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This space is a collection of moments and places that inspired us in some way. Please come back and visit as we add new posts, and join the conversation.
Earchphoto
Certified. What? Why?Every once in a while I meet people along the way and they ask what is a Certified Professional Photographer, and why in the world someone who has been making photographs for over twenty-five years would feel the need to become certified. A Certified Professional Photographer, or CPP, is someone who wants to stand out from the crowd. In today's market, where the barrier to entry into photography is so low that anyone who received a DSLR for Christmas can walk into a public office and create a new busincess, it is not sufficient to just be a good photographer. The world is full of good photographers. The CPP talls your clients that in a world with over a million photographers, you are one of less than 3000 who decided to take a board-style examination and submit a body of work to a panel of judges from the Professional Photographic Certification Commission for evaluation. It tells the world that you put yourself out there to be evaluated and judged, and you made it out alive with flying colors. It also tells the world that you are keeping up with an industry which is made of constant change, and participate in the numerous continung education activities required to maintain the certification. The principal photographer at Earchphoto is one of the less than 3000 worldwide (and less than 200 in Texas) who elected to become certified. Our decision was also driven by the clients we connect with and represent: our networking crowd is made of architects, engineers, physicians. They maintain a higher standard by passing their boards, and so do we. We believe in education, in maintaining a high standard of service, and in delivering the highest quality products. We believe in professional certification.
Elena Sbrana, CPP Principal Photographer
Health Care Architecture. Why?
I feel a special connection to healthcare architecture. Modern healthcare architecture is fearless, unlimited, and visionary. It stands at the intersection of emotions and power. When a patient walks into a health care facility, they come looking for guidance, healing, and hope. They come from a place of darkness, and they seek light. Architect John Lautner once said that the purpose of architecture is to improve human life. Healthcare architecture is the representation of that purpose. The purpose of healthcare architecture is to relieve the limits imposed by illness. Illness says to the patient that they are afraid, limited, alone, unsafe. Illness takes away hope. Illness says you cannot do what you wish to do. Healthcare architecture responds by providing support and safety, lifting limits, opening spaces, restoring hope and creating connection. Modern healthcare architecture brings light and hope into the healing space by creating an environment which is interconnected with the outside world. Gardens, playgrounds, art exhibits, and starry skies live within the modern healing space. The design brings the outside world within the patient room, and makes them an active participant in their own healing process. The purpose of our photography is for the images to convey this message - the feeling that coming through these doors, walking into these healing spaces, here they will find guidance, healing, and hope.
Of Photography and GratitudeThe opportunity to walk often in a hospital hallway is a precious one, as it becomes an exercise in gratitude. Yes, an exercise, because gratitude should be regarded as a practice, rather than a feeling. Today I am not walking around as an architectural photographer, and not as a health care professional. I walk as a friend today, going to visit a young child waiting for an upcoming surgery. As I move through the hallway, a little girl walks in a hospital gown, carrying a coloring book and a doll. Two boys sit together in the playground area, pushing a small toy truck on the slider. IV's, bandages, monitors - and a variety of colorful caps covering those little heads. There must be some uncertainty, and fear, and pain in those hearts. And yet they all find the strength and courage to smile and play, and to seek hope. We have so much to be grateful for. Being healthy enough to walk into this hospital as a visitor, for one. Being healthy enough to walk in many hospitals to take photographs. Being healthy enough to come by and meet all these wonderful people, even if just for a moment, even if just to share a brief walk along the hallway. So, yes, please: at least once in each one of our busy days, let's take a minute to practice gratitude.
E.
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