New year. New challenge.

“What the new year brings to you will depend on a great deal on what you bring to the New Year.” – Vern Mclellan

It has been a long while since I last wrote a blog entry. Despite my blogging being dormant during the second half of 2023, my life was filled with excitement. Looking back at the most memorable moments from last year, I realized my participation at the workshop hosted by my mentor Arno Minkkinen at the Griffin Museum in February was instrumental to bringing forth the latest developments. My experience of working with a world renown photographer and teacher such as Arno inspired me to continue on the path of growth. During the summer, I took two workshops at the Maine Media College up in Rockport. The workshop with Arno to continue on my journey of developing my vision, another workshop with instructor Michael Wilson learning portraiture. Both workshops presented challenges, particularly with the portraiture workshop since I was new to the genre and have never had any formal training. I hope to speak more about that experience with another blog entry.

Since I came away with such wonderful experiences at the Maine Media College on both occasions, I started looking into pursuing their low residency Master of Fine Arts program in the fall. I looked into the possibility of applying for the program before, but I never have the confidence in myself for fulfilling the demands of a fine arts degree program. Thinking it is now or never, I took the chance and applied. To my great surprise, I got accepted into the program, with big thanks to those who helped me put together the application. I attended the first on-campus artist retreat in November. Surrounded by the wonderful faculty members and many other student artists who not only were skilled in their craft, but also being committed to challenging themselves into making wonderful work. The experience affirmed my decision of applying to the program. I also felt blessed to be included in such a nurturing environment. I feel committed to making the upcoming years of pursuing the MFA a rewarding one for my photography.

After the artist retreat was concluded, I was informed the Maine Media College provost -- Elizabeth Greenberg was assigned as my first semester mentor. We started our bi-weekly Zoom meetings in mid-December. The goal of my first semester, according to Elizabeth, is to make work continually and spending time together reflecting on how my work progresses. Hopefully in due time we will find my authentic voice. I had two Zoom meetings with Elizabeth, and on both occasions, I came away feeling those meetings were illuminating to understanding my view and working process with regards to my photography.

Looking at this New Year, I choose these three words: light, beauty, hope as guides for my photography moving forward. Those words will serve as lenses I can look through. When I tell myself those are the qualities I am looking for, more likely than not I will see them in the world around me. Instead of focusing on the subject, I am more tuned in to interpret the idea in a more nuanced way, and hopefully it will encourage me to not simply photograph subjects for what they are. Instead of a fixed resolution, I have a whole year to look through my lens and implement my vision.

My best wishes to all for a healthy, happy and wonderful 2024.