IDENTITÉ*
by: Chris Lawrence
This storytelling project aims to explore the authentic narratives that exists within different cultural backgrounds living within a major city, creating a space for people to express their experiences through photographs and storytelling while also focusing on how living in multicultural Canadian Cities, focusing on Montréal, impacts their relationship their culture and whether individuals feel the need to assimilate to take on a more ‘Quebecois Identity' in order to live in Quebec; creating an online photography Museum using Adobe Creative Suite & sharing participant stories through social media platforms such as Instagram and FaceBook.
CHRIS LAWRENCE is a mostly self-taught (shoutout to YouTube) Photographer that strives to use photography elements, such as Portraits and 35mm Film, to illustrate the unique beauty in multiple aspects of life; focusing portraits that are visually appealing without being over edited , maintaining the integrity of Natural Beauty. Fun Fact: Chris also failed Media Arts in High School with a 4%, but has never let that get in the way of his passions. Chris began experimenting with Photography in 2015 as a way to balance the stress of University, giving him a sense of control in an environment where things were chaotic, fully taking the leap as a Photographer in March 2018, quitting a Full-Time Job to pursue Photography solely. Prior to becoming a Photographer, Chris found his interest in Digital Media as a YouTube Content Creator, creating opinionated-content that gave voice to his interests, which in turn lead to sitting on and eventually Moderating a Panel at VidCon in Anaheim, California and also works as A Freelance Digital Consultant, assisting brands and developing companies build their online presence.
In the future, Chris hopes to work with brands around the world to help tell authentic stories that are diverse and represent people from all walks of life, truly believing that telling stories that relate to consumers is a fantastic way to generate sales.
WHY ME?
I know that I am the creative for the job not only as a result of the passion to grow as a Photographer that I have had thus far, using my days off at a Full-Time Job to offer free Photoshoots to build skills in 2018, but also my willingness to work hard, challenge myself along the way and learn from every mistake that is made. Despite the fact that March 2019 will be the official mark of my First Year as a Photographer - I've never let how long I've been a Photographer get in the way of what I know that I am capable of doing. In addition, I am passionate about taking portraits that are beautiful; I truly want represent the unique beauty that each individual has through portraits paired along side the stories they tell, using photography as a way to share powerful and personal narratives.
As an Adobe Creative Resident, I plan to dedicate a year to consistently challenge myself with all aspects related to IDENTITÉ*. As someone who was born in Toronto, I began to think of how multicultural the city is despite the language barrier that many people have to work through. Within the past year, nearly 50,000 people immigrated to Quebec* from countries around the world for various reasons; however while many countries around the world speak French, those immigrating from Non-French Speaking Countries are placed at a slight disadvantage. As both an academic and a creative, I hope to create this project alongside Adobe to explore these narratives in Montreal Residents of all ages, using a select group of people to tell a story that will speak to the experiences of many people; ultimately showing audiences and fellow creatives the beauty that exists in sharing authentic stories of survival and triumph in a new environment.
Let's Talk Specifics:
Why Montréal?
Québec places heavy emphasis on French-Canadian identities while a significant percentage of the population of Montreal being immigrants born outside of Canada, also being the only province that lists French as the Official First Language. Alongside Adobe, I plan to highlight the narratives of Montréal Residence born outside of Québec - focusing on the Greater Montreal Area; understanding how they navigate forming their own identities in a province that is geared towards French-Speaking individuals both socially and through legislation, such as the Charter of the French Language that asserts French as the 'normal and everyday language', that places puts an emphasis on the importance of Quebecois culture and identity, almost displacing those who do not speak French.
The Process*:
QUARTER ONE:
Focus: Administrative Work & Outline:
- Meeting with an Adobe Creative Residency Manager to outline the overall flow of the project, creating a timeline to make sure that goals are both created and met on time and discussing Adobe Run Events attendance schedule.
- Completing any administrative work required for the project, such as media release forms and contracts for participants, finalizing the overall project budget and creating required graphics for finding participants using Adobe Spark.
- Visitings selected studio in Montréal to ensure availability and suitability for the required needs of the project from start to finish, also selecting Studio Work dates.
- Planning out a content schedule to maximize the amount of ground covered with each piece of content for various platforms, such as planning dedicated shoots for InstagramTV content.
- Securing any domains required for the Online Museum, including websites and Social Media Handles and creating Hashtags.
- Creating a Photoshoot Schedule, setting goals for each photoshoot in regards to style and technique as well as running a few test shoot dates in studio.
- Reaching out to plan speaking engagements with Conferences in Toronto to inquire about delivering a Keynote about the Adobe Creative Residency and the project.
- Planning Studio Shoot themes & colour combinations in order to maintain unity amongst the photos.
- Finalizing the details, such as lens focal lengths and shutter speeds,
QUARTER TWO:
- Hosting a Second Meeting with Adobe's Creative Manager.
- Beginning the process of meeting with participants in studio for two hour sessions - one hour dedicated to interviews and an hour for a Photoshoot.
- Releasing daily Photo/Video content on Instagram that shares the narratives from the project with an online audiences.
- Releasing Weekly IGTV videos that promote Adobe's Mobile Applications, such as Lightroom, Photoshop and Rush CC.
- Editing photos and videos utilizing various editing styles such as Frequency Editing, sharing the results of different techniques and what is possible with Adobe Creative Suite; consistently discovering new styles of photo retouching and implementing them into the workflow at least one time.
QUARTER THREE:
- Hosting a third meeting with Adobe Creative Residency Manager to discuss the remaining duration of the residency, reassess goals, etc.
- Wrapping up the remaining photoshoots and finalizing any loose ends, entering into editing solely.
- Hosting weekly Live Stream Sessions to show other creatives how I edit photos using Adobe Lightroom/Photoshop as well as to answer any questions about my project with the audience.
- Sending the rough draft of the Museum to a select group of people for feedback on overall user experience, closer to the end of the quarter.
- Work with a translator on creating a French version of the website and having it both tested and checked for clarity.
- Completing Final Photoshoots required and editing the remaining photo/video content to be shared on Social Media Platforms.
QUARTER FOUR:
- Hosting a final meeting with Adobe Creative Residency Manager to discuss the remainder of the Residency.
- The Official Launch of the Online Museum to the public in both English and French.
- Marketing the Online Museum on Social Media to those who have an interest in learning about Quebec Immigrant Experiences.
- Reaching out to Local Art Showcases to Inquire about having a popup Gallery that shares the photos and narratives even further.
- If time permits, creating a book outline to be published and printed to be sold - the money raised being donated to a Non-Profit.
Project Goals
- To work with 10-15 individuals throughout the duration of the residency, understanding their personal stories while ensuring that they are shared with a strong attention to detail, ensuring that authenticity is maintained.
- To create an online museum that takes these stories from a Canada into a global context, sharing the stories that show the cultural diversity of the Canadian cities; featuring video clips, photos and physical elements that are unique to each participant such as handwritten pieces and audio files, offered in both English and French when possible.
- To dedicate each month of the residency to a new focus topic, ensuring that various areas and experiences are covered throughout the duration of the project; such as Life Before Immigration and The Challenges of French-Canada.
- To put my skills as a photographer to the test by utilizing various techniques, such as Three point lighting, as a way to have control over both the environment and desired photo results.
- To bring these stories to other creatives, promoting what is possible as an Adobe Creative Resident and how Adobe Creative Cloud allows creatives to unlock their potential both online and through public speaking.
- To utilize social media platforms, such as Instagram and FaceBook, to reach out and share powerful narratives in a fashion that is authentic, and strives to generate discussions surrounding cultural identity.
- To begin shaping a career that uses digital media and storytelling to bring powerful stories to audiences of all sizes, working with companies and brands to create authentic marketing campaigns and initiatives that make people feel that their experiences are both seen and understood.
- To enhance my own understanding of the Quebecois Identity within Montreal while also expanding my own knowledge of the French Language and how a French Culture is built into Canada's Identity through policy and socially.
- As a Photographer, challenge myself to sharing multiple post daily for a period of time. Example: 12 Days of Smiling Portraits on Instagram's Main Feed.
- My aim is to allow this project to not only change me as an individual, but to also grow as a stronger photographer in my skills and in my technique. I want to gain first hand experience in working with other people and having a responsibility to ensure that their stories and passions are represented in my work in the same way they represented those areas to me. In addition, this project will help me grow by constantly forcing me to challenge myself by dealing with the unexpected events that happen when working with others.
Sharing the Project with Other Creatives:
To share the project with other creatives, I would utilize existing connections within Montreal, Toronto and California to share both the project and what is possible with Adobe during a Creative Residency, as well as sharing what Adobe Creative Suite is able to create.
- Creating videos that allows creatives to see the project from behind the scenes, giving a deeper look at the challenges that come throughout the duration of the residency while also sharing the same stories of participants on video, bringing life to the stories and allowing the project to be both consumed and marketed in multiple ways beyond the Online Museum.
- Reaching out to personal existing connections at VidCon to inquire about delivering a Creator Keynote that both introduces potential Adobe Residents to the program while also sharing the project with creators, delivering presentations on topics such as
'How I Share Powerful Stories with Adobe Creative Suite',
Giving a first hand look at what Adobe Offers and how I use the softwares in my daily creative work.
- Speaking at Adobe's Events to creatives about the project to audiences of all sizes, also promoting the residency and Adobe programs, as well as the aforementioned project.
- Using Social Media features to highlight both using Adobe's Mobile Applications as well as sharing content from the project, such as using Instagram Stories or IGTV to post tutorials on How I Edit Portraits on my iPhone using Adobe Lightroom CC.
-
What I hope other creatives to take away from this project is the importance of telling the stories of those who are in the same room, but have a drastically different lived experience. I want to encourage other photographers, regardless of how long they've been working on their craft, that they can create inspiring work that shares stories while capturing authentic portraits and how Adobe helps make that possible. In addition, I want to help photographers learn as I learn; witnessing the mistakes that I make and the importance within those moments. Along my photography journey, I've seen firsthand the competitive nature amongst photographers and I hope to foster an environment that thrives on collaboration and growth.
Main Programs to be Used During the Adobe Creative Residency*:
Cost Breakdown:
Lens & Equipment Rentals:
Vistek rentals are an option I plan to utilize when creating this project, as a way to not only keep costs low but with the intention of keeping the setup simple. For the following project, the following equipment will assist my skills in delivering the best possible quality during photoshoots and filming, to be paired with my Canon T3i and existing Workstation, only when required.
This list is subject to change based on project needs.
Canon 16-35mm F/2.8L- Series Lens: $105 per week
Canon EF 100mm F/2.8L-Series Lens: $90 per week
Canon 70-200mmF/4L Series Lens: $90 per week
Canon 600EX-RT Speed Light: $48 per week
Rode VideoMic Pro: $60 per week
First Row Insurance Quote: Approx. $345.00 per shoot. Insurance covering any equipment damages, physical injury to any participants and studio guests, etc.
35mm Film Development (.TIFF): $20.50 per roll.
Studio Space Rental:
Montreal:
Alexandre Paskanoi Studio Rental in St. Henri, Montreal: $170 for 8 Hours
Extra $30 booking fee, refundable deposit $300 cash or cheque in the event of damages.
All lighting & backdrop equipment can be rented on sight.
Backdrop: New - $25, Used - $5
Kit 2 Elinchrom BRX 500w: $45
Light Trigger: $10
Portfolio:
Best of 2018 - 35mm Film Photography
"Being Black Is" - Short Documentary Interview. Directed, filmed & edited by Chris Lawrence (August 2017).
*IDENTITÉ is a tentative title name.for the project, and is subject to change.
* Statistic Number is from Statista's Online Database. The value was rounded up.
* While these programs have been identified as the main Adobe Softwares to be used during the project, the goal is to implement as many programs into the project as possible.
*The Process is not dependant on dedicating an equal amount of time to each quarter, as some areas of the project will require far more time and attention, and is subject to change.
Land Acknowledgements:
* I acknowledge the traditional lands of Indigenous people, such as Huron-Wendat & Haudenosaunee, that this project would be created on. While there are many cultures within Canada, we must always remember the voices of those who originate from this land and acknowledge that many of us, including myself, are settlers. If provided the opportunity to curate this project, I commit to including the voices of Indigenous people within the Museum each opportunity where it is possible.
