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Submitted: November 23, 2008
Image Size: 1.4 MB
Resolution: 5130×4050

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O'odham 1by ~EclipseAgency

Photography / Photojournalism / Documentary & Editorial

This was taken out on the Tohono O'odham Indian reservaton just west of Tucson. I was invited to a baptism and after service they have a tradition they respect. To welcome those who may have travelled far and wide from other villages the village matriarchs form a receiving line and give a sweet biscuit to those who attended.

They really are a kind gentle people at heart. They have always had peace among themselves and have never had wars or infighting like some of the other tribes. Because of traditions like what is seen here.

I am honored to be invited to such family gatherings where outsiders and tourists are not invited. I feel priveledged to be able to document a culture not from the outside, but from the inside as an accepted friend.

SIGNED LIMITED EDITION GALLERY QUALITY PRINTS AVAILABLE FOR LESS. CONTACT ME DIRECTLY AT ECLIPSEAGENCY@MSN.COM

~a-disturbed-mind Dec 6, 2008 Digital Artist

Thanks for "coming out"! Most of us have been through that experience and found that the broader audience finds something of ours to enjoy. Expose!

~EclipseAgency Dec 6, 2008

Hello. Are you commenting on the comments for that particular image or something else. Not sure what you mean about "coming out" or "being through that experience" so I'm curious what you mean. Please elaborate and thank you for stopping by.

~a-disturbed-mind Dec 8, 2008 Digital Artist

It was an encouraging remark. I just meant as an artist, we all have our own fears about our work as to whether anyone else will get something out of them. To have destroyed everything and quit would have left a hole in you and in the world of art. I kept my works to myself and a few friends for years before I decided to just put them out there for the world to see. It has changed me and my art vision and my works for the better. Getting critiques and being appreciated in different genres and on many levels does the soul good. I have revised or started over on many of my photo manipulation pieces because of the community involvement.
Sometimes throwing everything out is a positive step if starting fresh with new vision is the goal. I think it did you well and I look forward to each of your new and future works. admg

~EclipseAgency Dec 8, 2008

Understood and well taken. Thank you for your kind words of encouragement. The pursuit of being a successful artist and art itself has cut many holes through me already. It is now do or die trying. However I cannot live on critiques and encouragement alone. I must find agents, galleries, publishers and patrons to help me afford to live in this world.

I did attempt to destroy my work so I could start over with a fresh new vision. I attempted its destruction because I had felt destroyed by it and living impoverished because of it sank my will over time. I'm not sure I can agree that attempting to destroy my work has left me well. Out of the downward spiral I fall broken to the ground. For art...

~a-disturbed-mind Jan 23, 2009 Digital Artist

Been meaning to reply to this when I found the right words, it will suffice to say that you have the required angst to become successful. To the extent you desire will be matched by your will. admg

*bear48 Nov 30, 2008

wondefully done

~EclipseAgency Dec 1, 2008

Thank you. This image holds a lot of meaning for me. Some time ago I had lost all hope in becoming a successful artist who no longer needed to suffered socially and financially for his dream. One dark night of the soul I drove out into the desert and began to burn my work hoping to never look back upon my broken dream.

I returned home prepared to delete all my work on my computer and destroy all my films. But just by chance a friend had stopped by because he hadn't heard from me in almost a month. When he saw how distraught I was and heard about what I had done to my work he felt he had to intervene. He asked me to go for a walk because he wanted to understand why I had come to feel such dispair.

In the end, he surmised that I had never received much praise for my work because I had rarely ever shown it to anyon. Deep down I felt I suffered because my work sucked. That night he convinced me to enter an upcoming show which was my first ever. This was one of the 3 images I entered. It won 1st place. My other two entries won 2nd and 3rd place. I was in disbelief becauase I had come so close to destroying my work and myself just a few weeks before.

The universe, destiny, the fates, whatever you wish to call it, restored my faith in my work and myself. It is because of this image, and my friend, that I am here today, to share my work here with the world.

*bear48 Dec 1, 2008

You work is good but I know the feeling you are talking about.

If I can help let me know

~EclipseAgency Dec 13, 2008

Thanks for the encouragement and support bear. I'm not sure there is anything anyone can really do otherwise. My situation and that of my family is probably even more than Dr. Phil could handle. Perhaps someday things will even out and all the dispair and pain will pay offten fold. If not then life is just a cruel ride...

*bear48 Dec 13, 2008

I think I am still on that ride but friends do help

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