I can *finally* let the cat out of the bag about my pretty little photo above. It's part of the open for a brand spanking new reality show just now premiering on the Oprah Winfrey Network called Carson Nation. The premise of the show is that Carson Kressley travels around the USA to give make overs to very deserving individuals. Talk about a heart warming and wonderful thing!
Anyway... my pretty little photo was discovered on this very blog by a designer with the Farmer-Brown Production Company in Los Angeles sometime back in February of this year. They wrote to me on Valentine's Day to see if I was interested in allowing them to use it for a new show which would soon be appearing on the OWN. The subject line in their email simply said, "Beautiful photo". This immediately caused me to scratch my head and wonder which photo? Which blog? Was it here on All Aboard Hamlet? Or, on my home blog, Project Rewire, as both contain a volume of what I call my therapeutic photography? Being such a shutterbug, I actually had to ask for a link to the photo. As soon as I saw it, it was easy to understand why they thought it would "look perfect representing the type of small town America that Carson visits".
As one who believes in promoting Hamlet any way I can, it's not an opportunity I would turn down. So, of course, I said, "yes, absolutely"! How could I not agree? I also made sure to run it by Hamlet City Manager, Marchell Adams-David, to see if she would be on board with the idea of a glimpse of Main Street Hamlet appearing on the OWN. And she had no hesitation, nor reservation whatsoever. Admittedly, I was a wee bit concerned about the scaffolding appearing in the image beside the Lackey Building. Scaffolding that was ironically used during the historic building's extensive exterior restoration aka make over to bring it back to its original beauty of yesteryear. In fact, it was actually the shot I took to mark the ending of the project as I'd followed the progress from start to finish. Even though I knew it could be easily edited out, it was nice to know the photo appealed to them in spite of it. As I've had people with critical eyes point the scaffolding out to me, as if I wasn't aware it was there. No, it was not a faux pas. I'm very deliberate about what I shoot. It's all part of the way I use photography as a rehab tool. Always. And evidently, as well as thankfully, not everyone is looking for the perfect photo edited picture.
This whole thing is kind of ironic and amazing to me all at the same time, when thinking about Hamlet. Since it's been going through a very needed and much deserved make over of its own. It's not done yet, but it's getting there, slowly, but surely. The fact that a designer out in LA stumbled across my blog and discovered just how perfectly my pretty little Main Street Hamlet photo represents small town America is nothing short of a miracle to me. Other than post my blogs entries on Facebook and email them to a handful of locals, I don't really promote it. So, the happenstance has made the experience especially remarkable to me. Add the fact that someone with a keen eye at the Farmer-Brown Production Company saw, what I see when I look down Main Street Hamlet from the Hamlet Historic Depot & Museum brings me much joy. Yet, it doesn't surprise me. I've always felt that sometimes those of us from the outside can see more clearly than those of us on the inside from the potential to the beauty... to the beauty in the imperfections. The latter of which is a constant theme in this blog.
To say this whole experience has put a big smile on face is an understatement. I'm beaming not because my photo was discovered, but because Main Street Hamlet will be seen every single time that show airs! And maybe, just maybe others will see what I see and appreciate, too!
And just fyi... I gave them the rights to use the photo for free. So before the rumor mill even gets a chance to begin no one needs to be thinking I made anything off of this. It's a sowing good seeds thing for me. As I commented a few times recently to people who believe I should be doing something they think I should be doing," hey, thanks, but I free lance for free at the things I want and enjoy doing...". Things I believe God puts in my heart. Most of which involve heartstring ties for me, or I believe will make a difference. And by doing so, cool stuff like this happens out of the blue!
As for Mr. Carson Kressley, some of you may recognize him. He's an Emmy award winner, celebrity stylist, fashion designer, show host and author. His dream is to make over the world! And with Oprah behind him, his dreams very well may come true! He's man who puts feet to his dreams and he's proven it over and over again!
Here's the sneak preview of show that aired on June 25th!
Since this ties to Project Rewire and in a way my own make over process since picking up a camera to help rewire my brain a few years ago, I'll be cross posting this news there, too!
Lastly, about my other little secret, which I shared on June 1st in my entry entitled "Who Wants to Know the Secret?" since I'm not one to steal someone else's thunder, all I can say is stay tuned. The North Carolina Weekend spot will be airing soon. In fact, much sooner, than later. Keep your eyes peeled for an upcoming press release to be written by Kelli Easterling in the Richmond County Daily Journal.
2 comments:
Congratulations Jeanne! What an honor for you and for Hamlet. I am so proud for you. This is great news! Hooray!!!!!
Very cool, Jeanne!
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