A 3 Month Challenge

On set with Gitgo Prodcutions upcoming short "2020"

I am taking on a challenge. Part social experiment, part medical necessity. As of yesterday, I am unable to drive for 3 months.

Would you be able to do that? This is something that may be much easier for some than others. If I lived in New York City then not driving for 3 months would not phase me in the least. But I live in Maine, and not near any public transportation lines and not walking distance to any grocery stores or conveniences (though there is a farm stand about half a mile away). But I do live in an area where I can bike as needed, I have family members close by, no kids to cart around, and friends who have said they will help if I need it. I am self-employed and work from home.

Except when I don't.

Crew reflection in the side of a 1969 El Camino.

Crew setting up the next shot.

I do believe that will be my biggest challenge during the next 3 months. When the phone rings for work saying "I can't drive for 3 months" is not likely to be an answer that works in my favor. Though I do believe in an honest approach to how I live my life and run my business, and so sharing this info with people is what I plan to do. Sure, my mom might have to drive me to a photo shoot, and I may have to sit around and wait for a ride home. But this is a temporary situation. The end reward will be no longer taking medicine that I have been on since I was 11. I can stand a little humbling to get that to happen.




This is going to be an exercise in resourcefulness. I am going to have to swallow my pride and ask for help. Then I'll have to plan accordingly and be flexible. And be creative in finding solutions. I'm betting this will help me really think about how I do things and will therefore make me a better problem solver. And isn't that the kind of photographer you would want to hire?

So, if all goes well I will no longer be medicated for epilepsy 3 months from now(!!!). I will have saved some money, lessened my carbon footprint, and learned a thing or two about myself. Plus, I will be free of a medicine I have been taking for far too long. And that will be an unbelievable freedom for me. Of course, in order to get there I have to have a freedom taken away. The state will not allow me to drive while I go through this process.

I tell you this not to scare you away from hiring me, but instead to share this piece of my life with you, and invite you to share any stories or helpful tips if you have them. For the next 3 months I am the photographer who can't drive herself ANYWHERE (and might drive those around her a little crazy). But I know without a doubt this will not stop me from doing what I love.

I love being on set!

Director Kate Kaminski chatting with Kate Davis between takes.

Almost ready.

The actors in action.

More tests. A lot goes into film-making, in case you didn't already know that.

More fabulous actors during their scene.

Honk if you see me walking down the road lugging my camera gear on my back. Or stop and chat with me. Or cheer me on. Maybe offer me some water. I will gladly share my tales with those who wish to know. And if I know you I may even accept the offer of a ride when needed.

Me on set with my trusted Sound Blimp protecting my camera from the damp weather.

All photos above were taken on set with Gitgo Productions and their upcoming short film 2020, which will premiere in October 2010 in Portland, Maine.


...

mullenberg designs-portfolio design studio from lcm=liquidcreativemedia on Vimeo.

Rinse and Repeat

The other day I hung out on a farm in the snow with an actress, a photographer and a videographer. Oh, and the the two camera guys are also musicians, but maybe that's not important right now. We joined forces, in the name of creative collaboration, cross promotion, and style enhancement. Working in collaboration, and seeing what our talents can produce. I think I am in love with working this way.




First of all, creative types can truly benefit by stepping out of their studios or even away from their egos, and sharing with each other. It's easy to get wrapped up in our projects and forget that. But every time I work with others I come away jazzed up and ready to roll. I know I am not alone in this.




One of the many things I learned while at Mystic5 was the concept of Lather, Rinse, Repeat (not just for clean hair, apparently!) In photo terms it can be worded as Shoot, Learn, Go out and do it again. And again. And again.... You get the idea. And since this early January 3 day seminar ended, I have seen that concept repeated all over the place - on blogs, twitter, Facebook, etc., and not by people who were at the Mystic5 seminar. People everywhere seem to know this.

So, go out and try it. Figure out what worked and what didn't. Go out and try again. And do that over and over, as often as possible. There has to be some mathematical formula out there that tells us this is the only way to get better and better at what we do. I'm not a math person, so I wouldn't know the name of such thing, other than persistence.




So, allow me to introduce Casey McDougal, SAG actress, Vegan, and all around fun person. She has to go through the Lather, Rinse, Repeat process all the time as well. No one is going to find her if she doesn't audition, and she's never going to improve if she doesn't keep at it, and learn from those around her, and then head out the door the next day to do it all over again.

There is something incredibly exciting about this concept. Every chance you go out and work on your craft is a chance to learn, to grow, to take yourself to the next level. And isn't that so much better than feeling stuck or working the same way day in, day out? Even the most seasoned rockstar-esque professional has to do this or else they too will get stale, and will watch as their colleagues pass them by. It's one of those things that reminds me at times that our possibilities are endless. I will continually shoot, learn, and head out my door yet again, and still not know all there is to know. There are so many directions I will be able to go. All of us have this chance, should we wish to take it.

The two musician guys and I had two more shoots together that weekend. Each one just as rewarding as the last, each one another step in the direction of building ourselves as individuals and a team. There will be more info coming soon on these collaborations, so please stay tuned.

Don't step away from the computer!

;-)