Environmental Portraiture
1 week photo workshop

Bethesda Fountain Area, Central Park, '08 workshop

International Center Of Photography
NYC

July 20 - 24th

Mon-Fri. 10:00AM-5:00PM

09MVC19 I _ $620.00 + $100.00 fee

This course explores the psychological, emotional and technical aspects of portraiture, with emphasis on photographing people in their environment. Students study how to develop a rapport with their subjects, establishing a collaboration that produces spontaneous, intimate and inventive portraits. Photographing in Central Park with ICP assistants, lighting equipment, models and the instructor for two full days, students experiment with location lighting, natural light and a combination of both. Evaluating lighting setups is an integral part of this course, with both traditional and histogram metering. Students develop film, print from traditional or digital files for critique. All formats welcome.

Prerequisites: Photo II or Portfolio Review

Students Photographing model in Shakespeare Gardens, 'o8


Students should bring their own cameras with proper sync connection for their camera to work with off camera flash. A $20.00 PC Hot shoe adapter is usually sufficient. Pocket wizard transceivers, Wein Universal adapters and traditional PC cords will all be provided and studied.

Ph. 212-857-0001
www.icp.org
New York City



Lola, Central Park - Shelby Lee Adams

Mark Twain said, "The blind can see and the deaf can hear - kindness."


Moose Duty, assignment photo for NY magazine,
by Shelby Lee Adams

Communicating Emotion

The ability to connect emotionally with others involves a complex configuration of sensitivities, skills, and knowledge that cannot be pulled apart and analyzed easily.

We turn to several types of emotional connections;

recognizing that the other is feeling,

recognizing what the other is feeling,

recognizing how the other is feeling,

feeling along with the other,

feeling as the other is feeling,

feeling about the other’s feelings,

and responding to the other’s feelings.

Sally Planalp
Communicating Emotion

The above description is not a photo journalistic approach and may not even be applied to documentary. But it is a way of working with people, a feeling human way.

The above with authors permission.


''Shirley," '08 - Digital mixed lighting.
Shelby Lee Adams


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On June 27th,'09

Shelby Lee Adams will present a digital slide presentation of his photography work

to the North Light 4th Annual

Photostock event.

Sponsor - North Light Photographic Workshops
Director - Bill Schwab

www.photostock2009.com

A book signing will be held afterword.

Harbor Springs, Michigan

Poster below:



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Chris Augliera, photographer

One Week Photo Workshop to be offered:

Lakewood, CO. Aug. 17th - 21st, 2009

Working with Artist - Sponsor

Greg Cradick - Ex. Director
Ph. 303-827-1341

www.workingwithartists.org/


Alchemy: The Art of the Environmental Portrait 
with Shelby Lee Adams
August 17 - 21, Monday- Friday 10a - 5p: 
Includes studio discussions, critiques and demos, 2 days of location photography, models, etc.
$745 | workshop limited in size, register today

When a photographer creates a portrait he and the subject together choose the environment the subject is most comfortable. What objects or surroundings are portrayed must compliment and inform the humanity represented. The deeper and sometimes more playful engagement between the photographer and subject that can be resonated, the more primal communicative humanity is presented to the viewer to engage and contemplate.

Shelby Lee Adams has been making images of the people of Appalachia for decades now. His impetus in image making is to express the diversity of humankind through a compassionate lens. If we can look at the differences that we as humans have with one another in a compassionate way we can be more attuned to the common ground that we all share.

"It was never a conscious effort on my part to focus on the invisible or unseen people. But, the most soulful, honest, giving, loving and revealing portraits often come from those in deepest distress. This is part of my vision and sensitivity with people, a humanistic and creative gift I must see through. To expand our tolerance levels and understandings of diversity in physical, mental and social interactions are crucial. Developing acceptability and compassion for others is part of my works intentions." -Shelby Lee Adams

Chris Augliera, photographer

Technically this workshop will cover a great number of lighting techniques: mixed lighting, balancing location strobe light with natural light, ambient & tungsten, evaluate different lighting setups with a hands on approach, lighting ratios & metering techniques, evaluating histograms, and more. Also covered in this workshop is how to work with subjects in a way that puts them at ease and allows the photographer to make images of the person, not the mask that we often show the camera. Shelby stresses this is a simulation with a large group of people. Techniques learned in our two day field trips can be applied to ones own work afterward. Wednesday is scheduled to review work of the instructor and critique student work.

This is sure to be a portrait workshop like no other that will change the way you think about your subject, improve your portrait making abilities, and alter your philosophy about the camera in general. Developing the collaborative relation with ones subject will be studied and applied with models during workshop. We look forward to seeing you there! All images ©2009 Shelby Lee Adams

Perquisites: Students should have at least two years of camera and printing knowledge; lighting experience can be introduction level or non. It is assumed everyone knows his or her camera. For intermediate to advanced levels. Camera format open.


Bryce Cole, photographer


Alchemy 2009

It was never a conscious effort on my part to focus on the invisible or unseen people. But, the most soulful, honest, giving, loving and revealing portraits often come from those in deepest distress. This is part of my vision and sensitivity with people, a humanistic and creative gift I must see through. To expand our tolerance levels and understandings of diversity in physical, mental and social interactions are crucial. Developing acceptability and compassion for others is part of my works intentions. If we resist, we continue to isolate each other in society. We have not advanced as much as we think we have when our very instinctive nature moves to resist difference.

Difference creates distance in many minds. Before knowing someone different, often we internally project unconsciously that the different doesn’t want to be known by us. Unknowns then become unknowable. This is an assumption for some. The purely rational, logical and intellectual mind might turn away hardening, where the more balanced complete human being that can feel and think together will step forward to understand differences and experience the unknown. From that movement a new perspective can be achieved that can bring us together expressing ourselves more openly to all peoples with wonder and excitement.

Shelby Lee Adams
Feb. 2009

Exhibition and Caring

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Photography Exhibition
Summer 2008
"Friends are Forever"

Gate Way To Heaven Church, '95

Exhibition Location - "Gate Way To Heaven Church"
Lost Creek, Hardshell Cannie Road, Kentucky


One Person Photography Exhibition made with four generations of the Noble Family and friends, by SLA.

Cookout and Exhibition for friends and subjects.
Photographs to be distributed to families at close of exhibit.

Many of my friends and subjects over the years have been published in the books, pictures reviewed and written about together in newspapers and photo magazines, filmed separately-yet film edits shown together. Many have never had the occasion to meet each other before.

This event is dedicated to Preacher Bill Nobel, pastor and founder of this church and his wife Rachel, both now deceased. We got to know each other, years ago when they welcomed me to photograph them in their home and church. Their son's today Donnie, Ronnie and Junior have given me special permission to use their father's church for this event. For this honor, I am respectful and grateful.


"Donnie [Noble] with Baby and Cow's," '99, photo. was made across the road from the "Gate Way to Heaven," church.

I further wish to thank in advance the mountain people who have volunteered to help bring the people together, cook, donate food and support the spirit of this work and community.

This summer celebrates my 35Th year making pictures in this region.


Shelby Lee Adams


Over 100 people attended the festivities June 8th, '08

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"Gate Way to Heaven," Church on opening day.



Cookout side of Church.



Food.



Cutting the Ham?


Cake Cutting!


Exhibition


Exhibition inside Church.


Musician's


Photographing


Vanessa being photographed with Dad.


Callie with two photographs at closing.


Jason with Father and Uncle's photo.


Jason taking home photo.


Junior with photograph of Father.


Rachel holding her family photo.


Lloyd Deane, [Brother & Sister] holding photo of their father.

Thanks to all for attending.
Photographs courtesy of Paul Paletti.


"Friends are Forever."

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Response to a Virginia college student’s questions on Stereotyping - October 2008

Today as in the 1970’s when I began my work, the art photography audience as others have a well-informed view of contemporary Appalachia. I have always stated and published that my work was subjective, personal, autobiographical and an artist search for a deeper meaning from which he came. My work is not intended as news oriented, authoritative or photojournalism, but has always been placed in the context of art and personal expression documentary, with a deep interest in the psychological of the human condition. The metaphors of art photography are generally understood. Now examining my roots for over 35 years I penetrate and study my culture from the inside revealing it’s people, relationships and environments in way’s only perfunctorily studied by outsiders before. This has resulted in some amazing discoveries, a chasm of events creatively documented, some of which some find disturbing. I find my people to be open collaborators, willing and needing to share and discover many universal truths. These relationships are healthy, honest and healing both for this photographer and his friends. We might need to reframe the questions on stereotyping to reflect upon our own self-importance, shame, denial and guilt from which we all come. Overcome our prejudice of our own shadows and embrace those in need of human love, don’t isolate, ignore, manipulate, cover up and victimize. We have done this: it continues; I am only a witness, not a perpetrator. All cultures, communities and families have problems, only those that embrace their behavior in totality - persevere and transform. This is a daily discipline and responsibility.

It requires time, study and commitment to rethink how we view the world of the disadvantaged and our responsibility within. Consider the fact that the world’s population is 75% in need, shouldn’t we reconsider how we view, engage and respond to this? I'm trying to expand how we process this very important relationship. Those who participate in fieldwork learn about themselves, develop patience, acceptance and understanding with deeper perspectives. We bring about effective change, first within ourselves from the inside out, a slow process, but the only way to be truly authentic and supportive to others, ones self and the culture served. Forgiveness, compassion, and attention are required tools. Many of the established elite continue to idealistically isolate themselves from this world community, judging and distancing, rather than engaging. Open your hearts and see what my people and culture have to offer. Look beyond the surface. The world imbalance continues threatening to life, as we know it. Embrace all. Get involved, don’t become a “Judge.” Our future relies on interconnectedness, not academic, idealistic isolation. Visit and talk to families like my mountain people; by varying circumstances they are everywhere, see that their humanity is not so different from you or me.

“Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless.”
Mother Teresa

My photographs have been co created with my friends reflecting our bonds, trust, humor, grace and general celebrations of life. But, problems will persist until we can willfully see, hear, relate to and concentrate on helping those in need of recognition, self-esteem and dignity; not only in Appalachia but World Wide. Sending a check is not enough, without compassion and understanding, this often creates more problems. First, we must overcome our fears, prejudice and insecurity and stop blaming, by getting involved. Stop viewing others from a special height. Understand that every sincere portrait made, is a reflection and part of All of Us. Stereotyping persists today culturally and internally, causing abuses not created by this photographer. I am mirroring back some of our hypocrisy, which our behavior has caused for generations and Oh... how we deny and blame. My work is not about poverty, in its mist perhaps, but more about due respect or the lack of - for the Holler Dwellers. Amidst a thriving modern Appalachia, known to all, they are the last of our cultural roots. When acknowledging special peoples, honest "feelin" recognition is felt, absorbed, carried and inspires transcendence.

Shelby Lee Adams Oct. 2008

"You break bread with a man you have moved on to another level of friendship. I heard somewheres that that's true the world over."

The Sunset Limited
Cormac McCarthy

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Give with Care

"I hear people say: Oh, if I were only rich, I would do great things to help people. But we all can be rich in love and generosity. Moreover, if we give with care, if we find out the exact wants of those who need our help most, we are giving our own loving interest and concern, which is worth more than all the money in the world."

Albert Schweitzer

How to Help ?

Over the years I have had many wonderful experiences helping people within the mountain hollers. This Spring of 2009, because of the national ABC TV program 20/20 Diane Sawyer's "Children of Appalachia;" I to am receiving e mails and calls to my site, from people asking, it this true is there such need in America? My answer is yes and the story of one woman's interest and individual motivations to help are below.

I have provided the address's and made some phone calls to some folks in Kentucky who's families are in direct need of help in many ways. This is an individual [Susan] - helping individual families directly. I have had more request and can say, if we talk and you seem sincere and want to send care packages to Appalachia directly, I can make suggestions and recommendations to people. Please study below what Susan has done over the past two year's, think of what resources you might be able to provide and contact me. When I go to the mountains every summer and fall, I can photograph the product or gifts in use with the families permission and will send you the sender some snap shots of gifts received. This is an experiment, the gift of the Internet can help us all help each other better.
SLA


Susan, sitting at Grand Canyon.

Susan of Pittsfield, who has known my work since my first books publication in '93 contacted me recently to ask if she could be of help to people in Kentucky. Her hobby is quilting and crafts and she has felt the need and joy of, "Giving with Care". Susan is a wife, mother and grandmother. Her care and gifts of many beautiful hand made quilts, clothing and fruit cakes are going to many of my Appalachian families this Christmas season.

This Christmas 2008 Susan and the "Yankee Pride Quilt Guild" of Pittsfield, Ma. has made, donated and shipped 79 quilts, 25 by Susan herself to many of my Appalachian families. Other items, clothing, food and candy were also generiously donated and shipped.


Sancie and Charity, 08

A dozen families benefited from Susan's generosity this Christmas '07.
Susan's generosity was contagious among her friends here in the Berkshires, more people came forth and supplied donations of goods and shipping cost, so that over 20 families in the mountains had more for this year's Christmas season, 2007.

The Dalton Library, Dalton, Mass. contacted Susan to donate 150 duplicate children's books to ship to Kentucky. "The Beaver Creek Elementary School," Topmost, Kentucky was contacted and has now received these 150 books for their library. Feb. '08


Caring

In smallness and insecurity often people from my culture and others, when viewing our adversity, see their world isolated and ridiculed. I have always tried to identify my work with a larger perspective and with purpose. That purpose being to expand our tolerance, acceptance and understandings of each other’s humanity, no matter how diverse. In my childhood, I grew up seeing my people suffer at the hands of each other needlessly. To explore within my community, my intentions have always been to learn, find connections, basic, primal and universal truths that link us all together, to uplift the "underling" rather than ridicule. “The fullest development of every individual creates a society of equals [1.].” So often, we compare ourselves to each other causing isolation, instead of encouraging communal growth.

See the bigger picture I say to my students and colleagues. As water seeks the lowest level it muddies, a place most fear. My intuition told me long ago that no one was better equipped for such an internalized community exploration than myself. I grew up within a combination of circumstances that gave me accessibility and knowledge others shun. That fact has opened doors for me. Elevate consciousness by exploring the lower cracks and crevices of your specific roots, study and learn. We have long painted a pretty picture of ourselves by painting red paint over a beautiful red rose. Study the core, don’t be supercilious. See the "underlings" and help bring them forward, they are a part of our basic culture, needing recognition, for our mutual growth. We read how God is always found in humble places. Humble places seem to produce more believers in love, spirit and true openhearted fellowship. To see this one must have the patience and commitment to look beyond the surface of things. One must become a seeker themselves, dropping ego and self-defensiveness; knowing you don’t have to prove your position, just be OK with the experience. Caring beyond "us" benefits our total and infinite humanness. My community is your community; let's open our hearts and see more clearly.

Shelby Lee Adams

[1.] J. Krishnamurti, “Total Freedom,” Harper Collins, 1996

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Photographic Vision

Wide Angle Vision - Shelby Lee Adams

Previsualization, the term used to describe what the artist conceives mentally when in the process or before making art. When the work is completely executed, the artist often refers to this moment as a gift or guiding inspiration. The previsalization may have appeared as an intuitive, instantly clear image, like a flash of light, or something hidden in the unconscious that had to be wrestled free, but its effects can be superlative to one’s work.

As a photographer when working for weeks on end in the mountains, observing and participating in my environment daily, my eyes and senses become acutely aware. I see and observe on multiple levels, both physically and mentally. You can feel overpowered and weakened in spirit, humbled waiting. When I first began photographing with a view camera, I became frustrated with the limited flat field focal view. After awhile I began using wide-angle lenses, later adding studio lighting. These tools help create what I experience and see, a multiple view of reality simultaneously. Not in the historically traditional manner and use of the view camera, but real field vision non-the less. It is liberating to view the world and make concrete what and how you really see.
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“When we were very young it was a wide, wide scene. As we grow older, however, we come to take a more restricted view. The angle of our tunnel vision may reduce to something like five degrees, on either side of which those increasingly vague objects are more or less ignored. We become wretchedly exclusive, self-occupied, narrow-minded and narrow-headed, hemmed in. We become sick.”

Douglas Harding – Look for Yourself

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Leveling

My people look at their own photographs differently. They feel recognized and accepted for whom they are. They do not feel threatened by the power of photography or devalued by it, but more acknowledged. They talk of their oppressions and difficulty’s as fact. The leveling of self-importance between us brings forth a more emphatic recognition. Perhaps, only those who have suffered themselves can really understand suffering. We acknowledge what we know.

Shelby Lee Adams
March 22, 08 - Easter Sunday
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Truth

Today we are suspicious of “Truth,” because we recognize that what is called truth is often only a tool in the hands of those in power, and is often determined by their beliefs and tailored to their requirements.

Lionel Corbett

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Liberation - Douglas Harding

We live above ground in the light, of course, but the quality and safety of the life we live there rests upon what’s below ground in the dark.

I am what I look at.

From what I’m looking out of, I have inside information denied to all outsiders.

I’m inviting you to doubt what the world tells you about your identity, and take a fresh look at yourself. Just drop all presuppositions and be true to yourself.
Place reliance on what you perceive instead of what you conceive. Fieldwork is valuable if you are open to experience instead of speculations. You observe the observer.

We don’t see what we see, but what someone tells us to see.

What home is like – want be enough to exorcise forever the Thing that has invaded and haunted your Home all your adult life. Though it vanishes on close inspection, it returns the instant your attention wanders. It is your wraith, your doppelganger, and if you don’t keep casting it out it will cast you out and be the death of you. Everything perishes.

The viewer is the viewed and you coincide with you, where there remains nothing to perish, where you are eccentric no longer.

Get the seer moving instead of the seen.

UPANISHAD: God made the senses turn outwards, therefore a man looks outward, not into himself. But now and again a daring soul, desiring immortality, has looked back and found himself.

The Wide Awake One that – though homely and obvious and transparent through and through – fills me with worship and wonder at the mystery of its self-origination. Who shall set limits to the bright blessings that can arise from our growing willingness to trust what we see, instead of what we’re told to see?

Get the picture without being the screen.

Every day it becomes more apparent that “ we must love one another or die.”
Today our well based fear is to look within - is to disappear, and our baseless fear that this means annihilation – are more subtle and efficient. Everyone who sees that to disappear as a particular thing is to reappear instantly as the No-thing that is the imperishable Home of all that perishes, and that to die now is to die never.

Douglas Harding
Look for Yourself

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He Raiseth Up

We must awaken to see each other’s mutual humanity, in all cultures, every community and all individuals. Violence and stigmatization will continue until mutual respect and kindness are firmly embraced. We are not multiple peoples, but one, divided.

My photographs are intimate portraits made with feelings shared together from the inside, with friends, subjects and myself. Masks dissolve when relationships evolve. There is no coaxing or manipulation for effect, instead just open honesty, relating together as valued human beings, with acceptance and without judgments. Our history of association with words like "marginalize" and “poverty” limit and mislead the viewer’s perceptions. People suffer from this. I photograph strong willed creative individuals, loving families, motivated children and some dysfunctional lives, like the world over. Look deeper and you will find our mutual quest. We need kinder, more all-encompassing language that embraces and contributes more meaningfully and realistically.

When people are treated with the utmost respect, they learn to feel worthy of reverence; they realize that they have absolute value. I have learned that in order to establish myself, I must help others to establish themselves. Bridging difference requires some emptying of self-importance from all concerned.

The ancient "Golden Rule" has global interpretations from differing peoples, religions and continents saying throughout time: do not do to others what you would not have done to you, this is necessary selfless wisdom. Compassion, kindness and generosity are the virtues it will take to turn this broken world around. How we look and gaze upon each other at the onset of every single day is an important exercise and discipline, with many still only seeing themselves. My picture's intentions are in part to mirror my cultures unique environments and diversity, as well as to reflect the people’s positive values still practiced, abandoned by some and devalued by many from more “progressive” societies. My people in spite of having less, they have not lost themselves.

Within the art gallery environment, all sides are equals in the same ceremony, observing and communing. Where else and how else, can this happen? The walls dividing us must dissolve. The art gallery represents a platform that provides a purposeful place for our mutual self-study and coexistence. Our sensitivity to cultural and humanistic diversity within the body, mind and spirit of all peoples must be expanded and respected. My life and work have been dedicated to this pursuit.

Seeing and participating in our shared humanity, understanding differences, interconnecting, transforming and transcending – all of these inspire change and encourage acceptance. This is the healing and redemptive power of art. Opening our visual perceptions can help unify people and the flow of authentic language can defeat stigmatization. But many still resist... the “all” of our humanity and have lost their heart. Fewer opportunities exist today for this important human exchange, giving way to more commerce and artifice.

My friends from the hollers remind me that they are not under privileged, nor poor. In fact they are rich and equal to all. That stability can only be achieved and maintained by all recognizing mutual equality. They are largely untouched by material artifice. Respecting and having pride in every aspect of their lives, not rejecting anyone, yet divided too in how they view themselves, honoring family, learning to love regardless of what they get in return, living life free of compromise if only for the moment, they remind me that God has made them spiritually honorable even though society deems them poor. They are indeed among the “princes” regardless of what the world might see.

The Lord maketh poor, and maketh rich: He bringeth low, and lifteth up. He raiseth up the poor out of the dust… to set them among princes and inherit a seat of honor.

1 Samuel 2. 7-8, King James Bible

Shelby Lee Adams
May 2009

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Prayer


Her state of mind, her ecstasy of love, show that something has happened to her. And nothing greater can happen to a human being than that he is forgiven. For forgiveness means reconciliation in spite of estrangement; it means reunion in spite of hostility; it means acceptance of those who are unacceptable; and it means reception of those who are rejected. Forgiveness is unconditional; it is not forgiveness at all.

Paul Tillich