No answer yet

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.

A little insight

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.

Fabrica was the most difficult year of my life, so far. But I learned a lot. It’s a very independent working environment. For the first six months I traveled around Italy taking photos for a small magazine. Then I started to do some pictures for Colors. It’s a place that you need to put in your time and by the end of your scholarship you will be very busy with different projects. But the beginning is very slow for most people.

If you have any other specific questions don’t hesitate to email me. Good luck!

-Reed

Great insights, aren’t they? I’m glad I emailed Reed. I already have an idea for the small project to be done during the 2 weeks trial. Fabrica sounds almost like an endurance trial, but just like Reed, I’m sure I’ll learn lots too.

So my plan from here is, if I don’t hear from them til the end of this month, I will give them a call and we’ll go from there. But one way or the other I will be resigning from my job by the end of the month or mid August the latest. Hurray!

Tim Walker

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 had another dream

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.

application postcard

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.