Author: s.edwards

Not your average book fair: Goddard Riverside Community Center 2017

For my final video project assignment, I am choosing to document the Goddard Riverside Book Fair. The event runs from Saturday, November 18th to Sunday, November 19th from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is an annual fund-raising event that has been active since 1986, and has so far raised over $7 million. 85 cents of each dollar raised gets contributed to supporting early childhood and youth programs, college counseling, outreach to the homeless and more. I think it is a broad event to cover since there will be much insights and perspectives to obtain from the people attending.  I will also see if I can get an exclusive interview with the manager of community and corporate engagement for this event.

 

INTRODUCTION: On October 7th, New Yorkers celebrated the annual Diwali Festival in Times Square. For millions of Hindus, Sikhs and Jains across the world, Diwali, also known as the festival of lights, is the most important holiday of the year. It represents the Hindu New Year, celebrating new beginnings and the victory of good and bright over dark and evil. Stephanie Edwards has the story.

For my radio assignment, I plan to document the Diwali celebration in Times Square on Saturday, October 7th, 2017. I would like to document this event, because it is my first time attending and I find it interesting to get familiar with a culture that is different from mine. When I researched the event, it seemed exciting and vibrant. Diwali is also known as the “Festival of Lights” and is celebrated to honor Rama-chandra, the seventh avatar (incarnation of the god Vishnu). 

I want to hear what people think of this event whether or not they are knowledgeable of the holiday/event. I want to know what their thoughts are and whether it’s their first time attending. I don’t plan to be selective, I would just like to receive anyone’s intake since based on the photos, anyone would find the event magical. The event is also entirely free and welcome to anyone.

Documenting Baruch’s Candle Light Vigil:

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/19iU1rz2lCgwgHa5QGX8zSHHwVH3K4cDu693_IP54Nog/edit?usp=sharing

 

On September 17, 2017, I took an exciting adventure into the many crates filled with breathtaking stories captured by determined, phenomenal photographers. A crate I favored was Women Photograph & United Photo Industries’s “INSIDER/OUTSIDER” exhibit that was hosted by photographer, Cassandra Giraldo.

Giraldo is a representative for Women Photograph; its mission is to change the gender perceptions of the photojournalism community and promote diversity in all aspects.

Giraldo told me that “photos are part of a dialogue.” Photographers transition from outsiders to insiders through bonding with the people they’re documenting. Hence, the exhibit’s title “INSIDER/OUTSIDER.”

Another crate capturing my interest was Sylvain Cherkaoui’s 5 Women for 5 Countries exhibit.

Cherkaoui documented the stories of 5 powerful women from Senegal, Gineua, Niger, Nigeria, and Liberia.

Safia Ibrahim of Zinder, Niger fights against child marriages despite how normalized that is in Niger. She doesn’t want children to encounter that experience like she had, thus she helps other women in similar predicaments through creating workshops and providing them education.

Jeanette Kebe Lamah of Koula, Guinea was impeccable in recruiting a workforce of women to help promote peace and profitable income when there was war occurring in her village.

Jumama Varmah of Goernodean, Liberia is 32 with 8 children. She decided to return to school, and just finished 12th grade. She is also fighting against corporations to keep her land.

I met Maah Koudia Keita of Dakar, Senegal who plays for a famous band in Senegal with her brothers. She is also hugely apart of the association, Care Albinos, which supports the minority groups of African albinos.

Uduak Isong Oguamanam of Lagos, Nigeria is a Nollywood self-made writer and producer that advocates for feminism. She wants her daughter to follow her passion and choose whatever profession she wants without adhering to society’s expectations.

 

 

 

For my photo essay, I would like to do a story on the iconic place of Jerry Seinfeld’s apartment. I grew up seeing my parents watch and enjoy Seinfeld as their daily late-night entertainment program. However, understandably at my youth, I was unable to interpret what they found to be so hilarious and relatable. Fast forward to the future where I am now a young adult, whenever I watch the show I find it to be just as amusing and great to watch as they had. The show just has this timeless charisma that I believe would be fun and interesting for several generations to come. I want to document this place through pictures to see the variety of people from different backgrounds that are familiar with the place as well as its significance to the hit TV show.

When it comes to obtaining access to Jerry Seinfeld’s apartment, the task should be fairly easy since it is an open, public space. I can definietely expect to take some pictures with elements of symmetry from the alining of the buildings. There are many color combinations available since the buildings adjacent to each other are different colors. I hope to capture some decisive moments of the neighborhood animals, the individuals walking by and the vehicles passing by too. From an exploration of multiple angles to point my camera, I should expect some shots of dramatic leading lines such as the staircase leading up to the apartment door. If granted permission, I hope to use “Layers” shots from the top of the staircase. Finally, for the individuals that I’ll be interviewing, I hope to get up close and personal headshots of them.