“Who Do You Love?” (Take I)
One of the best complements I have ever received was from one of my closest friends, Tyler. After I introduced him to a new friend, he told her that “if friends were like money, Hannah would be a millionaire.” Let’s be honest, $1 million would be great after living off of $8 a day this year, but realistically speaking, I will be happy with a job that pays my bills and excites me.
But that is not the point of this post; not today at least.
The point of this post rests with my latest art project that combines my loves of people, photography, and writing. I have decided that while it parallels photojournalism, I want it to go deeper. I want it to go so deep that you (or any consumer) leave knowing the subjects I call friends and currently, Romanian and Romani neighbors.
While my 1st day on this endeavor was as simple as can be (it included a borrowed Canon© Rebel because my camera is dead, a pink colored cut-out heart from my Moleskin© journal, a mix of 5 languages, 4 hours, and a 6-year old translator), I must admit I had a blast. I took nearly a thousand photos, talked with over 100 people, ate the best chicken I have ever had (at two different families’ homes), was offered a rabbit, given grapes, walnuts, orange juice, and coffee, hugged and kissed too much, danced with children, and attempted to talk in a mix of English, Romanish (sp?), German, Spanish, and sign language—all for the sake of people and art, naturally.
In my attempt at knowing my neighbors and making them known to others, I tried to ask them for their names as well as who they love and why. Simple, no? Well, my language skills failed me today, even though it was a humorous type of failure. I do not regret a moment of it, though. I was still able to take the pictures I wanted to, even though I do not have the correspondent life stories I had wanted (read: there will be a ‘take ii,’ ‘take iii,’ take iv,’ ‘take v,’ …)
Regardless of my destroyed diet, tired feet, and crazy smile on my face that I could not wipe away even hours later, the following link will guide you to my finish work of “Who Do You Love?”(Take I). Enjoy!
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2043453&id=220400931&l=1b6653b002
