We created Existing Light upon graduating from the New England School of Photography (NESOP) in Boston in 2008, and entering the daunting and fantastic world of being newly professional photographers. We each wanted to use a blog for multiple reasons – to promote our own work, and write about issues in photography and society today. Given our common backgrounds in gender studies and sociology, as well as our experiences breaking into the photography and art worlds, we have unique perspectives and voices that we want to share with others.
From Existing Light you can expect updates on our work, stories from navigating/managing our new careers, work from photographers that inspire us, and maybe even some interviews. Please enjoy and thanks for reading!
—Our bios—
Steph Plourde-Simard is a documentary and fine art photographer based in Boston. In her previous life she earned a BA in women’s studies and sociology, and an MA in gender/cultural studies, both from Simmons College. Her work focuses on issues of survival and navigating to the heart of social/political issues through personal stories. In addition to an interesting mix of day jobs, Steph plays roller derby, volunteers at a domestic violence organization, and has been a social justice activist for over a decade. Her portfolio is at www.stephplourdesimard.com.
Caleb Cole is an artist working mainly with color photography, both digital and film. Most of his work is conceptual in nature and his primary interests are exploring ambiguities and contradictions, particularly those related to sex and identity. He loves to teach people about photography and hopes to one day support himself as a teacher and working artist. When not making new art, he tries to make a living by working at his alma mater, shooting events, assisting, and doing a variety of digital handiwork. His website and portfolio is at www.calebcolephoto.com.
i like your blog alot, got me thinking about art and photos again after a short hiatus…. i’m glad you guys are ballsy enough to actually start a blog….good job, keep it going….and i’m inspired by all your activities, i’m going to go out and do some shit now!
Hi Ishita, hope you’re doing awesome stuff since graduation! And thanks for reading!
Hello you, my friend. How are you?
I was pleased when I saw your email and have Tcefanh and I liked. You are diligent and intelligent girl.
I wish you success
Ahmed Khatib
Thank you Ahmed, and I hope you are well.
Greetings,
I stumbled upon this blog today after noticing Caleb’s work on Kevin Miyazaki’s blog. (After visiting Caleb’s web site, I then had the realization that this is the same Caleb who was featured on NEO and is working at the PRC….)
I’m enjoying the articles here and I am also moved by the friendship and spirit of collaboration that you both share. As you noted in one of your posts, all too often artists work in isolation when they do not need to do so. Your posting(s) about submissions and rejections made me smile. I can very much relate to your experiences and thoughts about them!
I look forward to meeting you both one day either at NESOP or at a Boston-area opening.
Best,
Isa
Isa, so glad you found us and thanks for reading the blog! Also hope to meet you sometime too.
Not sure how I was led to you Caleb but am haunted by your “Other People’s Clothes” series..they are so cool on a variety of levels. They are all the outsider trying to fit in and failing miserably..wonderful
Extremely interesting ( and very capable) photography with colorful themes.
I wish to cite you (and Cecilia A.Shapiro) in my blog about “Last Suppers,” which offers some parallel images in a some what different context. One example is the research by Julie Green with whom I have corresponded about her confrontational ceramics project, “Last Suppers.” [Cited in my recent blog posting, daVinci Mode]
Also, is there a start date for our blog?
Thanks.
Bill Moore
Charlotte, NC
Steph – Also stumbled unpon your blog while researching about your Dad and how he happened to pass an untimely death – just finished studying his wonderful book on taildragger flying – he seemed to be a very good and caring person – I also have a daughter named Steph and I am also an artist/photographer/pilot/etc. – retired real estate broker by trade – your blog and the “Existing Light” are right on target and I can appreciate what you and Caleb are doing in your individual and collaborative efforts – By the way “Caleb” was the name of one of our airplanes at one time, in a flying ministry called “Wings Over the Mountains” – today we are doing a few other things in our retirement efforts – if you get this, please give me a line back – I wish you the very best as your Dad would have certainly wanted – Steve Ayres – sda464@Yahoo.com – also Honey Acres Farm and my wife’s blog honeyacresfarm@gmail.com/Beth