The photo-dialogues are an experiment
In fact, they are an on-going piece of ‘action research’ as I talk to people who seem to 'see differently' as they go about their work and lives.
I’m always striving to be at my creative best; trying to figure out what means to work well with my vague, shifting sense of 'vision' and 'purpose'; what it might mean, where it comes from and how I can fully bring it to life.
We are told that every successful endeavour begins with a clear vision.
With the vision established, we should define our mission, set objectives and monitor progress on the path to success. Achievement becomes a product of a well-defined process and determined effort.
But my world doesn't seem to work like that.
And I'm pretty sure it's not like that for many folk either. Even if it does work for others, the effect of the standard 'bigger, faster, better' has been to separate us from the reality of our existence and promote damaging ways of working.
Our world has become a social and ecological mess.
The people I have been working with seem to be interested in a way of working that values participation, social justice and emancipation, sustainability, relationship to each other, our place within nature and with our planet. And they are attempting to work beyond the conventions of easily defined 'elevator pitch' business propositions.
On these pages I am showing you the 'short-form' blog style summary of much longer conversations. As I work with these 'visionaries', themes emerge and questions arise. I find that I begin to question my own vision and the way that I try to bring it to life. As I continue to wrestle with my meaning making and encourage this work in others, you will find longer articles that will give a different shape to the work. But for now, please feel free to click through to the first 'outputs' of my efforts.
Each Photo-Dialogue comprises two photographs and a conversation.
The first image you see is my photograph; an attempt to offer witness to the person before me. Our conversation then tries to unravel how their vision, an often fragile, only slowly developing image, is brought into focus in the second photograph.
The second image is 'directed' by the subject. We work together to make an expression of their sense of themselves 'in their vision'. Sometimes, the image is easy to plan and visualize; my work is simply to light and frame the photograph. More often, we search, seeking something that would an expression of a different way of working, living and thinking.
Please look carefully.
In each case, the photographs say at least as much as the words can tell.
“I’ll provoke: I’ll shake things up.”
"Playful with not knowing."
"I like the idea of people feeling safe."
"Vision grows in the footsteps of shared commitment."
"The discipline is to treat myself as a blank canvas."