"Left & Found"

www.dennismook.com

There is a Canadian photographer, writer, teacher, traveler, businessman and, as he describes himself, world humanitarian, that I admire for his writing, his photography, his vision, his ability to communicate and his philosophies on life and photography.  Quite a guy.  I read his blog regularly and I have downloaded and purchased some of his and others' E-books from his company Craft & Vision.  His name is David DuChemin. 

In a recent blog post, he describes his wanting to more fully share his photography despite the fears of cost, lack of control, theft, rejection, etc.  He came up with the name "Left & Found."  Left & Found is a project where he will freely share his work by printing a number of high quality photographs each month, then leave them in various places for others to find and as he puts it--"to be found, enjoyed, overlooked, torn, bent, collected, adored, misunderstood, or whatever else happens to our art when we release it into the world to take on a life we could never have foreseen."

I love this idea.  The idea of giving away one's work--leaving it to be found by a random stranger--as a way of sharing one's passion, vision, experience, knowledge and accomplishments in life.  Charity and generosity are so important in our world.  But it is more than that.  It is sharing something personal and meaningful, not just spreading some cash around.

I know how personal my photography is to me.  Each and every time I push that shutter button, I am trying to record something that has evoked an emotion in me.  I am trying to make an image that represents the feeling of the place or how I felt about a particular subject.  When I print an image and make it into a photograph, a little tiny bit of me exists on that piece of paper and in the content of that photograph.  I try very hard to make each print the absolute best I can and never keep a print that does not represent the best I can do.  Leaving a piece of yourself behind as a gift to others is quite extraordinary. 

I recommend you go to his site regularly, read his words, look at his photographs and see what he gives to all of us as photographers in the thoughts he provokes about craft and vision.  His website is http://davidduchemin.com/, and the specific post on Left & Found is  http://davidduchemin.com/page/2/.

I would also recommend you look at the titles his company publishes electronically as I have found all the ones I have read to be wonderful.  Several of the books he has personally written he has given away as free downloads.  These are a real treat.  Don't miss an opportunity to continue your photographic learning journey.

Thanks for looking.

Enjoy!
Dennis Mook