One of the seeds I have recently planted is an application to the immeasurably fantastic opportunity called Barnstorm XXI. In their words:

The Eddie Adams Workshop (Barnstorm) is an intense four-day gathering of the top professionals in photojournalism, along with 100 carefully selected students. The Workshop's purpose is to create a forum in which an exchange of ideas, techniques, and philosophies can be shared between both established members and newcomers of the profession of picture journalism. The Workshop is tuition-free, and the 100 students are chosen based on the merit of their portfolios.

I submitted my carefully chosen words, a recommendation letter, my twenty images just today. I am visualizing myself packing my camera bag, getting on the plane to New York, arriving - full of nervous anticipation - at this event of events for my chosen field this coming October. Here are the words I sent to the committee. The words - along with the images - that I hope will gain me admittance:

"My name is Leslie Sophia Lindell and I am a Professional Photographer. I do not think I can express in two short paragraphs the extreme joy I experience each time I say that. You see, it has been a long and satisfying journey to get here.

I was twenty years old when I packed my car and moved to Los Angeles on my own. I landed a coveted Assistant job in the Art Department of A&M Records. This is where I learned to shoot – TMAX 400 my drug of choice at the time. I spent the ensuing twenty years following my creative instincts – freelance video production, a move to Australia, gallery showing of my paintings, the birth of a son, return to the US, the Director of an art gallery, departure from the creative field altogether to raise that lovely son on my own and then – THEN – the invention of the digital camera. It has drawn me back in and my life is breathtakingly changed for it. Self taught, I have been shooting professionally for one year. I am deeply dedicated, perceptive, my eye serves me well. I can only hope that you agree and I am allowed the amazing opportunity to further my knowledge by joining you at the Eddie Adams Workshop/Barnstorm XXI.

Thank you."

the images:

And here is where the favor comes in. Might you visualize this for me as well? Help me water and tend this effort? In any way you see fit. Perhaps a gentle nod in my direction, a big "hooray" at your computer screen, a raise of your next glass, or...any darn thing that you might think of? I would so appreciate it and love the idea of you being part of this dream come true.

And, don't you worry, I will let you know as soon as I do how successful we have been.