jump? whats that about?

a few years ago i was backpacking through europe and i visited an exhibit focused on the urban history of photography. i read about a latvian born photographer who was making a name for himself in the photo world during the 1940's. he was hired to photograph lots of big names, but quickly became frustrated, unable to find a way to get his subjects to relax and be themselves in front of his camera. at the end of one such shoot, he asked his subject to jump. he later described the result: "the mask falls. the real self becomes visible. one only has to snap it with the camera."

the idea of a fallen mask revealing "the real self." i swooned instantly. THAT, i thought to myself, is why i have loved photography all of these years. it's honest. it allows me to record things that are real. at that exhibit i was reminded that in the moments we let our "real selves" come to the surface, our personalities, light and beauty seep out in the process. it became clear that those natural & real moments are the ones that matter most, and that those are the ones i want to record.

so, that is how my "jump" got its name. it is my sincerest hope that i will be able to witness & preserve the moments, both big & small, in the lives of those around me, so they may have the opportunity to remember, relive and enjoy these priceless times over and over again in the years to come.