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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
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.
Sharing with the worldOne of our firm beliefs is that there are no secrets. Everything we learn, everything we figure out, is meant to be shared to improve the lives of others. Or make their job easier, maybe. And sharing through education betters us all, the teachers and the learners, as while we teach we also learn... A few people have e-mailed asking how a certain effect was achieved, or how a photo was taken, which settings, which lens, which post-processing... and we have decided to start answering questions on the web, so that many others could see the behind the scenes and benefit. Please feel free to browse the Education website, where we will be posting the answers for everyone to read. The first post is in regard to the ice table shot. Enjoy, and keep the questions coming!
Earchphoto
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