Dustbowl Continues...

If you are new to this collection I cannot recommend highly enough to read THIS POST before you continue. (A description of what "Dustbowl" is as well as the first images, which are not included within this post.)

Some collections can be appreciated for their visuals alone but, as mentioned before, this particular collection (truly) loses so much of the message and value without knowing my intention, vision and motivations to begin this series.

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Alright then, back to "Dustbowl".

A few little notes I wanted to touch on:

This collection has really been an amazing endeavor, thus far. It's been a really fantastic balance in my life that I, though I was much looking forward to beginning it, never anticipated having it affect me so greatly. I truly never thought I'd say that about a contemporary photography collection.

To elaborate, through my entire career (thus far) I've made it such a habit to be sure to get 'the shot' and pick the most beautiful shot of the roll (the best eye contact, the best composition, the most visually splendid, otherworldy, out of time, etc...) but with dustbowl it's been a bit of a re-write in those habits. Unlike my other (very stylized and whimsical) collection "Faerieland", where everything is nothing short of a completely idyllic world of characters who live in beautiful abundance (heavy emphasis on scenery, bold colors, perfect beauty in every new character and sense of the word, perfect darkness in their symbolism, perfect light and perfect innocence, props, makeup, hair, etc...) "Dustbowl" is the exact opposite. It's been an interesting Summer creating for both of these (vastly different) collections, oftentimes shooting for each within the same week. One is a giant production (and I LOVE that) and one is (Dustbowl) a very purposeful effort to avoid a large production.

This entire collection is, of course, also intended to be visually (I hope) arresting, but I want this collection to maintain complete authenticity in recreating what those brave people (and that era) went through, and so I have consciously (before, during, after planning) every shoot, said to myself: "Ashley, don't do the most beautiful. do the most authentic". Beyond that, I have truly wanted Dustbowl to actually feel like one is looking at an old photo album, maybe something they found in their grandparent's attic, and much of the imagery during that time was a very 'snapshot' style. People weren't posing. Instead, they were being caught on film. In keeping with my desire to really honor that spirit, when I go into choosing selects from each shoot, after they wrap, I find myself having to pass over that really incredible, power beauty shot (which is soooooo hard, when I've trained myself to see it and edit that one) in favor of one that is a bit 'uglier' or grittier, and bit more spontaneous (eye contact, emotion, clothing, off center, etc...). I have very much tried to select and edit the pieces that are the lot less obviously 'beautiful' choice and possibly more haunting because of it. Mid gaze. Turning away. Unflattering poses. Overly simplified concepts. New (more contemporary) compositions. Less is more scenery. Lack lack lack. Experimental vantages. Breaking the 'beauty' rules, so to speak. Just... all around, more real. Almost like I'm shooting the entire thing by accident, or chance. And it's been tough, but such a fulfilling venture.

Lastly, I am just happy you guys support such different styles of my work. One day I'm talking about dragon's eggs (will post that shot verrry soon ;) and getting lost in faerieland and the next day I'm posting dirt poor portraits and talking about the 30s. ;)

This collection will slowly build and become more and more intricate in the messages, and imagery. I'm so thrilled to continue as Fall begins to wake. There is much to come, a great deal of which is just a big heartbreaking surprise. I'm leaving it that way. This collection, above all else, is not just suppose to be pretty. And, so, it will continue to become less so. Of course I will always do my best to maintain my sort of photographic mantra: "light amidst the darkness".

(And, since blogspot infamously mangles image quality, I will have an actual high res. gallery for Dustbowl, on my website, very soon. I've even chosen the new accompanying music! I'm so excited to share these there, with that audio. It took forever to find a suitable soundtrack. ;)

For now, please enjoy this next sequence.

an example of playing with less emotion, opting for a more vacant moment:

an example of trying to catch someone mid gaze, before the full emotion:

an example of experimenting with a new (more contemporary) vantage, and choosing just a slightly unflattering pose:

an example of an overly simplified photo:

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**smooch**

Okay, kiddos, this little filly is off to bed. The farm is blanketed under the very first night of cold frost and a perfect silence. The kind of silence that you notice. I'm finishing this jar of tea and going to bed under warm quilts and soft piano. Ash x

ppps. THANK YOU FOR SELLING OUT "PROJECT MUSE" WORKSHOPS IN JUST OVER 24 HOURS!

A note to my registrants: You are all so brave. If you maintain that courage, while experiencing the class, you will find yourself changed because of it. xo

"Project Muse" Workshops are open for enrollment! | Finally.

Update: Sold out through August 2012. Have a few spaces left for September/October enrollment. As of now, I believe there are *two*.
Please email to book:
ashleylebedev@gmail.com

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Original post ...

(Course Description)

"Project Muse" | The Process of Inspiration and Awakening the Artist Within is a one on one masterclass, able to be taken from anywhere in the world and, for the most part, at your convenience.

This course consists of several one on one online chat sessions with myself and is chalk full of surprises, which I believe are so important in the process of creating. It also includes a very extensive package, via mail, for you to learn from and follow along with, in your own time. The in-the-mail 'kit' comprises much of the masterclass. Our individualized chat sessions add to the extensive package sent, and are where we get to interact, one on one. The chat sessions will tackle any problems or issues (also any questions) that you may be having, offering help to you in your journey as an artist, both personally and professionally, at whatever level.

Want to know more?

Project Muse is a course that explores (through my own life and work experiences, techniques, exercises, and approaches - the ones I've utilized over the last 6 years) how to find and then master yourself as an artist and person and how to continue to learn and grow. It's a course that shows you not only how to become inspired, but also fulfilled in your own creativity, whether you are a commercial photographer or fine artist, whatever your goals may be.

It's a very spirituality based and hands on approach to not only mastering your camera and becoming a better photographer, but also an immersion in who you are as a person and what that means for your vision and message and art. Further: how to apply that to your photography and get it back out of your camera and lenses.

This is not an Fstop class. This is a life class for Photographers.

Simply put, "Project Muse" is a journey back to yourself, through so many new doors. It's focused around you and your camera, but it goes so much further. You could also consider it a photographically focused ‘life detox’.

*Beyond the process of inspiration, Project Muse will include my natural lighting techniques (I work 100% on location and in every condition possible) and further insights into getting the most from your shoots, from concept to your model.

*Lastly, Project Muse will also offer an intro into my processing techniques and recommendations. We will also venture into finding your own techniques.

The rest is a surprise.

This is not a class you've taken before and that's a very, very good thing.

**OF NOTE: I recommend anyone wanting to take this course to have already followed myself and my work for at least 3 months, so that you already have a basic understanding of how I work, in front of as well as behind the camera.

**THINGS TO KNOW:

Q: Do I need a fancy schmancy camera to take this class?

A: I couldn't care less about the camera that you have. This isn't that class and, in fact, by the end of the course you aren't going to care, either.

Q: I notice some of your offerings have been women only. Is Project Muse something that a guy can take?
A: You bet.

Q: What do I need to bring with or make sure I have before I sign up?
A: Just bring your heart and own any sort of camera. Truly, that's all. We are getting back to basics.

Q: Is this a class that explores many areas of my life?

A: Yes.

Q: Is this class unconventional?
A: Absolutely.

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Enrollment for this class is very limited.

I will be taking deposits to hold places now. The other half being due after the 1st of January, 2012.

Project Muse will be offered (this year is already booked) in February/March 2012.

For further questions or to book your space, please inquire within:

ashleylebedev@gmail.com

- Ash

Faerieland Resumes. | BTS & A TEENSY SNEAK PEEK. ;)

Friends.

In the midst of so much traveling (nearly solid since April) and struggling to find an internet connection nearly every day ... I assembled a team yesterday (in the middle of nowhere, as usual) and (drum roll please) "Faerieland" resumed.

Tonight, I find myself in Air Conditioning and PJs and eating a sumptuous orange, glazed with lemon juice and honey (I know, right?!) And, I thought a quick blog post was in order.

Anyway, It was a solid 11 hours of prep. to execution and I'm exhausted. But, I'm smiling in this night like the billion stars above me. I love what I do and I cannot wait to share these next characters. My imagination has been allowed to run wild. It continues to run ahead of me so often that I only ever hope I can keep up and jot the impossible idea down, before it disappears from my sight and goes back to the world from which it came.

Of course this is just a tiny teaser BTS with a realllly tiny cropped cell phone screen shot at the very end, of one of the final images from this sequence of the fairytale.

[***side note & inside joke: tons of flowers were involved in this shoot, and flowers reminded us of hippie's, so the running joke on set was that we should have this character do a hippie peace sign and some protesters picketing in the background (while I shot) to really shake up faerieland.]

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I have asked myself (and am very often asked) what I want (exactly) to do when I finish this collection. People ask if I want to exhibit the entire story, or? Honestly, I really feel that this particular series (not over by any means) will eventually be a very dark fine art tome for both children and adults, accompanied by music to accompany the visuals. Will the book be a limited edition? Likely, though I don't know for sure.

That said, I have at least 11 more characters in drawn out storyboards, and so many unseen landscapes yet to come. So, hold tight. x

Sneak Peek from a super cropped cell phone screen shot of one of the final images from this particular sequence, just after I nabbed it from OOC:

And that's a wrap.

A SPECIAL THANKS to:

MUA: Lacey O'Sullivan. I adore you.

MODEL: Olga Ivanova (what a wonderful model ;)
DESIGNER/SUEDE BONNETS: Joy Patterson (fantastic artist, to say the least!)

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ps. As long as I have you here, just wanted to offer a huge THANK YOU (underline it. bold it. italicize it.) to those of you that sent some of the most astonishingly beautiful messages I've ever read/received regarding my new endeavor, "dustbowl". I had the idea after years of being transfixed by that era of history and in reading books like 'the grapes of wrath' and even just traveling this country (so many times over), immersing myself in its rich history, with every failed boomtown and lost highway. There are so many. (Route 66, anyone? how about Appalachia?) | It just seemed like an idea that I had to take on. The next shoot for that collection is this Saturday, and it's quite the contrast to "faerieland". These two series' are a nice balance and keep me on my feet. ;)

Living out of a suitcase,

Ashes x

Welcome to "Dustbowl".

::whispers::

"Black Blizzards are coming.

And the bread lines.

Poverty is everywhere, now.

Shantytowns are a-springin' up...."

::whispers::

Friends.

You don't have to read all of this, and you can just skip to the imagery below...

BUT if you do that, there are two things I want to mention:

1.) You're heart won't begin to race with the stories that have gone into this.

2.) You'll never understand this collection.

If nothing else, if you reallllllly aren't the reading type - at least read the 'facts' section.

This is one of those collection (truly) in which knowing the backstory to it, is actually knowing the whole story.

INTRO:

I have always loved history and the wildly beautiful, torn-up past. There's something (nothing short of) yearning & terribly haunting about things we cannot change, and something incredibly perfect about how photography can stir the memories of the past, like echoes; like it's rousing a symphony of ghosts. It's one of the only things (the only?) that can.

Enter Dustbowl.

What is Dustbowl?

The term "dustbowl" refers to an area in the United States stretching across the great plains (think Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas and the surrounding plains states) that were known for their incredibly violent and massive duststorms and everlasting droughts, during a period of time (approx. 1930-1936) in which those massive storms interwove themselves against another heartwrenching occurrence: The Great Depression. (approx 1929 - 1941).

The Great Depression (though a worldwide occurrence (also known as the: "Dirty Thirties") began in the USA, preceding WWII and was thrown into full motion when the stock market finally crashed on October 29, 1929. This date is forever known as: "Black Tuesday".

It remains one of the most heartbreaking and trying periods of American History, to date.

Facts:

*Unemployment in the USA rose from 3% to 25% and over 13 million people lost their jobs.

*Incomes, on average, were reduced by 40%.

*2 million people became homeless.

*Thousands of schools found themselves with reduced hours and help, or were closed down completely.

*750,000 farms across the country were lost, due to bankruptcy.

*People in the mountain regions of the country, during this time, were often reduced to eating diets of only dandelions and blackberries.

*Many people became nomads, traveling across the country via highways and railroads. Many walked.

*20% of children were hungry and without any clothing, and many went without warm clothes in Winter.

*In coal mining regions, the % of malnourished children reached as high as 90%.

*40% of youth were neither in school or working.

*People set up working camps from scrap metals and boxes. These camps typically were in poverty, without proper sanitation, which quickly (and often) led to outbreaks of malaria, typhoid, smallpox, and tuberculosis.

*THE GREAT PLAINS STATES (THE "DUSTBOWL" REGION) WAS HIT THE HARDEST, due to it's violent windstorms that annihilated crops & homes.

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Enter My Collection.

Now, you know my work and how I like my bittersweet and terribly sad imagery. And, If you've been following my work, you also know how I love historical imagery.

Earlier this year, I began to really fall in love with the human element in all things & The Great Depression is just such a skyscraper and testament to the human element.

I decided I wanted to begin a new collection - a storyboard, over time, that would be a nice contrast to my other work.

Stark B&W portraits. places. things. Just them - no clutter. Just their stories.

POIGNANT. HAUNTING.

The Great Depression *is* a time of great struggle and sadness, but it's also a time of great strength (of human spirit) and great perseverance, showing what can be done (hard workers, migrants, nomads, homeless, illness, poverty, no money, no home, even. BUT, never giving up.)

I had to make this collection. This time in history fascinates me.

So what is this collection?

Simply this:

In "Dustbowl", I intend to recreate, image by image, the people, the courage, the stories, the untold moments, the strengths & weaknesses, and the REALITIES that existed during The Great Depression Era (Dustbowl Region) of American History.

This is a dirty, simple collection. It's not glitzy or stylized. And, It's nearly out of camera. It's purely the human element.

I thought it was the perfect time to begin B&W collection.

Don't look for pretty. Look for perseverance. People had to play roles.

Women were tough. Children were starving. Men were trying.
Love existed.

And, as with all of my work, look for the beauty and that small glimmer of grace and balance, because even in times like the Dustbowl, it was there.

It.

Was.
There.

I present the first 4 images of MANY MANY MANY to come.

These do not have names. This is a full story and it's just beginning.
Every image is untitled and I want all to be known simply as....

"Dustbowl"

(to see these larger and in high res, please visit my 500PX account, for now)

I hope you are haunted. More to come.

With much love & West Coast Bound,

Ash | x

picture perfect.

let me just paint the scene of where this blog is being written:

i'm in skinny jeans & a blue vintage crop tshirt i got somewhere far far away. the buzz cut i sported last year, just to see if i could do it, has become about three inches longer by now. i run my hands through it as i sit on the floor to begin this.

the sweltering georgia heat hasn't touched me today, finding solace in the most wonderful air conditioning vent on my toes, but my face bears evidence of the last 9 days, when the sun brought out the freckles, just across my nose and cheeks, reminding me of when we played in the woods, all capturing on our camera, pieces of ourselves we wanted to remember...

i'm exhausted - the kind that takes weeks to catch up on. i've dubbed this 'travel tired', because i'm 99.87345% sure it's a different kind & at this particular moment i know i'm feeling it with extra exhaustion, as i'm just about to hop into the car w/ karrah and raleigh and drive 20-24 hrs. back 'home'.

i'm sitting in a pile of my own bags that are sitting in a pile of other peoples' bags. my feet barely peek out from the heaps of things and props and costumes and cameras and computers that line the entire floor of alex's room.

the melancholy slips into the morning when i accept that all of these things i am sitting upon are slowly disappearing, as people begin to leave, because our trip (this trip) has finally coming to an end. everyone grabs a quick bite to eat from whatever is left in the kitchen and we slowly begin to trickle out. hugs, smiles, phone number exchanges, and poof... we are gone, scattering to the wind, with our dreams and gleaming eyes. maybe we will see each other again, maybe not.

the last years (maybe 3?) i've become accustomed to more than my fair share of airport goodbyes, kitchen goodbyes, driveway goodbyes, waving, hugs, etc...

whenever they are about to happen i just tell myself 'ash, hug them, turn around and thank your lucky stars you got to have another experience. learn from this, apply it to your life, and smile smile smile smile smile, because you are luckier than you know'. | i always try to balance this bittersweet reality with how amazing the interim was/is/will be. the "hello' moments and everything that leads up to the moment i drive away. that's the pulp of my entire life - all of those moments...

these days, i so often find myself in foreign places, beds, kitchens, forests, somewhere so far outside of a normal reality, in the wild side of living - both outside and from within. these places speak to me, and all feel more like 'home' than home really feels these days.

they say the secret to life is to just 'keep letting go', and to be honest - i'm 100% in agreement, and for the most part, this is how i live my life, but the challenge always arises in putting that into action when hearts become involved. i love these places i visit, these people i meet, these beds that are warm, these kitchens with so much life & laughter in them, where we sit until the late hours when we all just fall asleep sideways on a bed or couch or floor, halfway covered in sweatshirts and needing showers.

this trip was no different and i leave giving thanks for what i've seen, the moments my muscles will always remember, and finally: for the moments i captured on camera. those are what i'm excited to share (in the coming days) before the next big thing and those images, sitting on cards, are what i have as evidence it all really happened.

most thankful for everything, i'm signing off and hopping into the car... thank you, georgia. you've been a peach.

and that is what (that is all) i know for sure.

a tiny visual narrative until i get home from about .00000001 percent of my time here:

the tickets for karrah's ticket dress:

molly in karrah's ticket dress at the fox theatre shoot:

my beautiful soultwin from alabama/texas, sam, editing one night:

raleigh, one of the funniest people i know:

my feet (in legwarmers ;) on everyone's piles of things, as i write this blog...

molly:

at an abandoned house that raleigh, myself, alex and karrah played all day at (so many images from 'dustbowl' to come from this location. i am standing in the window, as raleigh reflects light onto me, as karrah photographs from outside the window:

karrah photographing me (in a nightgown she was still wearing from earlier in the day when i photographed HER for 'dustbowl') from the ladder outside (another vantage of the previous shot)

one of the many foster dogs we stayed with when at Alex's house:

karrah, alex, raleigh, making a candy dress for an upcoming shoot:

everyone making candy dress:

myself & my new heartbeat, rosie (a rescue this family is fostering) one night just before bed:

ash x

I LOVE YOU.

happy father's day dad.

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Helping one person heals the world. | Calling all photogs.

two things before i begin:

1.) please read all of this. a few paragraphs in and it'll read itself. i promise.

2.) i suck at commas. i know... and i've come to embrace it. ;)

well. get out your boxes of Kleenex because this is just one of those posts that i've a feeling will pull at your heart strings.

my mother arrived home yesterday evening w/ a story that left me aching inside, and after a lot of back and forth within myself about what i could possibly do to help with what some might call a hopeless situation, i had an idea.

*enter this blog post. enter art. enter you & me.

now, before i get to that i want to share something i fundamentally believe in:

art (any medium/from the heart) has the ability to shift one's thinking & change us at our core. it comes from the core of us, which is a powerful place. art is beautiful for this reason (and for many others) - because it makes us question our lives and our ideals & can awaken (or re-awaken) us, reminding us of what is important and perhaps save us from what is not. at the end of the day, it can transform. we are in an industry that more often than not already knows this. still, it's good to be reminded.

over the years i have received letters from people all over the globe who have shared their own stories of personal hardship with me (a total stranger) - expressing to me that my artwork (in their case) had stirred something in them. i became an artist simply because creating had that effect on me, but it's through these emails and over the years, that i've grown to understand how the power of our own messages (our vision) can affect the lives of others; of strangers.

so, kleenex boxes. grab them.

alright, here it is:

my mother got home yesterday and updated me on a story about a family friend that has a terminal condition and who is (as of last night) suffering, greatly. she has been very sick for some time, but in my mother's recent visit, it became apparent how much more dire the situation has become.

to respect this woman's privacy, i will omit her name, but i want to share with you a very short part of her life, in hopes that you might help me w/ something i've never done before, with artwork.

this woman is just shy of her 50th birthday, with a disease that is congenital and very rare in adults.

she has had 18 surgeries, is on dialysis every 3 days, deals weekly with blood transfusions, lab testing, terrible chronic pain, is on a slew of debilitating meds (in themselves) and because of these disorders (and so many i just cannot begin to cover) is confined to her home - a city apartment where she must stay to continue receiving care in the way that she needs, just to live.

but, here's the kicker that i just cannot get past: she's alone. she doesn't really have anyone.

now, obviously when i heard this story (with my bleeeeeding heart) i wanted to bend the sky and stars and barter w/ nature about what could be done, and i don't know... just HELP HER in some small way with so little idea as to how. i can't take away this woman's illness. perhaps at this point, noone can. that's not my area of expertise, though, and i'm going to choose to believe otherwise.

but, in thinking on it tonight (a lot), I am also pretty sure i'm not totally helpless in doing something.

well, what can an artist do? what could i possibly do for this woman (even for a day or two hours) to liven her spirits (which at this point are incredibly low/too low/unbearably low) ?

she loves ART. i happen to know she loves it.

and the thing about art is that it's got a beautiful momentum, and ... it heals.

i'm going to surprise her with one of my prints. i'm going to choose my favorite print of them all - something from my heart & and bring it to her. it's that simple.

here's why i'm sharing this story with all of you:

i was thinking for those who were as moved as i was/am by this story, that you might want to add to that folder i am bringing her, with one of your own prints. i think in cases like this, it's the thought that counts more than anything, and i don't think it matters the size or the subject matter, or the paper (or bla bla bla) but just...that there is something from the heart intended as a gift to this woman.

if you'd like to help me in just bringing this person, who is very much struggling, a little bit of beauty - please drop me a note on facebook or email me at: ashleylebedev@gmail.com and i will get you an address to send a print of your own to add to that gift. there is quite a message in numbers, as well as through our vision, and i am calling my network to add to that (very personal & poignant) message. that's what i'd like to do for her. for now, that's all i can do for her.

it's my hope that i can go to her house before i leave for europe (mid july) w/ a folder of beautiful prints of all sorts of different stories, ideas, signatures, etc... - from all over the globe and say: "these people just wanted you to have these."

and i just know (regardless of circumstance) she'd smile; that for at least a short time her thoughts wouldn't be about being ill, or feeling pain or fear (she is), or about how she is going to get through even one more day, but maybe just maybe she'd get to feel special and the energy boost of a lifetime.

and, i have a feeling, with as much energy as being terminally ill takes out of anyone, that this might just be what she needs. if nothing else, it's worth a damn try. remember why you picked up a camera? remember when it pulled you in and you fell in love with art? do you remember the reasons why you began to do what you do? don't forget the importance in all of it.

so, why help a stranger - someone you've never met?

...well, why not?

and, because maybe one day you might find yourself in a similar boat and wish you had something to boost your spirits. maybe one day this will be your mother or sister or wife or maybe as you read this, you realize it already is and it'll really speak to you. but honestly, even if you are never touched by anything in your life that is this trying or seemingly hopeless (i hope you never are) you now know of one person who is.

at this moment, she's alone. and, she feels it.

she does not know i'm posting this.

***quick notes: things to bear in mind: her place is very small, so perhaps little pieces might even be better. perhaps something she could put near her in a journal or folder, to be on hand at any moment.

additionally, we aren't all artists with gallery representation, agents, or 1000000000000 dollar cameras. it doesn't matter if this is some fine art piece. do you have a snapshot that you love, that you took w/ a point & shoot? awesome.

this isn't about flashy this or that. if you want to contribute, contribute.

that's my two cents. are you an artist in your heart? good. that's enough times 10.

the message carries. the message always carries.

And, as for me, i am getting her a big one. i want her to have at least one piece she can jump inside of. so, i'll see to the big one if a 4x6 is what works best for you.

and, even if there are only 5 people in the wrrrrrld that choose to send something over, for a woman you will never meet, i know i am in absolutely incredible company. in contrast, think if there were a thousand. i'd weep.

email me.

ash x

e: ashleylebedev@gmail.com

facebook: http://facebook.com/bottlebell

ps. for those that made it this far, without a single photo, i adore you.