Email to photographer Colin Gray.

I have mentioned Colin Gray as part of my research previously and also stated that he inspired me to consider my project as photographically doable.

His personal project “In Sickness and in Health” has received world-wide recognition for all the right reasons.

It has showed the insight of being part of someone’s death, loved ones death in particular and sends a powerful message across about witnessing the end of life, grieving and absorbing what is happening through amazing and emotional photographs.

As Colin Gray website states:
““In Sickness and in Health” forms the final stages of “The Parents” series. Begun in 2000, it shows his parent’s deterioration and, ultimately, his mothers’ death. The hospital and church visits became more frequent, the ailments more serious, the drugs regime ever more complex. Whilst his father struggled with his new role as a carer, Gray found that his photographs helped make sense of the deterioration and loss he was experiencing. Having reached the age his parents were when he started the project, Gray now sees their history in his own future.”

You can look through photographs and his other projects on his official website:
Colin Gray

Colin Gray has been a reminder through out my project development how photographs can change the way we see the world and ordinary things around us.
I feel deeply every single image from series, I can relate to it in both ways -personally and professionally.
Also these series are inspiration to achieve the same reaction with my project.

In my future project development I will continue to refer back to Colin Gray and do more research.

But as for my current project direction, I was very keen to get advice from him of how to approach hospices and hospitals, people and organisations and in general see if he can share his views on death and end of life.
At first I just thought I will quickly brief my project, give the link to my blog and ask few questions, but as it turned out – I am only capable of writing essays.

Here you can read full document:
EMAIL TO C GRAY

He replied the same night “Anete, there’s a lot to take in, will get back to you. Thanks for the kind comments”

It would be awesome to hear back from him so fingers crossed.

Press release to Hull Daily Mail

After discussion with John Gilbert and making a conscious decision to take another step towards finding a potential funerals, I started to work on my press release.

I had to look up a few websites in addition to the template that I was given to get it perfectly right and get the article in the paper.

A complete guide to writing an effective press release – The Marketing Donut

What should go into a press release?

Answer the following questions about your news:

• Who? Who are the key players — your company, anyone else involved with the product? Who does your news affect/who does it benefit?
• What? What is new?
• Why? Why is this important news — what does it provide that is different?
• Where? Where is this happening/is there a geographical angle/is the location of business relevant?
• When? What is the timing of this? Does this add significance?

• How?How did this come about?

You need to get all the information into the first paragraph. The test of success is whether the story can be understood in its entirety if only the first paragraph was reproduced in print.

The second paragraph expands on information in the first, giving a bit more detail.  Often, the third paragraph provides a quote. The fourth paragraph outlines final information, such as referencing websites and ordering, or mentions other products in development, for example.

_________________________________________________________________
The plan was to focus on Funeral Photography in order to appeal potential families and people to allow me to photograph their funerals.

One really good tip from John was to write every thing in third person and quote myself in order to make publishers life dead easy and give more of a chance to get published. I also had to pick few good images that describe my project.

I was convinced that discussing my Latvian heritage and background was important too, because the idea has grown from my personal experience.

It was interesting  again to overcome the issue of not being able to describe my project in few words and have exact idea in words, but as the time was running out and  wanted the article in the same day as the radio show, I had to focus really hard and get the job done.

At the end, I was really pleased and proud. Another great experience to go through and from now on, I will be more confident to get in a story if needed published.

Here you can read the full document:

Press Release Hull Daily Mail

In order to reach someone directly, I had to ring up the News Desk and get a contact. Once I had that I send the Press Release and few hours later Ben Blosse rang me back for a quick chat.
I was really pleased to hear that he thinks that the story is worth publishing and I have done a lot of work for him. He asked me to talk through the project, my background, so I did.
Again I was not particularly prepared to discuss the project – the communication is still lacking, but I think I nailed it at the end. At the end of the day – I am lucky to be truly passionate about the project, everything comes from me and my crazy mind. So the communication is just one thing I need to be working on.

To my happy surprise the next day, just before the radio show I was in the paper!
Wo-hooo!!!!

Hull Daily mail Anete Sooda, Photographer

To my surprise, in the article there was a lot of repetetive information, but in a good light, positive and supportive. Although there was not a lot of text [info] from the press release, the reporter used information I gave him over the phone.

It was a good experience and gave me an insight of how its like when you are a local celebrity for a day [not really, I was just over the moon that my plan worked and I made the most out of the opportunity]

There was another thing I was hoping to avoid doing, but it was clear that only stepping out of my comfort zone will bring me the success [I am also referring back to the idea of applying for the radio show].

As I really wanted get access to funerals without braking the law or intruding someone’s deep and personal grief, I had to advertise myself as a free- funeral photographer. I understand that if this develops into a business aspect at some point I could charge, as any photographic services cost money, but for the project purpose I would love to be invited to photograph funerals as trials.

I went to Hull daily Mail website advertisement section and by a surprise I could not find a suitable section, where I could fit a rather strange [or specific] advert.

I have to contact Hull Daily Mail and see if they will accept my request and help me to find suitable section.

HULL DAILY MAIL CONTACT

End of the week was again productive and busy. I had two meetings lined up- meeting with John Gilbert, part of the Hull 2020 Champions Clinics to discuss David Burns Show and “Before I Die” wall and quick meeting with David Burns Show producers to discuss details about the show.

In the meeting with John Gilbert, I had a “moment of truth” about the massive help Hull 2020 Champions have given to me so far to help me towards achieving my goals and get my project out to the public.

We discussed the potential conversation about my project and what are the focus points. John suggested to push this forward as a future business idea. To the question if that is even ethical to make money out of photographing death  I had to answer myself…If I can prove to people that photographing funeral is beneficial to the family and it will be part of celebrating a life left behind, I can surely say yes.

John suggested to write a press release to Hull Daily Mail about my Funeral Photography Project and try to get the article in the same day as the David Burns Show.

Great idea, but again – I’ve never written one and can I take another step towards public availability regards to my project?

John shared a template for press release and left the decision up to me.

In all fairness, in the meeting I thought – I better stick to the radio show as it is nerve racking already….

The cheery on the top was the further discussions about BEFORE I DIE WALL and that my enthusiasm has encouraged John and his team to get involved.

Really happy to know that I can inspire people to do something. Also great to know that they consider me to be able to make a space in my busy diary for a wall and that I am good enough photographer to get a title of Hull’s “Before I Die” wall official photographer.

The plan was to do a trial wall in upcoming YO-YO Festival and see what the response is like. As the festival was family friendly, culturally vibrant it was a great opportunity to test the wall.

You can read more about my collaboration with John Gilbert, eskimosoup and Hull 2020 Champions here:
Collaboration with John Gilbert/eskimosoup and Hull 2020 Champions

_________________________________________________________________

Quick meeting with Olivia, the producer of BBC Radio Humberside David Burns Show.

I met up with Olivia, because I needed to ask a few questions and see what they want to focus on.

Olivia had previously seen the document that describes the project and includes all photographs, so she was well aware of my project.
Here is the document, if you want to have a read through:
David Burns BBC Radio Humberside Talk Show application

Questions that I had prepared:

• Does the show gets pre-recorded and edited?
  Always worried about the sound of my voice when recorded, so I was hoping to get some voice filters. Editing – how do they avoid any awkward moments, mistakes and other bits.
• what is the overall nature of the show?
  I have to have certain bias when talking about my show and find the right approach.
• Have they had none-English people on before?
  I am worried that people will make their observations straight after finding out about my nationality and their reaction will be different. If honest – I have forgotten how its like when people become a bit “racist”.
• Can I take my camera and take a few pictures for visual proof.

Questions that they want to discuss on the show:

• What do I think of Hull?
• What is my project about?
• My Latvian heritage influences.
• Discuss my grandmothers photograph and others. Also bring these photos for Burnsy.
• Cultural differences.

The meeting made me feel a lot more confident. I thought that I am as ready as I will ever be.

As previously discussed, I was hoping that my tutor Andy will come with me to the show, as he know my project, reasons behind the project and overall subject matter, he also has got interesting views on death and life.
Andy would also work as a nerve-relief and support if I struggle to speak or think.
But his availability was under a question mark and that was making me nervous.

Summary:
A lot of great things are happening, I just need to embrace the moment and do my absolute best to succeed. I have a lot of supporters that will help me and inspire me, so I should not be worried.

Exhibition Planning – testing split batons and STICKALL glue with Steve from the workshop.

For our A0 prints we had to figure out safe and steady method of how we going to get the prints secured to the wall for the exhibition.

Last year we had the same type of prints 3 mm Foamboard and we used velcro. That was fairly cheap and easy, but the lesson learned – by moving velcro of the surface it comes of together with paint or whatever the decoration is.

As the downstairs space in Hull School of Art&Design is permanently used for exhibiting art, we cannot damage the white walls. Also Steve from the workshop takes the Degree Show seriously and professionally, so we cannot be messing about with velcro.

Steve has come up with split batons.

One part of the baton will be attached to the print and other – to the wall. Once both parts are attached, the prints will hook on the batons on the wall.
That means that we can work on both separately and when the exhibition comes, the hard work will be behind and hanging the prints will be the pleasing part.

But before we put ourselves through lot of work we had to test the split batons and STICKALL glue.

In the photos you can see Steve, me and split batons.

Once the batons glued, they had to be put under heavy pressure and I had to come back next day and see if it sticks together fine.

The next day it was good news – it was really secure and when we tried to remove the split baton, the wood split and part of it was still attached to the print.

So happy days!!!!

As the David Burns show was highly recommended to me as a primary source and potentially could mould my project into a serious turning point, I decided to write a proposal and send it to David Burns production team.

I suddenly had to turn my ideas into words that make sense and helps people to understand what and why I am doing this.

I had to sell the idea and make it real, so that I can move forward with the project.

Going to the radio show had a specific angle – Funeral photography, so other little projects for that particular occasion was just added as an extra.

My main focus points had to be the funeral experiences growing up, recent discoveries of my family’s collection of funeral photographs and four days in Latvia when I photographed a funeral [crashed a funeral], went to the morgue and visited my family’s grave yard.

And then I had to explain my open minded views on photographing funerals, give an insight to my cultural views and differences. To introduce my project and ideas, I eased the subject into photographing funerals in the UK, taking account my previous experience in Latvia, cultural differences, taboo’s about talking about death and paying respects and see if I can find the answers to some questions.

The whole process of writing the material was like a roller coaster, I jumped from one subject to another and copy-pasted different paragraphs.

After four hours of intense brain-storming I was ready to send it to Andy, John Gilbert for a proof reading and second opinion.

To read the full document, click here:
David Burns BBC Radio Humberside Talk Show application

I also added photographs of my grandmother, selection of funeral photographs.
The images can tell more than thousand words, but as it will be broadcasted on the radio, people will not see the images and they are less likely to use their imagination to see where I am coming from.

But by adding the images to the document for the producers, will give them more of an understanding.

After proof reading and few suggestions how to improve the application, I sent it over to BBC Radio Humberside and it was official.

Few days later I got a phone call to see if we can discuss the radio appearance in detail and select a date.

I was over the moon that they got back to me with good news, they were interested I had a gut feeling that it might move the project to a different level, help me to over-come the communication issues and answer the most important question – is Hull ready for funeral photography and can we brake the silence and talk about death and paying the respects openly.

Few days later the reality kicked in and I started to feel the urge to cancel- was I ready to speak on the radio about this subject, can I say the right things and convince people listening that it is OK to speak about death and funerals. Can I persuade the listeners and get an invitation to some trial funerals? And prove that this is just another kind of celebration – celebration of a life lived??????

We will see……

In the next few days I will find out the date…..

GRAVE YARD HUNT DAY 1 PLANNING

Last weekend I was on my way to Withernsea and half way [or according to map 1/3] I shouted – GRAVEYARD. I was in the car with civilized people, so could not stop and wonder around.
But that occasion inspired me to travel around East Riding and Hull in a search for grave yards or cemeteries [let’s talk English].
The following week I started search of exact locations and prepared a map.

The purpose – as I have a clear understanding and knowledge around what Latvian graveyards look like and just rough idea about English graveyards, I have to visit them in order to understand the cultural difference and overall feel.

The understanding so far is – simple and tidy, grave stone and flowers. The areas are fairly big and there is a church or cemetery on the land as well.

I started with tracking down the graveyard on the way to Withernsea.

Next step was to go to other end of East Riding and spot the one I’ve seen few weeks back in South Cave.

In order to have more than two I used sources to locate others.

Hull City Council: Burials and cemeteries

East Riding and Yorkshire Council Cemeteries

I total I found seven that I would like to visit. But the ones in outskirts of Hull seem more attractive and also less crowded. First three [as seen in the map below] are my priorities for the day and others I will visit if have time or the research process is mind blowing and interesting and helps towards developing the slow-going project.

The outcome hopefully will be more than just research images and will lead me into finalizing some of my project points, such as cultural differences and trends in cemeteries.
I am hoping for quiet visits, not to be disturbed with questions or prohibitions to take photographs. I would not mind meeting an odd person and ask a few questions.

The top image recreation would be a dream come-true, but I more expect images shown below.

The list is ready, I plan to set up early [around 6/7 am] and the kit – Canon Mark III, 24-70 mm, 85 mm and speedlight [just in case].

NOTE: When preparing equipment I started to think if taking a photo-bag would make me more noticeable. Interesting point for a consideration.

This week I was told to check out something that my friend come across in Birmingham, The Photography Show.

RememberMyBaby is an UK registered charity who have professional photographers volunteering their photography services for the benefit of UK parents losing their baby before, during or shortly after birth.
It is supported by BBC Radio 2, StandInBaby™, Zenfolio, Life After Loss,  The Jude Brady Foundation and others. The services are available across NHS Maternity Units and Birth Centres around the UK.

Here is a link to a video that explains in full what the organisation is all about.
ABOUT – RememberMyBaby

The idea of this foundation is incredible and leaves me thinking that sometimes loss can be tragic and not make sense. How can people cope? How can they say goodbye to a new life?
It is interesting how coming across this website has changed my perception of loss, I am re-thinking if asking people to photograph them during hard times, is appropriate.

There are few bit of rules and procedures for a photographer to be part of the charity and it does give the feel of how serious this is.

This can’t be linked with my Final Major Project, as this is a  lengthy application process, sensitive and confidential matter, also this would be step too far in my own comfort zone.

I think skilful photographers should get involved if they have spare time on their hands. This can be a method of coping with grief and loss of a new life for many families.
I will in the future.