Photography as Healer

Traveling to remote lands in the back of a moving vehicle with camera in hand has been liberating, and how this love affair first began. Other than my children, life hasn’t presented itself with any other rewards that come close to the purity of satisfaction I feel from this creative and inspiring calling.

I feel fearless with a camera. Having grown up extremely shy, the camera empowered me and I transformed. I could walk into any event and talk to strangers. I met and photographed various musicians in the 60’s and 70’s during and after a concert. None of this would be remotely possible without this ‘black box’ around my neck.

It’s that powerful. It became my security and my protector. It has the capacity to stop a moment in time that never presents itself in that sameness. And when I’ve captured a moment, I am deeply elated and extremely exhilarated.

This gratification is therapeutic. For just around the corner is yet another hidden and exciting challenge that awakens my soul, reminding me just how alive I am!

With so little time to capture the slightest essence of a subject, I often concentrate on the eyes, where their story is told. Who are these people? What kind of lives have they led? What are their challenges, fears and joys?

When I capture the intimacy of a subject’s memory, their pain, their secrets, their dreams, their quests, I also grow. I touch them in their loneliness, making sense of how deeply layered we all are.

For it is not by mere chance or accident that I am photographing all parts of myself.

teaching: SundaysInNY.com

all photos ©judith farber

Hurricane Irene, Manhattan, August 28th 2011

Yeah, there was a lot of media hype on what could have been disastrous for a city unprepared for hurricanes, let alone an earthquake (both in one week! does anyone get that our earth is angry? ...another blog) Call it lady luck or whatever (tons of good jokes circling out there from Mayor Bloombito's attempt at Spanglish to bad masking taped windows - yes Soho Apple store, to LA's Craig Ferguson "thousands have been left with no power. They’re called Democrats.” ergh!!), hurricane Irene for us became a scary tropical storm, with little damage. Of course our Mayor needed to be overly post Katrina cautious in pre-hurricane preparations such as moving all those unfortunate hospital patients to safer buildings while shutting down our mass transit for the first time in history. We had no idea how bad the hurricane damage would be, something that could have had a much different outcome.

The rain came and was fierce but quickly turned into a light shower. One of my bedroom windows has an open, clear view North, where I felt the heaviest wind during the night that scared the hell out of me. The monster like howling gave way to the curtains blowing horizontally clear across the room. Then it just stopped, and then started up again. And then stopped, and started. Went on like that all night.

For myself, besides having to cancel last weekend's sessions and this one, I also lost a lot of photography workshop participants who were out-of-towners in the city only for that weekend. Wonder what kind of time they had?

But on post hurricane Sunday, thousands of my fellow New Yorkers couldn't get out fast enough to assess the damage. No one took heed to the serious warnings to "STAY INDOORS,"  hey, we're New Yorkers, survivors, right?

I wandered around nearby Carl Schurz Park with some trees down and the beautiful peaceful sculpture sitting area turned pond...here's just a few snaps.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

text and photos © judith farber

http://www.cafepress.com/HurricaneIreneNY

Paris and Senlis

An amazing trip to France!!

 

My dear friend Fran has lived there for over 20 years. She came to NY recently and stayed with me, so it was time to return the visit. 

Montmartre

Fran lives in Senlis, a beautifully charming historical town (40 min by car to Paris). Fran not wanting to turn down some last minute work, allowed me the adventure of heading into Paris alone. Leaving her town of Senlis, traveling on a local bus, then a smooth spotless train and ending with a smelly hot Metro. Pure local! It helped to be a New Yorker! 

Senlis

 

the 10th

Paris....the most creative and inspiring city for art, fashion, culture, history, design, architecture, landmarks, and oh, those lights at night....what did I leave out? I needed an additional month to see all on my list, and could easily live there again. I experienced all Paris offered as a foreigner, but felt like a local. I walked, rarely taking the metro (from Montmartre to the Marais), got lost, got pick-pocketed, couldn't get my iphone to work with 2 tries with a wasted 50 euros later (the euro...forget it!), slipped and fell leaving a broken lens cap and nicks on my camera with 2 gorgeous french men to help me up,and held a composition workshop class (of only 3) during a holiday weekend (completely forgot about Bastille day DUH!). While many spoke English in the small town of Senlis, I became one of the locals, meeting their wonderful warm people, especially sweet Mustapha. 

Paris seemed more of a melting pot than NY. Walking around all the various neighborhoods, I felt right at home. 

 

Chantilly