Reflected Identities at the Palm Springs Photo Festival

For the past few months, I have been working on a new series.  I started taking portraits of my friends in the Southern California area with an idea in mind. As with a lot of projects I start, they tend to change and take on a life of its own by the time I am ready to show it.  That was the case with "Reflected Identities".  I began the series (I didn't have a title or direction) by photographing my friends for an androgynous series but the more I shot, the more I realized that the portraits were molding into a reflection of me.

Last week, I learned that I was a finalist in the slide show competition at the Palm Springs Photo festival so I attended the festival and spent a few days there.  I was in disbelief when it was announced on Thursday night that I won the grand prize!  There were so many beautiful and powerful slideshows included and I was just thrilled that I was selected to be among the finalists.  When I submitted the show, I had less images than what you see here but ultimately, this is what won the competition.

I want to thank all of the amazing women who have stepped outside of their comfort zone to be completely vulnerable with me.  This has been such a beautiful learning and growing experience... I just can't thank you enough. Many of you have expressed the same so for that, I am grateful. 

I debated on if I should keep the images private and not roll it out to the public, partly because it's so vulnerable to throw it out there.  If my friends can be this open and vulnerable with me, it's only fitting that I do the same with the series.

On a side note... 

A little over four years ago in Palm Springs, I was sitting on a small patch of grass in front of a hotel completely hung over, crying and lost in my life.  That day I stopped drinking alcohol and the months to come I painted and picked up a camera and started shooting.  Last Thursday, I walked on stage in front of hundreds of photographers and people in the industry, to accept the grand prize award. Just a few blocks away sits that patch of grass where I made the decision to change my life.  Anything is possible.

Click to watch below or you can see it directly on VIMEO by clicking HERE

Reflected Identities from Alison Turner on Vimeo.

Long Beach 2nd Saturday Art Walk

In my quest for saying yes to new opportunities and doing things I've never done before, I can check off participating in an art walk from that list.  Lastnight, I showed up with 30+ other artists to display work along the downtown streets of the Long Beach Arts District.  I've been to the art walk as a watcher and stroller but never as an artist.  As you can imagine, it is a completely different experience.

I love going to fairs and art walks and at times, you can get lost in the strolling and browsing through art and sometimes, you might not see or engage with the artist.  It's interesting to be on the other side.  It can be a little vulnerable putting your work out there in the open for everyone to see and make comments on.  It's always nice when you have people who come and say nice things, which I was lucky enough to have.  I am grateful to have people come and see my art in person and hear comments like, "your photographs look much better in person than they do on the web."  Whew, that's a relief!  I would hate for it to be the other way around.

Since it was my first art walk, I wasn't sure what to expect.  I had a 10x10 space, so to see how much space that really is, I got out some sidewalk chalk and measured the space and marked it in my backyard and mocked up an art show at home before the art show on the street.  I suppose I like to be prepared.  I didn't have a tent or anything fancy...just a few easels, tables and lots of photographs.

Participating in an art fair gives you an idea of what people like to look at and what they don't.  I love to people watch but it's an interesting feeling of watching people watching you and your work.  All art is vulnerable and showing it to strangers is even more so.  I am grateful to everyone that took the time to come out to say hello and for the new people I met that didn't know I was going to be there. Thank you to everyone who said hello to me.

I can now check this off of my life experience list.  Now... on to the next exciting adventure!