I had the opportunity to be one of the photographers at Story event in Chicago this year. Having to work didn’t allow me to immerse myself entirely in the experience, but there was some time to sit back and soak it in. There was a wide variety of speakers covering all areas from design, ministry, filmmaking and photography.
Chicago is a great city and I was thrilled to get away from heat and humidity of Florida for some nice cool weather. Story was being hosted by the good people at Park Community Church and the team Ben Arment put together did a fantastic job. They helped to create an experience, so that it wasn’t like your typical conference.
The music was excellent with highlights including All The Bright Lights, John Mark McMillan, and All Sons and Daughters.
Again, as I was busy moving around and framing shots, there were many times when I would miss what some of the speakers were saying, but there were several who really capture my attention.
Ed Dobson
Ed really has an amazing story to tell. Ed emigrated from Northern Ireland in 1964 and at one point was pastoring Calvary Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Over 10 years ago, Ed said he would feel twitches in his muscles which he didn’t give much thought to. Everybody has muscle twitches. Then he said one morning he woke up and had numbness in his arm and hand. His wife insisted he go see a doctor. Like most men, Ed admitted he was a chicken and didn’t go. However, at Church he happened to run into a member who was also a neurologist. When Ed spoke of what he was feeling, the doctor said he wanted to see Ed the following day.
It was then he was diagnosed with ALS or as it is commonly known, ‘Lou Gehrig’s Disease.’
He was given 2-5 years to live.
He spoke about living a year like Jesus. He also talked about his book ‘Blinded By Might’ which took aim at Jerry Falwell and James Dobson and the Moral Majority overall (which he actually helped form) saying it didn’t make James and Jerry too happy. He hesitated in calling them to discuss it because his take was,
If I called them, they’d think I was doing it because I was wrong and they were right when I knew I was right all along.
He then said,
But I did it anyway. In doing so, I realized relationships were more important than being right or wrong.
He also said there are no guarantees for tomorrow. The only day we have is now and we should live it to its fullest for the glory of God.
Ed is currently doing a series of short films about his life. It is definitely worth checking out.
Esther Havens
Ever since I was introduced to Esther’s work, I was a fan. Esther is a humanitarian photographer and has done work for several organizations such as Charity Water, A Glimmer of Hope, and Wishing Well Africa amongst others.
Aside from her work being stunning on a technical and photographic level, there was definitely something that set her work apart from others. When we see images of people in impoverished nations we usually only get to see the misery, sadness and despair. Don’t get me wrong. Those stories need to be told.
But Esther’s photos show us something more. They show us hope. They show us happiness and joy in the midst of circumstances you and I couldn’t even imagine.
While it was super cool to finally get to meet Esther in person, it was also great to hear her story. It’s one that has taken her around the globe countless times. I had a few minutes to talk with her and we discussed how much she has traveled. She has logged over 200,000 miles this year alone. In fact, she was stopping in Chicago to speak at Story before heading off to Ethiopia.
Her story started off with her visiting other countries and wanting to capture “that” image. “That” photo which would be her “National Geographic” moment. She was not concerned with listening to the people she was photographing. She didn’t know names nor did she care to know names. She said she was adhering to the unwritten rule of photojournalism that photographers are to record news not to make news or be a part of it.
It took some time but she realized something wasn’t right and it changed who she was as a photographer.
She changed how she photographed people. Instead of looking down at them she said she got down on her knees and started looking up at people. She was no longer going to project a persona upon a person. She was going to take the time to get to know them. To learn their names (and not forget them). She said she was going to take time to listen to their stories. In doing so, she got to know the people she was photographing. That’s why you see images like Moses above.
Be sure to check out Esther’s work at her site.
Kyle Cooper
I have to admit that I was really excited about hearing from Kyle Cooper. As I am opening the creative outlets and getting more into video, being able to hear what Cooper was going to talk about was something I was anticipating. Cooper is best know for the title sequences he creates for movies and television shows.
Titles in films were hardly creative for a long time. Most times, the titles were superimposed over the start of the a film with the dialogue starting just after the director was listed. Much of that changed when the movie ‘Se7en’ was released in 1995. Kyle Cooper created the title sequence for that film and it opened the door for title sequences to not just be words on a screen, but to tell a story itself:
[tentblogger-youtube 4thzyFFdvVc]
Before the movie even starts the audience is aware there is a very disturbed individual at work here.
I expected Cooper’s talk to be largely technical, but it wasn’t. It was raw and emotional. He spoke passionately about his work. He said he doesn’t just put work together. Everything he does, he does for a reason. While he was speaking, he would play some title sequences behind him and discuss why he did certain things, going in to detail as to what his vision was for that particular project.
He also spoke about the struggles he has at times with some of the work he does when it comes to the dark subjects he works on and his faith in God. He reconciles that with knowing that in the end, God wins. He also understands that telling a story can sometimes lead to somebody thinking it’s what you believe. His father asked him,
Why did you cut God out of the dollar bill? (in the Se7en titles sequence).
Kyle responded,
I wasn’t cutting God out of the dollar bill. John Doe was. He was elevating himself above God, thinking he was better than him.
Cooper also talked about the importance of collaboration. He said artists and creatives can often be very selfish. He said giving opportunities and advice away are some of the greatest things we can do.
He also spoke passionately about the value of our work and what it means. It was the one quote that has stuck with me and will do so going forward. He said:
The credibility of our message comes into question when we do mediocre work.
Boom.
What’s great is that applies to almost anybody – artists, photographers, filmmakers, designers, musicians, developers, etc. The list can go on and on.
Be sure to check out Prologue and some of the other awesome work that Kyle and his team have done.
So did you attend Story? What were some of your highlights?
Lee says
The video doesn’t work… This thing sounds amazing though
Jay Caruso says
Fixed! Thanks, Lee.
Marcus Williamson says
Solid dude. Great meeting ya too!
Jay Caruso says
Thanks man! It was great meeting you too!
Allan White says
Great post. Here’s a post from the magnificent site, Art of the Title, on the Se7en title. If you love title design, this site is a must read. Se7en didn’t get the full behind-the-scenes interview treatment, but many great ones do. Sketches and earlier, never-before-seen ideas are exposed, it’s brilliant.
I want to study Esther’s work, that’s another live I’d live if I could.
Very much wishing I could have been at Story ’11. Perhaps next year!
Allan White says
er, that’s another “life I’d live” if I could. /edit
I shoot in Africa every other year or so, I try to focus on the joy, the strength and beauty of those amazing people.
Jay Caruso says
Thanks for the link Allan! I see that you do work for Luis Palau. I saw him preach at a Promise Keeper’s conference in DC back in 95 when most of the people around here were still playing tag in school yards. 🙂