First Comes Trust

Mylasia by Niki Walker

THE PROJECT

Mylasia Blocker is a typical 12-year-old girl. Kind, funny, and genuinely curious, she is unbelievably easy to like. She was born blind, with optic nerve hypoplasia, or underdeveloped optic nerves. She was never supposed to see. Her eyesight began to develop when she was young, and at age four she began to identify her colors. Her mother describes the day she found out that Mylasia could see as her “favorite day in life.” A few years later, her vision plateaued and slowly began degrading again. Her doctor predicts that she will be blind again between the ages of 16 and 18.

Today, she can see somewhat, but her eyesight is far from perfect. Technically speaking, it is 20/600 – which means that she can see a standard letter size from 20 feet away, whereas someone with normal vision could see the same letter from 600 feet away. As Mylasia puts it, she “can't rely on [her] eyes.”

At the end of the day, her story isn’t about eyesight. It’s about growing up and what it means to fit in.

WHAT I’VE LEARNED

My Capstone taught me the importance of teamwork. It was essential during group editing and critique in class. I figured out that I want to pursue collaborative work environments after graduation, because video is overwhelming when you’re working as a one-man band. In a way, Mylasia, her family, and I also made up a team — I couldn’t have done this story without them; it was a collaboration.

TRUST

Trust was incredibly important for my project. I was a stranger asking to come into Mylasia's home, and that tension was incredibly evident in my early work. Nobody was very comfortable — not Mylasia, her parents, or myself. Before I could come in and be like a fly on the wall, I had to take the time to cultivate relationships, to show that I was truly interested in Mylasia's life. This meant slowing down, putting down my camera, and opening myself up to the people around me. As soon as I started to do that, everything went more smoothly.

IF I WERE A FRUIT…

I would be a mango, because mangos are cool and fresh.

PORTFOLIO

Through Chance By Choice by Alyssa Hunter

THE PROJECT

“I haven’t had a blood family, but I’ve been able to create a family. This is true most of my life at various times, whether it’s been a formal family or not,” said Bonny.

The concept of the traditional family, as defined by the Work and Family Researchers Network, is the natural reproductive unit of a mom, a dad, and children all living under one roof. Traditional families are being phased out in favor of more unconventional relationships.

Bonny Mayer saw a flier for a family portrait and decided that this was as good a time as any to formally invite her close friends to be apart of her family. After thinking back to which ones had been the most instrumental in her life, a list of 18 people was drawn up. Everyone felt honored to be considered her family, and they all met one Sunday to take a family portrait. It has been four years since that picture was taken and a few others have joined the family. This project gives insight on what it’s like to be apart of Bonny’s family.

WHAT I’VE LEARNED

This year long project has taught me a number of different things. One of the best lessons I took away was to really know your story. Be able to describe it in a single sentence. Make sure it is a pure idea that you can know from all angles, and once you do, storyboard every chance you get. My project originally started out larger, but with all of the different pieces to it, my story was becoming cluttered. I wanted to do more with this project because I was graduating, but simplifying my story gave me a clearer focus.

TRUST

I spent my summer in Rochester, NY getting to know Bonny. I would bring my camera with me, but I didn’t use it for a couple of weeks. Instead I listened. She told me so many amazing stories from her invisible childhood friend, Jimmy, to when she was with baby elephants in Thailand. She told me so much about her life, and I was just as open with her. There was a time over the summer when it felt that all of the walls had been broken down. We were more like friends spending time together rather than photographer and subject. In turn, her family was very welcoming to me because they saw that Bonny trusted me. That’s when my story really started.

IF I WERE A FRUIT…

If I was a fruit, I would be a pineapple. Once you cut through the exterior, the inside is sweet and delicious. Pineapples also grow in warm climates, and once they are ready, they are sent around the world where they can mix with all kinds of other fruits.

PORTFOLIO

Nashvilles by Dan Witkowski

THE PROJECT

Nashvilles is an exploration of the culture surrounding country music and its fans as it appears at a country and western themed bar located in Henrietta, NY just 15 minutes south of Rochester. Through the project I have been able to ask questions about American culture, exploring how the exhibition of passion towards an essential music genre reflects on themes such as patriotism. Country music has become far more popularized over the past 20 years due to artists performing in larger arena and crossing over into more mainstream genres. This has caused the music to expand regionally out of the South and West. Nashvilles exemplifies this shift, playing top 40 country hits over their speakers to a newer base of fans in upstate New York. The work does not follow a group of regulars or take you deeper into the personalities of this one bar. Rather, it asks broader questions of Country culture at large in relation to the way that this music has affected the fans American experience.

WHAT I’VE LEARNED

I learned most from this experience to be honest with yourself and your work, saying what needs to be said in the way that you are able to interpret it. Everyone will have a different opinion of your work. A critique will tell you to go one way and someone else will lead you in the opposite direction. Essentially it is your work and ultimately you are the one who will have to live with it. So be honest with yourself and honest with the way that you work. I have failed and been beaten down throughout most of this process. However, I have begun to find solace in my ability to be honest with myself. This is what I’ve gained.

TRUST

In my project, I had to build and gain trust each and every night I was at Nashvilles. There was the initial trust I needed to gain from the owners and staff at the bar. And then I gained the trust of some of the regulars. But the crowd changes every night. New faces and new personalities. Trust became a constant and changing force throughout the entirety of my process.

IF I WERE A FRUIT…

If I were a fruit I would be a kiwi. I do not know if I’ve ever had a kiwi but they are green on the inside and have relatively thin skin.

PORTFOLIO

Laine by Heather Casey

THE PROJECT

Laine is the story of a transgender woman in Rochester and her journey through womanhood. For 35 years, Laine lived her life as a man, fearful that no one would accept her for who she really is. This piece explores the thoughts, daily life and struggles that Laine faces as she discovers womanhood, varying from electrolysis appointments, getting ready in the morning, and how her relationship gives her strength and hope.

WHAT I’VE LEARNED

I’ve learned that you should always let your story form organically. I went in to this project thinking I knew exactly what story I was going to tell. As time went on and I spent more time with Laine, I realized that I needed to embrace the story that was there, not what I think it should be. It’s an incredibly important lesson and something that I thought I knew beforehand. It wasn’t until I experienced this firsthand that I had a better understanding of what that meant.

TRUST

Trust stems from the relationship that you have with the people that you are photographing and understanding the environment you’re in. Going in to this project, I had already done a multimedia piece on a transgender student. It helped me have a better understanding of the transgender community, something that was essential to this project.

When I met Laine, I had been going to transgender groups and meetings in Rochester. I would go and leave my camera at home. I wanted everyone to get the chance to know who I was and feel comfortable with me, and vice versa. This gave Laine and I the opportunity to build a foundation off of trust.

IF I WERE A FRUIT…

I would be a grape. They can adapt to many climates and they grow in bunches!!

PORTFOLIO

The Hero Project by Elijah Walker

THE PROJECT

The Hero Project is a video piece about two young men, Ron “MC Ron G” Sneed Jr, and Torrance “T­Keys” Jones, as they use music and faith to reach the youth in the Rochester area. Through Christian rap, Ron and Torrance seek to change the lives of the kids they encounter and give them a message of hope during a time where graduation rates for students in Rochester are below fifty percent, and over half of children live in poverty.

WHAT I’VE LEARNED

The most valuable information that I’ve learned from my capstone experience is that you have to be willing to be flexible. You have to be willing to be flexible in your plans, your vision, and your goals because things change and if you can’t adjust, you won’t be able to complete whatever work you’re doing.

TRUST

Trust ties into my project mainly because with the work that my subjects do, their whole goal is to get the youth to trust them and the things they’re telling them. They want the youth to trust in this hope that they are talking to them about through their music.

IF I WERE A FRUIT…

I think I’d be a pitaya, aka dragon fruit, because, well, dragons.

PORTFOLIO

New Roots by Sarah Ann Jump

THE PROJECT

New Roots is the story of the Kamali family’s first year in America after fleeing the Democratic Republic of the Congo. They lived for four years as refugees in Ethiopia before they were finally able to resettle in a permanent new home. They arrived in Rochester, N.Y. on Tuesday, February 4, 2014, exhausted and excited to start a new life in America. 

Over the course of the year, each member of the Kamali family adjusted to life in America at their own pace. Nyirazana is a widowed mother of six. When she arrived, she spoke no English and was disabled due to a spinal injury. Her brother, Muhire, stepped in as the patriarch of the family and helped them build a new life.

Their story is told through an interactive website that combines images, audio, text and graphics.

WHAT I’VE LEARNED

I learned that you have to tell the story that is there, not what you think it is. Some people look at my final story and tell me that I made it too positive. And I honestly went into the story thinking it was going to be very hard for the family and that’s what I wanted to show. But the Kamali family showed me over and over again that they were simply thankful to be here, no matter how hard it is. Muhire says it best: “When you are starting a new life, everything is difficult. You have to be able to stand for it. If I have been able to stand for my life in insecurity, it is easier to stand for my life when I have stability. In time, everything becomes easier.”  

TRUST

The Kamali family began trusting me almost immediately, which completely amazes me. I was present at the airport when they arrived, and I photographed in a reserved way so that I was not overbearing because they were not expecting me. They arrived just before midnight after a full day of flights, so their caseworker and I decided that we would wait until they were well-rested before proposing the project to them. The next time I saw them was at the motel they spent the night as their house was being prepared. I spoke with the translator before hand to explain my project and the level of access I was requesting. He was a refugee himself, so he understood the intention of my project. I brought the family prints from the moment they arrived at the airport and used the translator to ask for their permission to photograph them. They agreed immediately. They let me into every aspect of their lives and I was careful to respect this level of trust. I would visit without taking pictures to show them I thought of them as more than just “photo subjects”, that I truly care about them as people. They began telling me that I was a part of the family, which meant the world to me. 

IF I WERE A FRUIT…

I’d be out on a limb. 

“You've got to go out on a limb sometimes because that's where the fruit is.” -Will Rogers 

PORTFOLIO

Brittney by Maureen MacGregor

THE PROJECT

Despite a more than 50% decline since the peak year of 1990 Rochester has the highest rates of teen pregnancy and birth in the state outside of New York City.

Three months after her sixteenth birthday, Brittney learned she was pregnant. Less than a year later she is now seventeen with a 3 month old son. Brittney struggles each day to balance school, motherhood, and her complicated relationship with the father of her son. Bucking traditional ideas about what a teen mom can and cannot be, Brittney's life is wholly her own.

WHAT I’VE LEARNED

I learned that motherhood is not defined by age. I learned that family support is everything. I learned that love could be palpable and instinctual.

My greatest concern beyond building a relationship with Brittney was making sure I was representing her story properly. So much of our understanding of teen parents comes from MTV’s 16 and Pregnant and Teen Mom. My own opinions of teen parents came from these shows while I was coming of age. I did a lot of research and was very careful to make sure that the questions I asked in interviews did not distort her answers and that the way I edited the film together was the most accurate representation of her story and did not fall into tropes and stereotypes.

TRUST

Trust is like an onion: you keep pulling back layers until you get to the core. And sometimes you’ve got to fight through the tears to get to the next layer. Brittney let me in little by little and I had to work hard for it. To her, I was just another adult that wasn’t to be trusted. Which was interesting because I’m only four and a half years older than her. I texted her every single day just to ask how her day had been even though I knew the answer would just be “ok”. I wanted her to understand that I cared about her. When she gave birth, there was a moment when I saw her look straight at me through the viewfinder and my stomach sank. Her face was pure pain so I lowered the camera and chimed in with her family telling her to push. I wanted her to know that I respected her. The next day, I brought two sets of prints from the birth for her and her boyfriend. I took newborn portraits right in the hospital bed. I spent the entire ten-hour visiting period with her even long after her family had left. She let me hold her son – trusted me to hold new life in my hands. I brought more prints the next day before she was discharged and they asked me to help choose a name. I stepped away when I knew breaching her privacy wasn’t worth the shot. I made portraits every time I went and brought prints the next time. And then in October, after five months, I asked how her day was like I did every day and she said, “Ok.”And then she asked how mine was.Fast forward to February: Filming had wrapped in November and I hadn’t seen her in two months. My text contact had reduced to every week or so. I had prints for her that I just hadn’t had time to take over. And then I suggested a time we were both free and she said, “Yeah :) I miss you.” I almost started crying. You put so much time and love and effort into a relationship and to see it blossom into not only in a documentary work that you feel says something important but also a lifelong friendship – the labor pains were worth it. 

IF I WERE A FRUIT…

If I were a fruit I would be a pineapple. Pineapples have a strong taste and a quirky appearance. They are also the symbol of “welcome” and represent warmth and friendship.

PORTFOLIO

Bradley by Zack DeClerck

THE PROJECT

In 2012, the Dorothy Day House opened in Rochester, NY under the “Housing First” philosophy, the idea that people need stable and consistent shelter before other personal issues can be addressed. The program provides transitional housing for homeless individuals who wouldn’t qualify or have been barred from other programs or subsidized housing options. Most residents suffer from severe chemical dependency, mental illness, or both.

After a year of working with residents and management at the Dorothy Day House, I’ve concluded that, for this exhibit, one individual best illustrated the internal turmoil that makes stability seemingly out of reach. Bradley Loce openly admits that his alcoholism has been the source of decades of chronic homelessness, dreams unattained, and estrangement from his family. Continuing in the pattern of familiar pain, Bradley ended up leaving the Dorothy Day House in 2014, and is once again homeless.

WHAT I’VE LEARNED

In the time that I spent at the Dorothy Day House, there were many important similarities and connections in each individual’s story. With little time remaining, I had realized that I would not be able to show all of these connections with the material I had gathered. I had to focus on one idea that I could clearly illustrate with the content that I had. That idea ended up being: despite good intentions and compassion, the Dorothy Day House was still not able to provide a solution for everybody; that there is no easy fix for chronic homelessness. This broader look the house can be viewed here: http://vimeo.com/zackdeclerck/capstone Much of the insight that I gained did not make its way to the final product which could be frustrating. However, this project provided me with an experience that can be applied to my interest and drive to document similar topics in the future. The aspects of the story that I was unable to show in this capstone, I will work to show in future projects.

TRUST

I am not simply a “fly on the wall” photographer. I have relationships with the people that I photograph. I do not for one second see Bradley as an “other.” In fact I can, on a deep level, relate to his mindset and struggle with life. I have never been homeless, but I understand his thinking. Bradley is his own worst enemy and I can relate to that in a very real way.

IF I WERE A FRUIT…

If I were a fruit, I would be eaten, because fruit is delicious.

Everything Is Good by Rugile Kaladyte

THE PROJECT

While exploring Lithuania’s suicide rate, the highest in the world, a daughter learns that her father had attempted suicide 11 years ago. She returns to Lithuania for the first time in 10 years to reconnect with her father; suicide is the greatest disconnection of all. 

WHAT I’VE LEARNED

I’ve discovered the importance of family, even when they are thousands of miles away in a different country. Before my trip, I was warned to not have too many expectations, that time has passed and my father and I have changed a lot since we last saw each other. However, upon my arrival, I was welcomed with open arms and it felt as though we were picking up where we last left off, even if it is 10 years later. I haven’t been in the best communication with my father and I understand the need for improvement. Before I left, my father gave me his address on a piece of paper and at the bottom wrote, “We always get a second chance to make everything just right.”

TRUST

I hold my father’s story in my hands and I want to make certain that it is presented with integrity and preserves his dignity; there is an immeasurable amount of trust that is required for this.

IF I WERE A FRUIT…

I would actually be vegetables, three to be exact: ARUGALA KALEaBEETe. My name is just vegetables.

PORTFOLIO

Hannah Means Graceful by Evan Ortiz

THE PROJECT

It's quite common in college to question yourself as you start a new chapter in your life. Sometimes who you want to be and who you are don't match up, and for Hannah this means a long battle with depression, bulimia, medication abuse, and alcohol. In her journey to learn how to care for herself, Hannah has started to develop an understanding of what it means to need someone, and seek love and support.

While there still is a long way for Hannah to be the person she wants to be, her relationship with her first girlfriend Courtney, has helped her find something worth living for.

WHAT I’VE LEARNED

I learned to be patient and sensitive around someone who has allowed letting you share his or her life in difficult times. Hannah had been my friend before we started working together, and we had to establish strong trust between us before I could ever photograph with her. I made it clear that all of my intentions were never judgmental or condescending. It’s not easy having someone share parts of your life that are intimate and vulnerable. I am so in debt to Hannah’s willingness and faith to work on this story.

TRUST

The whole project stems from Hannah learning to trust herself and her relationship. Hannah had to trust me allowing her to be in vulnerable moments, and I had to trust Hannah in letting her be sometimes when things were too much to be photographed.  Trust is an important part of intimacy.

IF I WERE A FRUIT…

I’m not sure if I’d want to be a fruit because then it may be hard to photographer, however I’ve always loved eating bananas. Best morning energy fruit!

PORTFOLIO

A Life After Iraq by Donny Bajohr

THE PROJECT

Mark Beyers, of East Auroa, NY, is a veteran of the Iraq war and a former member of the United States Marine Corps.

On August 26, 2005, while on duty in Iraq, Mark was severely injured from an improvised explosive device, losing his right arm and right leg. He was transferred to Bethesda, MD where he underwent approximately 40 surgeries, rigorous rehabilitation.

Nearly ten years after his injuries, Mark along with his wife Denise Beyers continue to heal together while raising their Daughter Eva, 5.

WHAT I’VE LEARNED

That I am at the mercy of the people I want to tell the story of. Telling a compelling story goes beyond taking photographs.  The footwork is just as important. The amount of research and knowledge of your subject will give it the grounding and importance that goes beyond the visuals.

TRUST

I felt the trust of Mark and Denise when they simply asked me to grab some noodles for them before I came over to photograph. It was a familiar feeling to be asked to do a mundane task such as that, but coming from them was special. 

IF I WERE A FRUIT…

If I were a fruit I’d be a star fruit (Carambola). At first you may be confused by it, but then you realize beyond the edges, it is sweet and delicious. The entire fruit is edible making sure not to go to waste.

PORTFOLIO

Maplewood by Kyle Hofsass

THE PROJECT

I remember when I first started skating I didn’t much care for the nuances involved with the production of a quality skateboard. As long as it didn’t break under my feet, it didn’t really matter. But after a few years I started hanging around the local skate shop more and more, and it was there I learned that sturdy quality skateboard decks are made from hard rock maple, anything else just doesn’t compare. I found myself paying attention to the little details in every skateboard deck; I wanted to know where it was made, the feel of it’s concave, the shape of it’s nose and tail, and of course, the wood that made up its veneers. I found that, though they seem miniscule, all of these things really make a difference in how skateboarding feels. But as i spent more time with these little details another question arose on its heels; if these are the aspects that make a skateboard, then what are the aspects that make a skateboarder? That’s the question I’ve sought to answer in this project; this is my effort to find the bits of Maplewood scattered throughout my own skateboarding community in Rochester New York.

WHAT I’VE LEARNED

I think one of the most important things I’ve learned from this project is that you should never take the things you see every day for granted, because they almost certainly hold possibilities that you overlook due to proximity. For me, skateboarding is something I’m part of every day, and for everyone else it’s something they have some preconceptions about because of what they see in skate magazines. But the fact is there’s so much more beyond all that and in the process of trying to show that I learned how much can be revealed by every day things.

TRUST

Brian dazedly peered at a lengthy menu as Mark rested his head in his hands. It had been a very late night and was now a very early morning as we took our seats at a booth inside the South Wedge Diner, hoping that some breakfast would brighten our prospects for the rest of the day. Stories were swapped about the night before, and a pot of coffee was consumed in record time as we waited for our food. In a moment when it seemed like conversation had been expended, Brian broke the silence by telling us about a trip to Albany he’d be taking the very next day. Then he asked us if we wanted to come with him.

The question wasn’t proposed as anything special, it wasn’t some grand initiation, and it was asked rather nonchalantly; but it was the first time I had been invited on a skate trip. I had been present for so many things before this moment and had spent an immense amount of time with these guys; but it wasn’t until this moment that I realized that they didn’t simply allow me to be there, they wanted me to be there. I had spent nearly a year visiting the skate shop on an almost daily basis, with and without my camera, and it had all led up to that single moment. That moment and everything that came after it, that was trust. 

IF I WERE A FRUIT…

If I were a fruit I think I’d be an apple. They’re the kind of fruit you see everyday and at a quick glance seem rather plain. But if you stop and think, apples are one of the most versatile fruits; there are thousands of different types of apples all over the world, with different colors and tastes, and each one has all kinds of different uses. Apples, to some degree, get taken for granted but I think apples have a lot to offer if you’re willing to look.

PORTFOLIO

Sederhana by Kelly Jo Smart

THE PROJECT

Every year a small group of Malay women arrive at the Rochester Institute of Technology on government scholarships from their country to earn degrees in biotechnology. As the pursue their college education on a campus approximately 9,000 miles away from home, the women form tight-knight relationships with each other. This family-like structure helps them deal with the challenges of cultural differences, maintain their studies and remain committed to their Islamic faith.

WHAT I’VE LEARNED

I’ve learned how to build relationships with the people I am photographing, especially adapting and learning from a culture I am not familiar with. I’ve learned how to get on an airplane and also how to eat with my hands.

TRUST

In the spring of 2012, in the Student Alumni Union on campus I approached the women and told them about my curiosity. They invited me to dinner. Riana, one of the women made a spicy meal and encouraged me to eat without utensils. Eating with just the right hand is customary in Islam. After repeated dinners spent with the women, they embraced me as a member of their community (and I mastered eating without a fork).

Since the women practice the Islamic faith, they wear hijabs and only expose their face and hands in public. Even though the women are comfortable around me without their headscarves, when making images, there is a level of responsibility built around their expectation of privacy to the public.

Still, I was able to be with them for every part of their day. Waking up in the morning, washing before prayer, praying, in classes...etc. Many of the women also allowed me to stay with their families in Malaysia and make pictures of their lives at home. They revealed their real thoughts and feelings about their faith, education, and what is like to be so far from home. Their trust and openness to me felt remarkable. <\p>

IF I WERE A FRUIT…

I would be a raspberry. They are surprisingly bold for such a small fruit and they mix very well with other berries.

PORTFOLIO