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!