“I like when other people tell me their story because you learn something out of them, and out of that you try not to make the same mistakes somebody else did, or you try to follow the same steps as somebody else did.” 

Watch the incredible story of Magnolia, who came to the United States when she was eleven years old, without a parent to guide her in what was good and what was wrong, to help her make decisions. She goes to a school in Richmond with a lot of hatred and violence and hatred, with a reputation for drugs and fighting, but she has a dream, a dream to become involved in public media, communication, in TV and to explore and embrace the world she wants to know about.

Presenting a story from the team at The Good Line.

“That’s how everything started…”

Wishbone is a non-profit organization to educate students from very poor areas and families to pursue their dreams and find a different path, to help these students to achieve their dreams that can’t afford to try a different life.

“The fact that I  have, like, people who actually believe in me, and that are there for me and tell me that, yes, you can do it. You know, it’s not just a dream.”  

It’s not just a dream. 

Video posted with permission from The Good Line, a creative agency passionate about telling stories and capturing life the way it really is.

All italics are quotes from Magnolia.

You’ve just started on the path to becoming a photographer, or maybe you’ve been creatively pursuing artistic skills for awhile, but inevitably hit a time when inspiration is low and it’s hard to find it again. To find originality is one of the hardest aspects of any creative pursuit, and photography is no different. Among the millions of photographs at our access, and thousands of photographers that are turning out quality work every day with social media platforms to connect us all,  its both awesome and discouraging.

What do you do when the flow of ideas slow down? As you learn the craft and gain experience, you’ll begin to see what inspires you most and where you gain most productivity. In a recent discussion with designers and photographers, each person had specific places to find inspiration, whether it was outdoors, a coffee shop, airport or people, to mention a few. It’s super important to go out and find that place, spend some time alone, or alone in a crowd. Sometimes it hits you in a conversation, or in the shower, or while daydreaming. Write it down, or go do it right away. It is essential to creativity to surround yourself with inspiration, because if you don’t it will be hard to move forward. Take the time to be inspired. 

Where do you find your best ideas?

Photo Credits: Seth Haley

Recently I had the privilege of meeting with two sisters to talk about their recent trip to Ghana, and they were kind enough to let me go through their pictures to find a story for the blog. I spent a great morning looking through travel photos and was immediately fascinated by the ones with a stately white stone building, ocean view, and this inscription:

Elmina Castle: this place has quite a history, but what caught my attention was what the two sisters told me:

(Italics are what they said, following is my response)

Where is this photo?  Ghana, Africa – the Slave Castle. Slaves were brought there for a holding place in the 18th century, held and then transported to other places. It was operated as a slave castle for several hundred years. The place was so beautiful, but what went on for so long was dark and horrifying. 

“Wow. When I looked at the place I thought at first it was just another beautiful building, but then I saw its dark history, and what is so beautiful to us was the place of the end of their lives as they knew it.”

I

In these stones I see the blood of beaten slaves, the despair of mothers with children, the fear of an unknown future and places, and bondage. What began as a place of protection now became a place of slavery.

“It was only a little way from the ocean with a gorgeous view, but it wasn’t there for them.” 

“What blew me away was the area underground, where the slaves were held. They would be in prison there and just above them church services were held in the courtyard. It was like the difference between heaven and hell, in more ways than just spiritually. On one level were people trapped in awful darkness and circumstance, and above them the free people lived in another place, a heaven.” 

Slavery. It’s still happening today.

#enditmovement

Photos taken by an anonymous team, 2013 and used with permission by The Difference Academy.

Sketch by: Lynette