It’s hard to believe it was almost a year ago that I packed my car and made the 13 hour drive straight west from Fargo. I knew RMSP was something that I wanted to do and was excited about, but I still felt strange because it seemed like another random interest of mine. But looking back now, I would not trade that experience for anything. I think fondly about our classes, optional lectures with Neil, photographing ghost towns, driving through the incredible landscape of Montana, and sitting around using geeky camera and computer terminology with other students.

While we felt a little crazy taking such a big step, we also knew lots of friends and family members that would have loved to be in our position. We were all living out a small dream, not just talking about doing it. Our groups C and D became especially close, learned together, and made each other better. It’s very emotional to think about how special our camaraderie was and yet I can’t explain it to someone who wasn’t there. When I ask others if they miss the experience as much as I do, they resoundingly say yes. Many people went home and went through withdrawal and mild depression because they had lost the relationships and experiences that had been vital to their daily lives for 4 1/2 months. It’s strange being on our own, trying to make a business of photography and not having the daily support of our classmates. The Internet helps immensely, yet cannot compare to personal contact. I miss being surrounded by people who knew what I meant when I asked questions about f-stops, exposure, Lightroom, and dragging the shutter. I miss their encouragement and telling me I could do it when most others seem to suggest getting a “real” job and settling into their boring routine.

I thank God for Montana and the time I had. What I experienced there will stay with me forever. While I started out feeling inadequate and crazy for taking such a risk, after 2 months I was confident and knew I belonged at that school. I knew God had sent me there and had given me an eye for photography that he would use somehow. That’s what I hold on to now when it hurts and want to be back in Missoula. I trust he didn’t just send me there for a special experience that would end, but to develop skills that will lead to even greater experiences that would not be possible if I hadn’t visited Montana.

After Garnet we drove around for a while looking for other photo destinations, but didn’t have much luck. On the way back to Missoula we stopped for about half an hour to shoot a small creek and the water running over the rocks. It’s funny to watch 7 people get out of 2 cars, all armed with big cameras and tripods, head to the water and just go nuts playing with shutter speeds, polarizers, etc. It’s nice not to have people asking me “Can we leave yet?” after 2 minutes. We are definitely geeks enjoying each other’s company.

I don’t know why this is happening now or how to explain it. All I know is that photography does something to me. It gets me excited and it fits me. When I was in Iguazú and southern Brazil, I saw nature as I had never seen it before, including when I was in Patagonia, and it brought me to tears at times. Looking at Creation through the lens of a camera and having those memories forever allowed me to see the beauty of God in a way I had never imagined. This was wholly unexpected. Connecting with and meeting people has also been a pleasant surprise. Whether it was meeting Javier aboard an old Colombian boat, David & Marta with their vegetable truck, or the various tourists at Iguazú, photography opened me up to friendship and conversation. Almost everyone you meet loves photography and is especially interested when they can the the instant results on a digital camera. As some have said, the camera really does serve as an ambassador.

This photographic interest was stirring even before I went to Iguazú. Some weeks prior, I had been looking online and requested a brochure from the Rocky Mountain School of Photography in Missoula, Montana. At first it seemed like a pipe dream and I dismissed it as crazy. I didn’t even think they would mail a catalog to Buenos Aires, Argentina. But they did. In the days before going to Iguazú, I would flip through that catalog, read the course descriptions, and get a smile on my face. The mere thought doing such a thing got me excited. One night as I was perusing the catalog for the third or fourth time and, though I was alone, I said out loud, “I want to do this!” There was an emotion and determination in my voice that surprised me. The next week when I went to Iguazú, I brought the catalog with me. On the bus ride there, in the quiet solitude and darkness of night, broken only by the small lamp above me, the peace of God came over me. I didn’t know how or fully understand all the pieces of the puzzle, but I was at peace with doing something like RMSP, even though it seemed random or different to me. The following days spent in nature and meeting new people only served to confirm this peace.

I told my parents about my decision in mid-December. Outside of them, I kept it to myself because I wanted to be sure. Even explaining it to them served as more confirmation as I talked about what I had experienced the previous weeks. It was a done decision. I sent in my registration the beginning of January and am now officially registered.

I will be enrolled at RMSP from June 2nd to October 17th. During this intense time of training, I will go from rank amateur to a full fledged professional, fully competent and ready to meet photographic challenges and opportunities, given that I apply myself. The first 11 weeks are what’s called Summer Intensive. This course provides complete technical and hands on training, teaching the fundamentals of photography as well as developing the ability to see the world as a photographer. The next three weeks are Professional Studies, giving students a chance to choose electives that allow them to specialize and gain better training in a certain field of photography. My first choice would have been Outdoor Photography, but this class filled up before I registered. Documentary Photography also interested me, but this too was full. But that’s alright because every one of the courses intrigues me and will develop my ability. As of right now, I am registered for Personal Portrait, Wedding Photography, and Adventure Photography: People in Action. To complete the training, the Advanced Intensive program is offered, really helping the student develop a portfolio and delve into the digital world. The entire progam is intense with a capital I. Classes are held six days a week and the days are full. Students learn to think photographically like never before and see progress they hadn’t imagined. Mike took the program in 1999 and had a great experience. Back then he had to trudge his way through both the analog and digital world, dedicating study and class time to film development, etc. I have the good fortune of going in 2008 when, in their 20th year, for the first time, they will be teaching the program entirely in the digital format. This will be a huge advantage and offers the student an even better experience.

My plan right now is to return home roughly the middle of May, giving me a brief amount of time before heading out, again. As much as I’d like to return home sooner, seeing South America is a unique opportunity. I know I will be back, and hopefully it will be sooner than later, but one never knows. I am trying to understand how the randomness of my life works, but I have peace and am excited. Somehow photography, Spanish, and my other interests will come together. God puts us in certain places and certain times for a reason. Not only does photography excite me, I am certain God will use it in unique ways throughout the rest of my life. While it is not my life calling, it can be a means of provision, a way to capture family memories, a door to meeting people, and a manner in which I can help others in unique ways. Of this I am fully confident.

If I were able to do the course now, I would. Then I could come back to Patagonia actually knowing what I’m doing! Nonetheless, I am going to enjoy life and the opportunity God has given me to travel, see his Creation, meet new friends, and practice Spanish. Part of me worries about life and the shock of going back to the U.S., but I am working on taking it one step at a time–something that does not come naturally for my mind. God has truly blessed me and my prayer is that photography will be one more way that I can know him and do his work.

This is only a possibility at this point and we discussed it only for a few minutes, but I may have the opportunity to work with Mike in Utah after I’m done. He’s considering having someone assist him and expand his business. We’ll see what happens, but that would be “way cool” as the kids say. He and I get along extremely well and our personalities just fit. Besides being extremely talented at what he does, Mike is a likable guy and a great teacher, always looking for chances to share his experiences and instruct others. He’s getting married on April 18th and will be busy the next few months, but we’ll be in contact. It will be nice to see him for at least a brief time in Punta Arenas in February.

After taking a detour to pay for my upcoming D.E.L.E. exam (which I couldn’t complete because they required payment in euros), I found my way toward the docks. With the massive Colombian flag in the distance, there was no doubt I had found the right place. The visit aboard the ship was free and only required signing the log book. The crew couldn’t have been nicer as they offered help, smiled, and posed for pictures. The Gloria definitely had an aura of professionalism.

Once upon the ship, I was a bit perplexed as to how I ought to photograph it. I decided to apply the same principle as with any other large object–shoot the details to give a better feeling of “being there.” In fact, I tried too hard to do this, and forgot to take a wide shot of the entire ship! Oh well. While taking pictures, a man of approximately 40 years of age approached and asked if I spoke Spanish. He had left his camera in the hotel room and wondered if I would be willing to email him my pictures. Naturally I said “yes.” As we continued talking, Javier introduced himself and mentioned he was originally from Colombia. He moved to the United States seven years ago, eventually settling in West Palm Beach, Florida, to work for Jarden Consumer Solutions. (I had never heard of the company, but knew many of their subsidiaries such as Oster, Crock-Pot, Java Log, Marker, and many others). After this, the conversation switched between Spanish and English for a bit and eventually stuck on English. We spent another 30-45 minutes aboard the ship taking pictures and talking. Using the fellow Colombian slant, Javier even obtained permission from the admiral for a quick visit to the engine room. The bar area below deck was also opened for us as well as other visitors.

Sometime between 6:30 and 7, we headed down toward the restaurants of Puerto Madero. During the next three hours, we enjoyed some excellent lomo with potatoes, lousy customer service, and interesting conversation. We chatted about learning a foreign language in another culture, foreign relationships, poverty and how very little of it exists in the United States, and many other matters. Even better, we got to poke fun at the Argentines the whole time! Javier even offered to help connect me with some friends in Colombia shout I decide to travel that far north. He mentioned they would be able to help me set up a stay at a coffee plantation as well as guide me as to what parts of the country to avoid.

We parted company about 9:15 and I promised to email him lots of photos (which I’m actually doing right now as I multi-task). I returned home happily surprised to have made another friend in an unexpected fashion.

Fortunately, I don’t think Marta and David care if their pictures aren’t up to par. They do not own a camera and simply want some way of showing their family back in Bolivia exactly what they do here in Argentina. They’re already thrilled with the thought of having photos and I’m sure they will have big smiles on their faces tomorrow when I return from Carrefour with their prints.

After capturing some pictures of the church, I settled down on a park bench to alleviate my hunger with a few tuna sandwiches. As I ate, parents, children, and dogs streamed by. Everyone was enjoying the magnificent weather and thankful for the return of sunshine. I could have taken hundreds more pictures, had there been more daylight. But I settled in on an older woman and the playful puppy. I chatted with the women as I waited for her dog to settle down for a few seconds. This proved to be an exercise in futility as he could have played, wrestled around, and run all day.

We were soon joined by a man and his baby boy, who was just beginning to walk. After the woman left, Pablo and I talked some more and I took some additional pictures of their baby (who had a distinctly Italian name like Vito, or something similar, that I could not remember). Intermittently, he would break out a bit of English acquired while playing water polo in Australia for 6 months. During this brief time, I learned he was a cameraman with Canal 9. Earlier that day he had been recording the arrival of a Colombian boat in Puerto Madero and suggested I see it for myself as it could be a good chance for some pictures. After his wife returned, we headed to their car and they gave me an info sheet with the hours and location of the visiting vessel. I thanked them for their kindness and promised to email some pictures from that afternoon. Pablo also offered his cell phone number and assistance for whatever need I had.

In the email, I asked about accompanying him on a news shoot and possibly visiting the studio. He didn’t make any promises, but I wouldn’t be surprised if we can work out some arrangement.

In my neighborhood of Nuñez, an older, red pickup parks on the corner of Pico and O’Higgins every Tuesday and Friday. Filling the bed of this truck is a custom made enclosure from which the owners sell fruits, vegetables, eggs, and flowers. The uniqueness of their business intrigued me, but I never bothered stopping to buy from them. As I thought about photos of subjects unique to Argentina, taking pictures of this makeshift “farmers’ market” seemed like a great opportunity.

So today, I journeyed to the end of the block, pesos in hand, with the intent of purchasing a few items and engaging the owners in conversation. At first, the diminutive woman standing in the truck bed appeared a bit distant. But after talking with her husband David for a few minutes, Marta proved to be very talkative. After making the purchase, I asked about returning one day to take pictures as they conducted business. They were thrilled with the idea and inquired as to what day I would return so that they could have extra flowers to decorate the back of the truck. While I did not take any pictures today, we agreed on meeting again next Tuesday morning.

But what’s more is how they opened up as the conversation progressed. We discussed my process of learning Spanish, which subsequently led to them asking if I could teach English lessons to their son. Whether they were being nice or genuinely interested, I don’t know. But we agreed to discuss this more next time. Also, we talked about culture and living in Argentina. Being from Bolivia, they could appreciate the pros and cons of living in another country. I asked them about places to volunteer in Buenos Aires, which in turn created a discussion of church and faith. Marta shared her experience with the Universal Church of the Reign of God (a corrupt bunch of crooks from Brazil). While she attended the church, their strange practices and emphasis on giving money in order to receive prayer for miracles always bothered her. I asserted this was a gross perversion of the faith and explained how we give out of gratitude, not compulsion. Further, I tried to emphasize the lack of focus on repentance in this type of church and how the condition of the heart comes before all else, miracles not withstanding. Our cordial exchange lasted an hour and hopefully produced some new friends.

Add this experience to last weekend in Banfield, meeting a couple at the mall and taking pictures of their kids, and taking pictures of children playing on a side street, and there is no doubt people love the camera. More than this, we all appreciate feeling important to someone else.