Journey Fabrica

I just called Fabrica. They got my application, it’s with the photography department and there’s no answer yet. The lady on the phone said the photography department is very busy and I might not be able to get an answer til September, Fabrica goes on 3 weeks of summer break in August and resumes early September. Sigh, those Italians.

V made a good suggestion the other day. It’s going to be winter over in Europe soon and for me it’ll be hell, so he suggested if I don’t get in this time, wait til next year, apply again and go enjoy the spring and summer. Sounds like a good plan I think.

But in the meantime, I’ll keep waiting for Enrico Bossan, head of photography at Fabrica.

I found Reed Young on flickr a while ago through the Fabrica group, I checked out his works and added him as a contact on flickr, but didn’t think much further about it. Just last week Karen suggested I find some ex-fabricantis and email them for some insights into Fabrica. So I emailed Reed, asked him about the selection process and how his time there was. I hope he doesn’t mind me posting his reply, it is here:

Dear Xiaohan, Fabrica was a great place for me. I was there for a little over a year and I learned a lot. The selection process is very unorganized and vague. Enrico Bossan is the head of the photography department and he is very busy working on Colors magazine and a few other projects as well. If Enrico likes your portfolio he will ask you to come for a 2 week trial and in that time you will be asked to make a personal project that shows your ability. This is very difficult because you’ll be in a town where nobody speaks english. But if you plan it right you can do a small photo project in venice and it can be very good.

I have perhaps just discovered one of my favourite fashion photographers. His works are pure awesomeness. He creates fantastical scenes with real props! Sofa sized camera, cakes hanging from tree, coloured pussy cats anyone? I’m in love with his pictures, when I grow up, I want to make pictures just like him.

He has a new book out too. For more of his work look here.

I’ve been checking the mail box everyday for the past week… hoping to see a magic parcel in it waiting for me! My heart goes a little faster, my steps a little faster, but alas nothing yet.

Though I had a dream this morning, somehow I was still living with my folks, they had a pile of old letters they didn’t tell me about. I was like what why, grrrr! There were 2 letters from Fabrica, both were A4 yellow multiple pages forms. The first one said I didn’t pay the application fee or the cheque bounced, so they can’t accept my application. I got pretty frustrated and was upset with my mum cos it was her cheque. Then the second letter said I wasn’t accepted.

Pah… too much insecurity no? Hope the reality will be the opposite of that.

PS. There’s no application fee to Fabrica.

This is the postcard I ended up sending as the application letter to Fabrica. I thought I’d share it. It might come across as a little too try hard and childish, but I figured better being noticed than not at all.

So the following 2 pics were glued together then zig zag folded to form a normal sized postcard. This is then attached to an A4 letter, so it had my logo and stuff on top, an intro, then postcard, then a few more words and salute.

Actually it was sent like 2 weeks ago, I just almost forgot that I had this blog, oops. Anyhow the application should arrive there soon, all my fingers and toes are crossed, inter-crossed, etc. I am glad it’s all kind of out of my hands for now.

On other fronts, my trip was fun as you can see from my photos on flickr, which I have gotten sick of posting.

On another front, I’m off to Melbourne next weekend! Tell me what’s on there and what I should get up to. No no, not going to interviews like Karen, going for a friend’s birthday, he’s offering me his spare room so how could I turn that down.

Yesterday at work I was on my way to the kitchen when I noticed a parcel in the intray that looked suspiciously like my blurb book and it was! It took me by complete surprise since I only got the shipping email from blurb on Tuesday.

Here’s a look inside:

Have to say I’m quite happy with the quality of the blurb printing, paper and binding. Some of the film shotS didn’t reproduce so well, the colours weren’t as vibrant as they were on screen, but apparently that’s just slide film. All of digital shots have reproduced really well.

Now all that’s left to do is write the letters and send this off!

Woot! Just got an email this morning from blurb that my folio has been printed and just shipped. Hot off the press! Can’t wait to get it, hope it looks good and there are no stuff ups inside…

Now I need to start thinking about and writing my application letter. Fabrica also need a letter from someone deeply involved in my work, but since I have no boss or lecture, I’m a little stumped about that one. The only suitable person I can think of is my boyfriend V, no one else is deeply involved in my work. So should the letter state loud and clear that he is my boyfriend, would that make his letter less valid?

I need suggestions please! All help and advice welcomed.

Several photos I had picked out for a series in my folio was old film shot, mostly from my Seagull camera. One night last week, I re-scanned them, because the old files I had weren’t big enough for printing. I was surprised the scans turned out so pale, I tried to boost the photo by post processing, but it just didn’t work. Sadly, the negatives I used were cheap and maybe also expired, so they have faded a lot over time.

The new scan

The old scan

This is one of my most favourite photos, I’m really quite sad and frustrated about loosing it, many other shots have suffered the same fate. I swear I will never use cheap or expired film again, EVER! I also want to send all my films to pro labs, but I doubt I can afford that, though it’s certainly cheaper than loosing my best shots…

I did the photo shoot with Adrian on last Sunday! For once the results came close to what I had in mind, which I’m very happy about. I arranged to pick up Adrian from the upstairs of Central Station and he stood out from a mile away in his sharp suit and sunglasses, in a good way of course.

V drove and we went to an abandoned location in western Sydney. Working with a professional model is such a huge difference. I only had to give a minimum amount of directions, he models, I just take the shots. I’ve never had such a smooth shoot with such good results. If I may say so myself :p

The location turned out perfect, the contrast between Adrian’s focused eyes and the messy rubble of the building was exactly what I had in mind. V was my assistant of the day and did a great job, he also gave me a few suggestions which turned into fantastic photos.

These photos have boosted my confidence about getting into Fabrica, my folio is definitely a lot stronger with this series.