2009.11.17
Great Gouda
A couple of weeks ago Roanoke Times food reporter Lindsey Nair and I traveled to Crozet to spend the day with the women of the Our Lady of the Angels Monastery. The nuns greeted us at 6 am and we were given the opportunity to observe their morning prayer and then head off to the cheese barn for cheese making day. I found this story months ago looking around for ideas online, I but wasn't able to report it until now.
There is a list of 100 "Just Right" things about photojournalism that was created by photojournalist Chip Litherland. I often look at this list and think about how it applies to my work. Number 11 on the list is, "Showing people things they have never seen ever and having the responsibility to introduce them to it in a way that doesn't completely sensationalize the issue."
I think this concept was particularly strong in my mind while photographing this assignment. The nuns at Our Lady of the Angels allowed us into a part of their life with warmth and openness. I left realizing the importance of showing the quiet moments in their life, as well as the louder moments when the women were diligently working.
This is so cool!
I have read about cheese making - I think it is so neat how the same milk can be treated differently and turn into so many different flavors of cheese.
Comment by Michelle — November 19, 2009 @ 7:11 am