Michele Meyers
In Motion Staff Writer
A group of five successful Daytona State College alumnae gathered Nov. 16 for a highly anticipated panel discussion at the Southeast Museum of Photography’s Madorsky Theater.
Photographers Cassi Alexandra, Lola Gomez, Robin Henson, Jennifer Kaczmarek and Erika Masterson are graduates of the DSC photography program, spanning the decades from 1984 to 2013. All had participated in the recent exhibition, “Dispatches from the Front,” which closed in October and showcased their diverse fine art, commercial and photojournalistic works.
James Pearson, the museum’s director, gave a special thanks to the event coordinator, Professor Kevin Miller. He then kicked off the discussion with a question for Alexandra regarding the means by which she established herself as a photographer.
“I’ve lived in New York for the last seven years. I edited for four years of it and made a lot of my contacts during those years when I was a non-threat. I was going to all the events, going to Eddie Adams’ workshops, going to Geek Fest,” she said, adding, “You want them to fall in love with you as a person before they see your work.”
Alexandra is a freelance photographer based in New York City and Orlando. Times were not always ideal, she explained.
“There was a four month period when I lived in my car because I didn’t want to come back here. It was beautiful and awful all at once. If you really want it you are going to make those decisions too.”
Erika Masterson, referring to DSC’s photography program, said “I loved it here. I wish we could have critique day in real life.”
Masterson lives in Florida with her husband and their four children, who act as her built-in models. Portraiture has sustained her fine arts addiction. She is happy to say she is no longer taking new clients. She now has the time to focus on the fine arts aspect of her photography. As soon as her husband bought her the underwater housing for her camera, she immediately began playing around with underwater photography.
Possessing success as a common thread among the photographera and that also means they agree on key factors important to achievement. Drive, drive, drive with your passion toward your goal. Work hard.
“Get that internship,” advised Lola Gomez, currently a photojournalist for the Daytona Beach News-Journal, who has also worked for the Orlando Sentinel. “And work 120 percent more than what they give you. Take it seriously. They are going to give you one assignment. Do more. Also, use the magical word, student. It will get you in to most everywhere. Use it.”
Among the top five attributed for aspiring professional photographers is having the ability to relate to and communicate with people. Without the connectivity to people, there is no subject, no business and definitely no way in to prohibitive areas, whether physical or emotional.
Robin Henson works for Southern Poverty Law Center, the leading organization in the United States that monitors hate groups and extremists. She’s walked with a militia and a rebel flag carrying Grand Wizard up Stone Mountain in Georgia, the largest confederate memorial.
“I did not agree with their stance on race, well, just about anything, but I was able to have a conversation with them and even felt a sense of betrayal when I took their photograph after they had posed for me and the shadows of pointed KKK hoods fell at their feet. It made for a great photo for the magazine but it was a strange feeling.”
Jennifer Kaczmarek develops deep relationships with her subjects. While attending DSC, she was invited to work on a project for Easter Seals.
“I met a child that I became very passionate about so when that was done, I felt compelled to do more. I stayed to document her for three more years and from that was determined to start a nonprofit, so I started a 501c3. It has evolved to Taking Focus, Inc., which offers sponsorships to those that present projects they are passionate about with a social or health issue related to giving back to the public.”
Typically when one documentary ends another project begins said Kaczmarek.
Asked for words of advice, Lola immediately chimed in, “I said it before… internships. And use the magic —student.”