While I've had numerous assignments over my career none more interesting the the one I'm about to describe. I recently received an email from a young lady in Spain, she explained that she was a college student and asked if I might be interested in taking part in her school project; I'm normally wary of odd sounding emails from spamers or phishers but this time the email sounded sincere and the request was too odd to be a hoax. So I decided to respond.
It seems Lucia, the name of the young student, had contacted photographers from all over the world asking if they would be interested in taking part in her project, "An Island From Another Continent". The object was simple, she would send a stone from her native Spain and the assignment was to photograph the stone in a purely natural environment, no roads, power lines or anything else that would reveal the hand of man. And, there was catch, once the photographs were taken I am to leave the stone in its new home and send her a stone from here that she will place in her home. Hence both stones become islands from another continent.
So, over the next few weeks I will be taking my Spanish stone along with me as I photograph in several of the more famous locations near my home in Montana, Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks. My last shooting destination will be in Glacier and will become the stones new home. And, and ironic catch to the story, I've been to Spain as a matter a fact I was born there some 54 years ago but left when I was very young and really have no memory of it. Someday I hope to see the country of my birth and, with luck, visit the region were my Island from another Continent originated.
If you've experienced a similar unusual request and would like to share it with the followers of my Blog, please feel free.......I'm sure it will make someones day.
An update to the story; the little Spanish stone is in its new home in Yellowstone. The images have been sent to Spain and will be used in Lucia's presentation on the 15th of December. I guess this means the story has a happy ending....................
An update to the story; the little Spanish stone is in its new home in Yellowstone. The images have been sent to Spain and will be used in Lucia's presentation on the 15th of December. I guess this means the story has a happy ending....................
54 years ago? I thought you just turning 40 this year Nick...That is an awesome story Nick!
ReplyDeleteI received a request from a child in Florida several years ago who was doing a class project on Alaska. I sent him pictures of Alaska and answered a questionnaire from him... after his class presentation, I answered another series of questions from him that came from his classmates... not quite as exciting as shipping rocks around the world, but it was a good experience... I'm not sure if I ever even told anyone the story til now :)
That's great Steve, I'm looking forward to seeing how many interesting stories this generates. Yes....54!
ReplyDeleteWhile living in Arizona, we received a paper cutout dude named Flat Stanley. He has been all over the world, we took him to the Grand Canyon and several other places in Arizona to photograph him. It started in Ontario, and "went viral". Here is the Wikipedia link:
ReplyDeletehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flat_Stanley_Project#The_Flat_Stanley_Project
Not sure if this link will work, Nick. But here you are shooting the Spanish rock. Had a great time! Well except for... :)
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2757660511110.270092.1545683955&type=3#!/photo.php?fbid=2757663711190&set=a.2757660511110.270092.1545683955&type=3&theater