When I first heard about PhotoWeek on creativeLIVE, it sounded like an impossible dream. I submitted my audition video on the last day—only a few hours before the deadline. It was an impulsive decision… something that I did on a whim even though I didn't think I had a chance. I uploaded my video to vimeo and left for a mini-vacation. When I returned, I checked my email and stared at the email titled, “Photo Week.” I opened the message and read that I had been accepted. I couldn't believe it! I stumbled over the boyfriend and told him the news. When I told my parents later that evening, I was still in a state of extreme shock.
How do you describe a perfect week? If I believed in blessings, then I would say that I was blessed to be a part of such a magical week. I met the most wonderful people and made the most fantastic friends. Every day I woke up in my beautiful room and walked through downtown Seattle to the creativeLIVE studio. I remember feeling like I was exactly where I needed to be and so full of light that I’m sure that I could have flown if I had wanted to.
I lived in an incredible hostel that was only a ten minute walk away from the studio. Each room had a different theme and was decorated by a local artist. My room was orange with the pink faces of old movie stars painted on the walls. I was surrounded by kind-hearted travellers with amazing life stories and eagerness to share and live life to the fullest. I met an American boy who was leaving for Saudi Arabia to work with helicopters, a German architect, a foreign man who works hard all year so that he can have a few weeks of vacation to travel the world (he had just come from Hawaii where he photographed on the lava fields and was now leaving for Alaska to see the Northern Lights), and a lady who was going back to university and was baffled that I could be Canadian and sound so American. I slept in the bottom bunk in a room with four beds. On the first night, I shared the room with three Australian boys. A German girl, who was visiting America before returning home to intern at a pharmaceutical company, stayed with me for three days. I met two boys from California when I came home late one night. The one boy—a camera operator for movie companies—fell asleep shortly after introducing himself. The other boy and I spoke for two hours about life and dreams and hardships and careers.
When I left for Seattle, so many people warned me of the dangers and made me promise to be cautious and untrusting. But the world is not that dark. Yes, there are bad people and bad things happen all the time, but most people are good. There is light and love everywhere if you just open your eyes.
My experiences at creativeLIVE were that of complete happiness and excitement. We attended four classes each day in one of three studios. We ran from the break room to the studio and back again, caught up in the energy of the week. Everything moved so quickly. It was a perfect blur.
I remember the best moments: Having dinner with Brooke Shaden and her saying that I inspired her with my passion; taking photographs of Lindsay Adler in a red dress on her birthday; laughing with Sue Bryce about her talk for Photographers Ignite the year before; talking with Kenna Klosterman and Susan Roderick about Bali; Charles Lucima and Benjamin von Wong reminding me that you will get nowhere if you do not work hard; going clubbing with the creativeLIVE staff; Russ Andes greeting me with such enthusiasm and shaking my hand as I replied with a trembling voice that yes, I knew who he was.
Thank you creativeLIVE for this opportunity.
Thank you to the instructors that changed my life: Charles Lucima, Benjamin von Wong, Brooke Shaden, Lindsay Adler, Ana Bradt, Sue Bryce.
Thank you to the friends whom I will forever adore: Carrie Suggitt Novak, Paul Warner, Kathy Schuh, Rachel Sawyer, Randell Walton, Joshua Pheneger, Byron Go, Katie Ford.
I carry you all in my heart.
