Faces...

I've started work on an idea that was inspired by David "Strobist" Hobby's "HoCo" project. I am working on a list of people who are, solely in my opinion, "iconic" in the Laconia area. The selection criteria I'm using are very nebulous. One of the subjects I was talking with said "it's a gut feeling", and I think that pretty much sums it up. I have selected and deselected quite a few, arguing with myself over who should and shouldn't be on the list.

So, what are you doing with this list, you ask. Well, my plan is to do a portrait, one, of each of the people on the list. With the portrait, I'm also doing a very informal interview with each individual so I'll have two things: some biographical info to go with the portrait and some sound bites of each person I shoot. Yes, I'm recording the interviews, with permission of course.

I plan to publish the images on the web, www.the-faces-of-laconia.com, along with their brief bios and some voice clips from the interviews. I'm doing this with the idea that the people I am selecting have made significant, yet sometimes not widely recognized contributions to our community. I feel that these contributions should be recognized and memorialized, which is my goal in doing this project.

When I came up with this idea, I envisioned it as strictly a photographic project. I've now done about ten portraits and the experience has been amazing. Most of the folks I've shot are people that I have known for a long time, since I was a child in many cases. The interviews, very informal, with little or no structure, have been incredible. I have laughed, and cried, with many of the subjects who have graciously accepted my request to have them participate in this project. I hope it turns out as good in their eyes as it's shaping up to be in mine.

I'm not soliciting or using images that I have not shot specifically for this project. It's not intended to be a documentary or a history piece, although in some ways I hope it becomes historical. In some ways, that's a bit sad as there are lots of folks who I would love to include, but who have already passed.

So, I'm going to continue working on this. The list is not at all defined, just like the selection criteria. Who are these people? Well, in due time, you'll have the chance to see who they are, on the website and, then, I think you'll be able to surmise on your own why they were selected.