that plastic smile.... but the real eye-to-eye contact kind of smile. Those are the ones that count and the ones that really make a difference. I don't want to search or define reasons to create something new.... I just want to create with the hope of maybe leaving something of value, purpose, and good behind. It doesn't need to be extravagant or epic or life-changing either. Just make it real. That promises to make all the difference.

Looking back, I love the simple dirt under my fingernails, blue-collar, work-hard-every-day upbringing that I came from. It was genuine and provided me with the perfect starting point for my unusual, let's take this turn, roundabout, where the hell are you headed path that has brought me to where I am today. Five years ago, along that very path, I gifted myself with sobriety. It was the most humbling and honest soul-searching I have ever experienced. I awake blessed, thankful, and alive each morning. I dig this place.

I really loved that spark and spirited, song singing, love everyone, always smiling, creative kid that I used to be. I hope he's still the same and never loses that.

Love and stuff... It's Christmastime.

Good Stuff Through Curiousness

I shared a classroom with more than 100 creatives this semester. We debated, laughed, conversed, and more than a few times confronted our personal comfort zones. They were challenged, inventive, and at times hesitant to share their authentic voice. But when they did, it made the difference.

With the fall semester coming to a close this week, I’ve been reviewing and grading student blogs over the past few days. Stellar stuff, relief, and joy seem to be a constant running sentiment for most of their exit posts. My takeaway is that I am beyond thrilled that we made such a difference in turning the creative light on, or at least engaging it a bit further for so many of our students. Their work is imaginative, inspiring, daring, and personal.

Project 54

While writing each of their final critiques, I'm making an effort to take the time to share the love, the celebrations, and the happy dance congratulations for their commitment to developing their own unique and creative voice. They not only developed that voice, but each of them also shared it with their individual flair and creativity with the world.

This semester has been an incredibly motivating ride. What else would you expect from a course titled Curiousness? I easily took as much away from the past four months as they did. Surround yourself with inspiring people. In the end, it matters.

Congratulations to each of my students. You rocked the good stuff… and good stuff is simply that.

Growth and Child Games

Opportunities present themselves and provide growth. Growth is knowledge, experience, self-discovery, and eye, heart, and mind opening. Occasionally, that opportunity thing requires a late night or two, maybe even three… and often those extended evenings begin as a morning start before the sunrise. Moving in a forward direction is a powerful motivator.

Franklin Terrace

Six years ago today, I began my career at Virginia Commonwealth University. It was an opportunity for me to welcome and explore all of those things above and more. Since that day in 2008, I’ve expanded my skills, my list of influential life-changing people, my patience, my love for common everyday moments, and my passion to continually absorb knowledge while graduating with two Master’s degrees from VCU.

Opportunity often reminds me of the children’s game hide and seek. Rare is it that it comes looking for you. It does, however, love and invite you to take the initiative to search for it.

Tag... you’re it.

Those First Days Are the Longest

Draw the Line

As I prepare to dive deep into my second thesis in three years, I find that time is even more valuable than it ever has been. I suppose there's a possibility that all of this time stuff is nothing more than middle-aged fodder. Regardless, it still grabs my attention... especially when I glance at my watch.

Tick tock.