Veterans Eyes
“Everyone has eyes but few have vision" - John Steven Calder
 |
||
| United States Air Force | John Steven Calder | 21 July 1976-15 FEB 1980 |
“I think your whole life shows in your face and you should be proud of that. - Lauren Bacall”
 |
||
| United States Navy | Elizebeth Jean Ruso | 1982-11986 |
“The eyes are the portal to the soul. - Plato”
 |
||
| United States Navy | George Wick | 1972-1975 |
“Maybe that's what life is... a wink of the eye and winking stars - Jack Kerouac”
 |
||
| United States Navy | Ben Diaz | 1968-1961 |
“Do you really want to honor Veterans? Don't make anymore. - Anonymous”
 |
||
| United States Marines | Ray Williams | 1951-1956 |
“You want to know where a man has been? Look him in the eyes” - General George Patton
Project Scope:
Portraits:
I desire to take portraits of aging veterans and the VA Medical Facility at Fort Miley VA hospital in San Francisco. Each portrait will have only 2 prints, one for my archives and one to be printed, framed and displayed at a photography exhibit at the VA hospital and at the San Francisco Art Institute, with the framed print being given to the veteran pictured. This will be free to any veteran participating.
The printed picture will be scaled to a traditional ‘heroic scale’, 1.5 times larger than life. They will be printed on galley paper, with zero fade inks, mounted in a black metallic frame with glass cover, measuring 19 x 13 inches.
I have no intention on using any computer software to modify each image aside from color balancing and image enhancements.
Video:
Each veteran will be given the opportunity to tell us about their service. This will be recorded on video and compiled into web accessible presentation.
Book:
The compiled portraits will be printed into bound hardcover book available to be purchased at cost on-line (www.blurb.com). No profit will be made on the selling of any book sales.
Portrait Samples
Composition:
I desire to shoot the portraits in close-up view, as the sample above. I chose color and high resolution to bring out the details of the faces. To show the wrinkles, the aging and the depth of a person who has lived a bit. Although sometimes these types of photos are thought to be unflattering, I see them as realistic portrayals of respect.
Footnotes:
Each portrait will have the branch of service, their full name and the dates of service. There is lots of conflict in the veteran world about what ‘type’ of veteran you are, i.e. Viet Nam, Korean and American-Indian. I’m not interested in that narrative; we donated time in our life to the military. I chose to display that time only.
Logistics:
I would like to set-up at 8am in an easily accessible location at the Fort Mileys Veteran’s Hospital. I would require at least an hour to set up and will film and shoot till 5-6pm.
Model Releases:
Each veteran will have to sign a model release before I can take his or her portrait. This will accomplished with an iPad application, simply signing on the screen with a stylus.
Notifications:
Each veteran will receive a notification in the mail of the dates of both art shows, the web address of an on-line portfolio, where they can download a high resolution image of their portrait, as well as a website to view the final video narrative.
Thank you for your consideration. As a service Disabled Veteran I am currently going to the San Francisco Art Institute for a Masters Of Fine Arts degree. This project, albeit a school project, is my way of giving back to the VA for their wonderful support of me.
Larger Sample
Please feel free to contact me should you have any questions.
John Steven Calder
Artist – SFAI
Jcalder@well.com
415-577-8108