blogPAL Gareth visits the Department

Gareth Bright [GB] made a presentation yesterday at the Department for staff and students.  On osmosisPROJECTS, GB has been sharing his images and travel destinations since February. Yesterday having his presence in the real rather than virtual was a reminder, that no matter how accessible and 'wonderful' technology is nowadays for keeping in contact, exchanging and communicating_ conversing with someone at face value is still the most engaging. GB kindly 'dumped' all his images, video's and some movies from his presentation onto my desktop to share with you_ I will put these on the 'Botswana' external harddrive (password Gaborone). 

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This post is all about saying a big THANK_YOU & a SIYABONGA (Zulu) & a DANKIE (Afrikaans) to Gareth for taking the time to come and visit and share your 'way with Photography' with us, before you leave for Bangkok in the next two days.

I am including some of my favourite images from Gareth's collection and some comments made from students (who I will leave anonymous for ethical reasons). I am constantly trying to urge students to leave comments on my Blogs (some students would most probably agree that the word force is more appropriate)... but I am still puzzeled by their reluctance...I am trying to understand why when someone gives or shares something with you, one is unable to articulate your thoughts, or openly show a gesture of appreciation with text. For me it's like acknowledging the person and their endeavors, for example it's like saying thank-you or glad to meet you or thank-you for coming or thank you for sharing!

Anyway here are typed out (by me) responses from some of the written responses I asked students to write about straight after the presentation.

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I asked the students to "Please write down your thoughts" on:

1> What did you like about the session?

• To hear about other Photographers experiences. 

• It was interesting to hear from some one our own age

• Gareth is seriously interesting 

• Gave an idea of what was is happening in other countries

• eye opener

• His Photographs and engaging conversations about his work

• it was informing, an eye opener and intriguing 

• I learn't alot about documentary photography

• Thought provoking and interesting

• The way he interacts with people of other races_ how he captured the moment without being too emotional.

2> What did you not like about the session?

• the aircon 

• the sound

• the projector

• class was rowdy

• someones smelly feet

• class figidty

• little long_ need a break in between

• class disrespectful_ on cell phones

• I am scared to work as as War Photographer, you can easily die.

• the emotions from the images_ I am an emotional person

3> Do you have any suggestions for other visits from Photographers?

Tyrone Bradley

Liam Lynch

Paul Weinburg

Kevin Goss Ross

Jacki Bruniquel

Black Photographers

Roy Reed

4> What can I use from this session?

• The insight of looking at things in a different way

• the idea of putting aside all your fears and following your passion

• enjoy your trip and good luck in the future 

• one should think about a persons dignity and try to portray them positively not negatively

• improve Photographic skills

• incorporate video into my work

• different perspective to fuel my B&W Photography

• being open minded to my surroundings & looking at it from a different perspective_making photo/video

• I should go out there and do research and come up with good ideas_ I should inform myself with whats happening around me.

• being a photographer doesn't mean I can't do video_ I am going to try video. 

• Makes me think and look about where I am going to once I leave the Department.

• Gareth's encouragement

• Your will power, and the passion you have in Photography_ I would like to instill that in me one day.

• A deeper appreciation of my surroundings and to look at it from a different perspective.

• Use tools like writing and internet

• must multi-task and try to be more unique

• views of what a travelling photographer gets to experience 

5> Message to Gareth:

• Keep it up_ amazing Talent

• Can you invite me when you are travelling?

• You've been a great inspiration and motivation for me to get out of the rut and explore life

• Please come again

• invite me on Facebook

• keep up motivating aspiring photographers

• I like the way you can live with different places with different people and their cultures

• Please please please can I tag along

• Lovely to hear you still use film_ you are very talented_ look forward to seeing more of your work.

• Thanks for wisdom and advice :)

• Keep doing what you doing

• Bring more of your work_mwah :)

• Come back and keep us updated

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10 questions @ Gareth Bright

I asked Gareth 10 questions...
and this is what he had to say:

1:   What does Photography mean to you?
Photography for me is a platform to shake people from indifference; I believe the strength of photography lies in its ability to invoke a sense of humanity. It’s a form of expression that can provoke change and has. The notion of this seems way out of proportion to the ongoing chaos and turmoil in our world, but it’s this exact notion that keeps driving me and always will. Photography to me is hope for change, or cause for change frozen in moments of time.


2:  What genre of Photography are you passionate about? 

 Documentary, Humanitarian and (despite my hate for the word and lack of a better one) Photojournalism.
 

3. What aspects of Photography do you love?
It’s ability to communicate, inform and inspire.  

4. What aspects of Photography do you find challenging?
Well in terms of my work it’s when to shoot and when to help, and of course in an ever competitive modern world where everyone has a DSLR or some camera my biggest challenge is to stay ahead of the “pack” and keep up to date and fresh with new ideas.

  

  

5. Where do you find inspiration? 

 I find a lot of inspiration in the people I work with and the people I photograph. I once read that some people are born to suffer and that you and I will never understand that suffering or the place it comes from, but from the same place comes honesty, integrity, love and pride_ you and I won’t understand either. This statement is perfectly in tune with the people I have photographed and that inspires me, they inspire me to keep fighting for them when they are so often forgotten. I am inspired by silence and contemplation while paging through some of my favorite photographers books and or images. I also find piles of inspiration in revolutionaries (Mother Teresa, Nelson Mandela, and Gandhi etc) and their ideals, in this sense I try use the inspiration I draw from them in the way I work with my subjects –compassion and patience and BELIEF in change.

6. If you could share one thing with others who are also interested in Photography what would it be?
TAKE PICTURES OF EVERYTHING-never think you have learnt or know enough_ you haven’t, you never can. Have fun, be passionate and persevere it’s always worth it.

7. Name Photographers that have influenced you.
Philip Blenkinsop, James Nacthwey, Sebastiao Salgado , Ed Kashi, Robert Capa,  The Bang Bang Club, Jugen Shadeburg, Alf Khumalo, Gary Knight, All the photographers at NOOR agency


8. List  3 words that describe your experience as a student.
Passionate, Impatient (this is not a typo) and Hungry

9. List 3 words that describe how it feels to be engaging outside DUT.
Inspiring, Humble and Stressful


10. What advice would you give students who are embarking on studying to become professional Photographers?
Choose your field whatever it may be, but concentrate on being diverse. Work HARD, take criticism to heart because despite the heartache you will find you learn faster. Believe in yourself, always, at all times and never listen to anyone (and there will be many) that tells you PHOTOGRAPHY is a dead end career.

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meet... Gareth Bright

Gareth Bright is a full time freelance photographer> this he says is due to personal ideals and conflicting ideals and hates been called a PHOTOJOURNALIST. 

GB is originally from Durban but travels all over the world documenting 'life' with his Leica. When Gareth had the small opportunity to speak to students on the 22nd February_ I asked him over lunch if he would become my blogPAL so that we could keep conversations going through blogging, which would also provide a platform for everybody else to be a part of the conversations and ask Gareth any questions relating to the post.  I am very excited by communicating with Gareth and having him share his experiences with us... 

Here are some exerts from our email conversations: 

LIZA: " Very nice to see you again and hear what you are up to_  in the short time that you spoke_ you had such inspiring contributions to make to conversations on what photography can do, what photography can change and what it represents to individuals, like you, who are driven by a wonderful ethos/passion to do good in this world."

GARETH: Wow, its always great to have a platform to talk especially on what i believe is such an important part of making a difference and such an important part of my life so thank you!!

LIZA: Oooh I must contextualize all this persistence and excitement a little: all this_ conversations on communication, sharing, networking and blogging is part of my Masters area of study but MORE IMPORTANTLY part of my teaching philosophy to connect students with others through their love of photography so that they can be inspired by these encounters. This I believe will boost their photography and give them a sense of confidence to express themselves_ which for me is so important.  I feel that your inclusion will not only enrich the blog but also support how in this wired world we get to converse and reach beyond our own boundaries and be inspired by the connections we make with people across the world...

 GARETH: Here is the the links to my blog, my vii visionaries and a YouTube video I made. Its a new Blog I started last year after a bit of a melt down and I do update when ever I find the time to sit down listen to some music and write. Once again, if there is any other ways other than the penpal etc I can help you, when I am around I am always willing to lend a hand. Thanks for lunch and for your enthusiasm.

---> Blog: 

 http://todaystumult.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2010-11-25T07:54:00-08:00&max-results=7

---> My vii visionaries 
http://viiphoto.ning.com/photo/album/listForOwner?screenName=0kw0a307m7hfu

---> The multimedia I did, its terrible but I made on a emotional roller-coaster of a day when I just felt like I had to do as much as I could to help these people.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2zPHlq9d68

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