"To have a strong sense of style, one must have a strong sense of self."

During the NPPA Multimedia workshops, I wrote down that quote as an afterthought. Being exposed to photographs that are amazingly different that cease to strike a cord in a viewer's mind and heart, is a magic in all its own. Not even just a photograph, but simply a piece of creativity, a form of expression. And what is really amazing is the person behind such a piece, is just being themselves. They are putting themselves into that piece. And the viewer could feel it.

It's what differentiates that photographer/artist from everyone else... their own eye, their intuition, their own style. And that's what makes them really stand out.

I woke up this morning and read this month's NPPA's cover story about Carolyn Cole. It was definately a pleasure to see her present her work during the Portland Workshops. Photo after photo held so much intense emotion. A friend of mine said it became repetitive, seeing the same photo over and over again. I must strongheartedly disagree. From New Orleans, to Afghanistan, to Haiti, to Chad, to Lebanon---- she has been to all these areas during times of war, conflict, and death-- and she comes back with photos that move. And they are different because they tell different stories, different hearthaches, and different losses from different individuals. I found it interesting that she addressed this in the NPPA article,

"First and foremost, I'm about content. And then after that, it's about emotion and moments. When there is time, I work with the light and composition and complexity if I can, but in news that is rare. Stories don't happen at sunset...I have one method, and it's to tell the people who are reading the newspaper what's going on, and what's important for them to know."

I also find it inspiring, that she is a woman =) Girl power!

P.S. Random photo, but wanted to add it: The most inspirational women in my life =) (not Marge, Lisa, or Maggie Simpson)