Xref 2017 - Exposing Sicily

EXPOSING Sicily

A Photographic Journey of an Ancestral Island Xref 2017

“To have seen Italy without having seen Sicily is not to have seen Italy at all, for Sicily is the clue to everything.�

-Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.

My adventure begins in Palermo, Sicily, where my grandfather began his journey on the SS Lazio to follow his passion, my grandmother, to America. Here, I set out to explore my budding passion, photography. Through photography, I will experience the beautiful Sicilian culture and landscape, and connect with the stories of my grandparents.

The first part of my journey pushes my limits in how I see the art of life. Is it in the grand landscapes, or the fine details? To explore these limits, I will participate in a small group facilitated by an internationally recognized photographer, and two native Sicilian guides. Together, they combine the technical and artistic aspects of photography, and immerse us in the Sicilian culture as only locals can do. I know this will also shift my perspective in how I see and take in the details of life.

Rising before dawn, I will learn about the importance of lighting in the fish markets of Catania. To reinforce this understanding, daily

instruction continues into the night, taking full advantage of many lighting and weather potentials. Additionally, I will gain understanding of the importance of traditions of Sicily.

By getting to know and photograph locals in small villages, shooting salt flat landscapes in Trapani, and discovering architecture in Palermo, I will gain understanding of the Exposure Triangle: aperture, shutter speed, and ISO. Working together, these elements gather information to properly expose (or light) a photograph. Moreover, I will also gain exposure into the life and land of my grandparents.

Meeting my group as strangers and leaving as friends, my adventure continues solo, as I explore Montemaggiore Belsito, Sicily, the birthplace of my grandparents. Here, I will endeavor to use my newly acquired photographic skills to capture the beauty of the land, buildings, and people.

I can no longer ask my grandparents about the paths they walked, however, with this journey, I can connect with them through learning an expression of art, engaging people, and experiencing our ancestral land.

I will document my journey through photography, and journaling about both the skills learned and experience, to share with my HMC family and friends. It is my hope to inspire others, that no matter if you’re a young man following your passion across an ocean; or, more than a century later, a grandchild following their budding passion for photography, to experience whatever passion lives in them.

Thank you for your consideration.

What piques your curiosity? What do you want to experience? Where do you want to explore? Since 2007, @ZMN PI[ JMMV [MVLQVO 05+ MUXTWaMM[ \W NIZ̆Æ]VO KWZVMZ[ WN \PM _WZTL \W M`XMZQMVKM LQЄMZMV\ K]T\]ZM[ JZWILMV XMZ[XMK\Q^M[ IVL M`XTWZM VM_ \MZZQ\WZa¸IVL \PMV ZM\]ZV \W [PIZM \PMQZ M`XMZQMVKM[ _Q\P \PM MV\QZM ÅZU @ZMN _QVVMZ[ ZMKMQ^M ILLQ\QWVIT ^IKI\QWV \QUM \W KWUXTM\M \PMQZ \ZQX I[ _MTT I[ IV ITTW_IVKM NWZ \ZI^MT KW[\[

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