Dotting all the I’s; Crossing all the T’s
I’m back from a super 7 days in Singapore! Now back to reality: I’m so deep in images to be processed right now (this is a good thing, yes?) This current photo project is going well, despite occasional hick-ups in the working relationship with my assistant (I won’t say who, or it will turn into a flame war).
I’m starting to feel I must manage this project as I would a technical project. I have to remain focused on the overall goal of this project. Unfortunately, the assistant loses focus and wants the project to slightly expand beyond being a Photo project, and into a cultural study, beyond photography. I’m partly open to this, but I feel I must meet my core goals with this project first, before looking at expanding it.
I’m stil getting some 200+ emails a week about this blog and project. The most asked question currently is “where are the new photos?”
Well, I’ll answer that now. They are on my hard drive hahaha. Seriously, I will not be posting any photos on this blog, relative to photo projects, again. Why? Because people are stealing my photo work, and claiming credit for it! I’ve had to go to 36 different websites, and request various photos from this blog (and from my very old Pbase account) no longer be used.
This is not to say I wont let others use the photos. Just recently, someone asked to use photos, and I sent him high quality images for free, as he was nice enough to ask. Certainly, if those site owners simply “asked” to use the photos, I would have allowed them (as their sites or projects are humanitarian based).
I’ve created a PhotoShelter account that I will load projects to. PS accounts have right-click protection, and back-up capabilities to protect my images from being lost or stolen. I like that!
In the mean time, Please be patient. the PS site will be up, and there will be a special page link from this blog to it. 
After the color scheme is finished (PS can be customized), it will become the new BeyondExposures.com site.
For now, I am trying to not fire my assistant, get a grip on the thousands of images… and get the PhotoShelter site up and running, all while working full time (by the way, in 2009 I will be promoted to be in charge of all Information Technology of all companies owned by the parent corporation, not merely the single company I am working for…..very good, and maybe more pay, but I cannot do it if it will affect my photography time: maybe it will help it, as I will travel much more often in Indonesia for work… hmmm)
Take care and Happy Holidays!
In Total Shock
Actually, I’m quite well. Everything at work is going accordingly and smoothly. My presentation for yesterday’s annual meeting was highly successful (I really put serious effort into that presentation!).
My photographic life is really going well. I’m working on “the project” with formal government approval, giving me total access to do what I need to. Thursday night (December 11) I will head to Kalimantan for more work with the Indonesian Government for one of their projects that deal with critical topics (malnutrition and extreme respitory disease). I’m looking forward to this Kalimantan project, as my photographic work will help the Ministry of Health show what they are doing to combat these important issues, as well as what the consequenses are when they lack the funding or personnel penetration to act.
But this post is about being in shock. “The Project” deals with certain groups of individuals, living in a type of poverty no one suspects really exists. I will not go into details, as I’m sick of my photo project ideas being stolen, but I will say I see humans and humanity in a different way. The way some people choose to live is incredible and sad. I’m digesting all I’ve witnessed and seen, and trying to get in touch with my perceptions of it all, so I may channel it through the camera.
I began this project with one goal, but it has changed to purely giving people a voice, so the world (or at least this country) know what they are enduring every day…
It’s all I can say for now. I’m ok, but I feel I’ve seen some things that change how I see life…… You will too, when you see and hear (yes, hear) the results of it all…