The Art of the Personal Project is a crucial element to let potential buyers see how you think creatively on your own. I am drawn to personal projects that have an interesting vision or that show something I have never seen before. In this thread, I’ll include a link to each personal project with the artist statement so you can see more of the project. Please note: This thread is not affiliated with any company; I’m just featuring projects that I find. Please DO NOT send me your work. I do not take submissions.
Today’s featured artist: Tash Hopkins
Qawiyah
I was the child that loved horses and constantly asked my parents for one so last year when I was researching the culture of Morocco to make a personal project, I discovered Tbourida and was hooked.
Five weeks later I was the only foreigner in the baking heat of a tiny town in Essaouira being crowded by 350 unpredictable horses and breathing in clouds of dust.
Born from the battlefields of ancient Morocco, Tbourida is a loud and adrenaline fuelled spectacle, like a modern-day Narnia but one with deep familial and spiritual roots. Histories are written in the saddles and every rider carries a miniature copy of the Qur’an.
A team of 10 to 25 riders thunder 200 metres down an arena then come to a screeching halt and single-handedly fire gunpowder filled rifles. It’s deafening and riders can lose their limbs or even their lives.
Until recently it was restricted to men only but now women have entered the fray, riding stallions and carrying guns to challenge stereotypes and change the face of tradition.
But like many women’s sports they have a lot to contend with behind the scenes. They have to dig deep to overcome resistance from their families, bans from sporting bodies and opposition from men’s teams who don’t want them to compete.
To see more of this project, click
Suzanne Sease is a creative consultant and former ad-agency senior art buyer. She works with both emerging and established photographers and illustrators to create cohesive, persuasive presentations that clients can’t resist.
Suzanne offers something rare: an insider’s perspective on how client’s source creative talent. Her deep understanding of the industry is underscored by her impressive resume: 11 years as senior art buyer at The Martin Agency, seven years as an art producer for Capital One, and stints with the art-buying department at Kaplan-Thaler and the creative department at Best Buy, where she applied her expertise to reviewing bids to see which were most likely to come in on budget. Over the years, Suzanne has worked with a wildly diverse range of clients, including Seiko, Wrangler, Bank One, AFLAC, and Clairol Herbal Essence. Now, as a consultant, she is equipped to problem-solve for her clients from an unusually dynamic point of view.
As a longtime member of the photo community, Suzanne is also dedicated to giving back. Through her Art of the Personal Project column on the popular website aphotoeditor.com, she highlights notable personal projects by well-known and up-and-coming photographers. The column offers these artists excellent exposure while reflecting Suzanne’s passion for powerful imagery.