Comments on: Photographing Strangers and People in Foreign Cultures http://www.philborges.com/blog/2009/09/23/photographing-strangers-and-people-in-foreign-cultures/ Social Documentary Photography and Film Wed, 01 Feb 2012 19:31:22 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Phil Borges http://www.philborges.com/blog/2009/09/23/photographing-strangers-and-people-in-foreign-cultures/comment-page-1/#comment-3408 Phil Borges Wed, 29 Dec 2010 20:22:41 +0000 http://www.philborges.com/blog/?p=211#comment-3408 Hey Eric. Nice to hear from you. It sounds like a very interesting project you are working on. I am so glad to see that you are raising cultural awareness within the oil and gas industry. I wish you great success! Hey Eric. Nice to hear from you. It sounds like a very interesting project you are working on. I am so glad to see that you are raising cultural awareness within the oil and gas industry. I wish you great success!

]]> By: Eric Mohun http://www.philborges.com/blog/2009/09/23/photographing-strangers-and-people-in-foreign-cultures/comment-page-1/#comment-3389 Eric Mohun Tue, 28 Dec 2010 14:30:15 +0000 http://www.philborges.com/blog/?p=211#comment-3389 Hi Phil; it's been a few years since we've communicated, though I've been keeping track of your work and Bridges to Understanding's programs. I am spending much of my time in aboriginal communities in western Canada and documenting my visits and interactions as best I can. I also find it essential to first build a relationship or "understanding" before I go clicking away. I have been able to use the images I've captured for many slide shows and videos to share with my clients in oil and gas industry with the intention of increasing cultural awareness for the people within the communities and regions where development is proposed. I am hoping to create a piece on aboriginal trappers, who continue to live off the land (hunting, trapping, gathering) amongst ongoing industrial development. Keep up with great work Phil. Hi Phil; it’s been a few years since we’ve communicated, though I’ve been keeping track of your work and Bridges to Understanding’s programs. I am spending much of my time in aboriginal communities in western Canada and documenting my visits and interactions as best I can. I also find it essential to first build a relationship or “understanding” before I go clicking away. I have been able to use the images I’ve captured for many slide shows and videos to share with my clients in oil and gas industry with the intention of increasing cultural awareness for the people within the communities and regions where development is proposed. I am hoping to create a piece on aboriginal trappers, who continue to live off the land (hunting, trapping, gathering) amongst ongoing industrial development. Keep up with great work Phil.

]]> By: Phil Borges http://www.philborges.com/blog/2009/09/23/photographing-strangers-and-people-in-foreign-cultures/comment-page-1/#comment-1219 Phil Borges Thu, 17 Jun 2010 20:04:12 +0000 http://www.philborges.com/blog/?p=211#comment-1219 Kit. What a great comment! Thanks for sharing!! For my last trip I was actually able to find another "polaroid" camera made by Fiji. I do prefer the Fiji over the little printers. Kind regards - Phil Kit. What a great comment! Thanks for sharing!! For my last trip I was actually able to find another “polaroid” camera made by Fiji. I do prefer the Fiji over the little printers. Kind regards – Phil

]]> By: Kitty Alice Snead http://www.philborges.com/blog/2009/09/23/photographing-strangers-and-people-in-foreign-cultures/comment-page-1/#comment-1084 Kitty Alice Snead Thu, 20 May 2010 20:12:10 +0000 http://www.philborges.com/blog/?p=211#comment-1084 The meaningful exchange of energy of which you write is a sign of respect that cuts across all races and cultures. And I'm glad you posted you're comments. It is a good reminder to take the time to know the person before the lense. Early on during my ten year project photographing the Tarahumara, another photographer and friend, Richard Speedy taught me by example to travel with a small Polaroid camera. I could give an 'instant' gift back to people who had no images of themselves. (That was before digital photography and small printers.) I've spent a lot of time on my knees photographing people of all ages and it has always given me great joy to watch their wonder at the emergence of their likeness appearing in their hands! I never tire of that. I had another mentor, Douglas Hall, who photographed rodeo cowboys. Douglas told me he always sent a little money to the cowboy when he sold a print. He said it was always appreciated. That's not always possible. But with the help of my Sierras guide, Santiago, individuals and communities have received an unexpected donation. Life is hard in the Sierras as it is in the remaining indigenous areas of the world. My life has been blessed, as I'm sure yours has, to be offered friendship and acceptance by members of a culture different from my own. A viewer at an exhibition recently said I had received a great gift! Yes I have --to be allowed to observe, learn and work outside my culture. The gift is large including adventure, learning, & mutual respect. I have learned by experience a deep appreciation of the Tarahumara people, their beliefs and way of life. Thank you for your statements, as a reminder of the rules of polite behavior for all visitors. And your responses back to those who have written you is admirable. It's making a rich salon gathering for photographers. Kit, 'Alicia' The meaningful exchange of energy of which you write is a sign of respect that cuts across all races and cultures. And I’m glad you posted you’re comments. It is a good reminder to take the time to know the person before the lense.
Early on during my ten year project photographing the Tarahumara, another photographer and friend, Richard Speedy taught me by example to travel with a small Polaroid camera. I could give an ‘instant’ gift back to people who had no images of themselves. (That was before digital photography and small printers.) I’ve spent a lot of time on my knees photographing people of all ages and it has always given me great joy to watch their wonder at the emergence of their likeness appearing in their hands! I never tire of that.
I had another mentor, Douglas Hall, who photographed rodeo cowboys. Douglas told me he always sent a little money to the cowboy when he sold a print. He said it was always appreciated. That’s not always possible. But with the help of my Sierras guide, Santiago, individuals and communities have received an unexpected donation. Life is hard in the Sierras as it is in the remaining indigenous areas of the world.
My life has been blessed, as I’m sure yours has, to be offered friendship and acceptance by members of a culture different from my own. A viewer at an exhibition recently said I had received a great gift! Yes I have –to be allowed to observe, learn and work outside my culture. The gift is large including adventure, learning, & mutual respect. I have learned by experience a deep appreciation of the Tarahumara people, their beliefs and way of life.
Thank you for your statements, as a reminder of the rules of polite behavior for all visitors. And your responses back to those who have written you is admirable. It’s making a rich salon gathering for photographers.
Kit, ‘Alicia’

]]> By: Phil Borges http://www.philborges.com/blog/2009/09/23/photographing-strangers-and-people-in-foreign-cultures/comment-page-1/#comment-559 Phil Borges Thu, 07 Jan 2010 18:07:49 +0000 http://www.philborges.com/blog/?p=211#comment-559 Thank you Paul, I feel very fortunate to be able to do the work that I do. Your support is very much appreciated. Thank you Paul, I feel very fortunate to be able to do the work that I do. Your support is very much appreciated.

]]> By: paul siemering http://www.philborges.com/blog/2009/09/23/photographing-strangers-and-people-in-foreign-cultures/comment-page-1/#comment-557 paul siemering Thu, 07 Jan 2010 05:22:18 +0000 http://www.philborges.com/blog/?p=211#comment-557 You are doing just amazing, wonderful work Phil. I have been cruising around for hours and it is really overwhelming. So much compassion, and more than that, understanding all these wonderful people and pictures and stories. thank you very much, and carry on Paul Siemering You are doing just amazing, wonderful work Phil. I have been cruising around for hours and it is really overwhelming. So much compassion, and more than that, understanding all these wonderful people and pictures and stories.

thank you very much, and carry on

Paul Siemering

]]> By: Phil Borges http://www.philborges.com/blog/2009/09/23/photographing-strangers-and-people-in-foreign-cultures/comment-page-1/#comment-298 Phil Borges Mon, 02 Nov 2009 22:11:16 +0000 http://www.philborges.com/blog/?p=211#comment-298 Thank you Gillian, your thoughts are very much appreciated. And I wish you the best with your organization - it has similarities to Bridges to Understanding - http://www.bridgesweb.org/. Thank you Gillian, your thoughts are very much appreciated. And I wish you the best with your organization – it has similarities to Bridges to Understanding – http://www.bridgesweb.org/.

]]> By: Gillian http://www.philborges.com/blog/2009/09/23/photographing-strangers-and-people-in-foreign-cultures/comment-page-1/#comment-297 Gillian Sun, 01 Nov 2009 14:31:42 +0000 http://www.philborges.com/blog/?p=211#comment-297 Wonderful piece and great, practical advice to anyone who wishes to document their travels -- you are visiting someone's 'home' and it should be treated as such. I think we, tourists, forget all about the human touch and that although we may be from different regions, we all share so much in common; especially the need to connect. I'm working to offer cultural experiences to teens in NYC (www.OneMindOpens.org) with the intention of taking them on international trips to experience how different cultures live, and your work is a great inspiration to me! Please keep doing the work you do. I love the personal stories you include with your pieces. Wonderful piece and great, practical advice to anyone who wishes to document their travels — you are visiting someone’s ‘home’ and it should be treated as such. I think we, tourists, forget all about the human touch and that although we may be from different regions, we all share so much in common; especially the need to connect.

I’m working to offer cultural experiences to teens in NYC (www.OneMindOpens.org) with the intention of taking them on international trips to experience how different cultures live, and your work is a great inspiration to me!

Please keep doing the work you do. I love the personal stories you include with your pieces.

]]> By: admin http://www.philborges.com/blog/2009/09/23/photographing-strangers-and-people-in-foreign-cultures/comment-page-1/#comment-129 admin Thu, 24 Sep 2009 21:16:42 +0000 http://www.philborges.com/blog/?p=211#comment-129 Thanks Andy! I really appreciate that you are sharing this information with your students. I will be posting more informational material soon. What camera are you shooting the Fuji Polaroid film with? Phil Thanks Andy! I really appreciate that you are sharing this information with your students. I will be posting more informational material soon. What camera are you shooting the Fuji Polaroid film with?

Phil

]]> By: admin http://www.philborges.com/blog/2009/09/23/photographing-strangers-and-people-in-foreign-cultures/comment-page-1/#comment-128 admin Thu, 24 Sep 2009 21:12:29 +0000 http://www.philborges.com/blog/?p=211#comment-128 Many thanks for the comment Beverly! I thoroughly enjoyed looking at your website. Great work!! Phil Many thanks for the comment Beverly! I thoroughly enjoyed looking at your website. Great work!!

Phil

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