Off to the Editor

Today, the 44,000 words that comprise the 48 stories, author biographies, back story, etc. have gone to the editor.  That's a tremendous milestone for a project that was started late last autumn!

Thanks to all the volunteers and believers that have worked so hard to get us to this place!

If all goes well, we expect a celebration party to welcome the arrival of the published books in February.  If you are reading this and following the progress, you are invited!

Between now and then we still have to:

• Start and finish editing.
• Take the cover photo.  (I have a great idea for this!)
• Capture some additional photos of authors that will be listed with their bios.  That will be on the morning of October 1, the same day as the Niwot Rotary Club's Oktoberfest in downtown Niwot.
• Select the book designer.  (The Niwot Rotary Club's project committee will do this within the next month.)
• Design the book.
• Finalize the marketing plan and create some promotional materials.
• Select the printer.
• Send the book to the printer and do proof approvals.
• Visit the organizations that we expect will buy/sell the books
• Receive the books.
• Warehouse the books.
• Have the launch party.  

Then, we'll need to:

• Distribute/sell the books.
• Present the proceeds to BOHO and the Carriage House Community Table.

Through all of this there are roles for new volunteers.  If you would like to participate and make a difference for the homeless community in Boulder, please let us know.

Some GREAT News!

We just received some great news!  Sue Deans has offered to edit the book.

Sue, a member of the Rotary Club of Boulder, is currently a Visiting Professor of Journalism at Knox College.  She has held a long and impressive series of positions in journalism, particularly in Colorado.  Prior to teaching at Knox, Sue was Editor of the Daily Camera.  Before that she was Assistant Managing Editor of the Rocky Mountain News.  And before that, Sue was Editor and Vice President of The Sun News in Myrtle Beach, S.C.  She started her career as a Reporter at the Daily Camera.

This project now has stories developed by a large and diverse group of writers -- from those that always wanted a chance to write, to some who are bestselling authors.  While that's a blessing and just what we hoped for with this project, it's also a challenge for an editor.  Sue is obviously up to the task.

We don't want to take away from the diversity of author styles and the wide diversity in the stories told by our homeless and intersection subjects.  Sue will allow that individualism to come through while providing the editing that such an experienced professional can offer.

Today, at the Boulder Rotary meeting, Sue explained that she is very excited to be part of this wonderful project.  We are thrilled to have her on board!

Elle has done an outstanding of recruiting writers, assigning stories to them, receiving early drafts, providing initial editing, and doing the needed follow-up!  We are so thankful for what she's done so far.  Her focus for this next phase will transition to working with Sue and being the principal point of contact for the book designer.  Yes, we're close to determining who we will use for that.  But, we need to get our Niwot Rotary committee of Scott, Eli and me together to make the final decision.  That should happen within the next couple of weeks when Scott returns from travel.

Nearly Finished with Subject Portraits

Yesterday, I met with Frank on the Pearl Street mall.  Frank has a long-lasting relationship with Tomas deMers, one of our writers.  So, Tom and Frank had earlier worked on his story and it was now time for me to catch-up with the requirement to get the photograph.  That's a different order than most of the other photographs and stories for this project.  For the others, the photo was first captured.  Then the story was written.

This is Frank's portrait.  Readers will really like Frank's story of resilience and recovery.  Tom did a terrific job!

On Wednesday afternoon, I am scheduled to photograph Ian Engle.  Ian is the Executive Director of the Center for People with Disabilities.  Tina Downey interviewed Ian and recently completed his story.  (Ian and I met a few weeks ago during a 15-mile Rotary bike ride.  He impressed me so much, in part because although I usually climbed hills faster than Ian, he crushed me on the downhill.  Ian's bike is much different than mine.  He uses a bike that you crank by hand since his legs are paralyzed.)

When Ian's portrait is completed, the total number of subjects for which we will have portraits comes to 50.  As it stands today, we have 48 stories completed for those subjects.  There are two portraits for one of the stories.  Thus, one story is outstanding but there are very special circumstances surrounding it.  We expect it within the week.

We have five photographs for which we will not have stories.  For various reasons, the time between the portrait and the beginning of the story resulted in our inability to get the interview -- the subject moved, we lost contact, whatever.  These images may or may not be included in the book.

We have completed 21writer portraits.  We anticipate getting the remainder of those writer portraits on one of two final writer days:

• The afternoon of September 18
• The morning of October 1

Keep posted.  More to come....

The High Plains Drifter

In late-February, Curtine Metcalf was with us during a photo expedition to the Band Shell.  (See the February 27 post.)  There, she met Hope and Baby and subsequently wrote their story.  Today, Curtine and I caught up with each other again.  This time, she introduced me to Don, the High Plains Drifter.

Curtine wrote the Drifter's story over a month ago.  However, Don had traveled to Missouri to visit with his brother and we had not been able to meet so that I could take his photograph.  That changed today.

Don was back in Boulder, and was at his usual spot on a bench near the southeast corner of the Post Office building at 15th and Walnut.  I introduced myself to Don - said that I expected Curtine to join us.  With the exchange of a couple of my questions and his answers, it was like the Drifter and I were old friends.  The conversation came easily and we spoke of his travels, his time in the Air Force, his family, how he gets by on the street, his avoidance of tobacco and alcohol, and what he does with the money he gets from "flying" a sign (requesting money via a cardboard sign).

The sunlight was too harsh for me and the photograph I wanted to capture.  Plus, given this morning's temps in the high 70's, I didn't want the four coats over Don's shirt to overheat him.  So, we moved into the shade of the building just across 15th Street from the Post Office.  Curtine joined us there.

He told me that today was the ten-year anniversary of his coming to Boulder.

The Drifter helped me with some of my equipment set-up and tear-down.  He is a kind and careful man.  I am richer, having met and shared time this morning with Don.

This is the photograph I captured of Don, the High Plains Drifter.  

The Faith Community

Churches and synagogues have long been associated with aid to the homeless.  From preparation and serving of meals; to collection, storage and distribution of clothing; the faith community has led and supported programs to assist the homeless.  Many describe this as helping "the least of these."

In Boulder last winter, five Christian churches and one Jewish synagogue participated in BOHO - Boulder Outreach for Homeless Overflow.  Those communities open their doors to the homeless on cold or wet winter nights.  That way, those that either are unable or are unwilling to stay indoors at the Boulder Shelter for the Homeless can be off the street.

During the 2010 - 2011 winter season the following organizations provided overnight BOHO shelter:

• Cornerstone Church
• St. Aidan's Episcopal Church
• Boulder Mennonite Church
• St. Andrews Presbyterian Church
• Congregation Har HaShem
• Crestview Church

Learn more about BOHO at http://bohocommunity.com/.

I recently had the privilege of photographing and speaking with Rabbi Deborah Bronstein of Congregation Har HaShem.  Lisa Trank-Greene will interview Rabbi Bronstein and will write her story.

Writers' Day #2

On Saturday morning, Elle and I held the second Writers' Day.  We hosted eight of the project's writers for portraits at the studio.

Saturday's weather was excellent so, rather than using our indoor studio and exclusively artificial lights, we used the outdoor setting outside the studio and limited artificial lighting to photograph each of our writers.

I continue to be amazed and delighted at the writing background and accomplishments of our wonderful volunteer writers!  As an example, Michele Weiner-Davis, MSW has written seven books on divorce and saving marriages.  She has made appearances on such shows as Oprah, 48 Hours, 20/20, The Today Show, CBS This Morning, CBS Evening News, CNN and Bill O'Reilly.  Her work has been featured in major newspapers such as the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, Wall Street Journal, and magazines such as Time, Redbook, Ladies Home Journal, Essence, Cosmopolitan, Glamour, Woman's Day, Men's Health, New Woman, and McCalls.

Michele wrote about Cassie Gedbaw, the CU student that is so heavily involved with activities in support of the homeless.

Here is Michele's portrait from this Saturday's session.

A Rainy Day for Photographs

On Thursday, July 14, I went to the Carriage House with Mary Beth Lagerborg, a new writer for the project.  We met Joy at about 10:45 am and almost immediately had people wanting to tell their stories of homelessness, resilience, recovery and redemption.  It was outstanding to have so many that wanted to participate.

Our parade was rained upon, though.  Quite literally, the skies opened with great deluge and, although I can photograph in most situations, asking people to stand in a downpour doesn't make for great portraiture.  This caused challenges with getting photographs and interviews together before people had to get to the bus for the ride to work, or off to other appointments.  And, as a result, we lost a couple of participants.

After photographing and interviewing one of our subjects on Thursday, she asked that her photograph not be used.  Since she is dealing with domestic violence and fears for her safety, her request is quite understandable. However, since this is a book of portrait photography it is difficult to reconcile including her compelling story into the book without a corresponding photograph.  We are still trying to sort this one out.

We have had a challenge finding a representative of that very important component the homeless population - the victim of domestic violence - to participate in this project.  If you know of anyone in this situation, or someone that has come through it and would be willing to be involved in the project, please let me know.

Of the six homeless people (including two people from one family) and one writer that I photographed on Thursday, here is the image of Dizzy Wind. Dizzy is a musician from Milwaukee who plays in the Boulder area. Marsha Perlman will reach out to Dizzy to write his story.