This is Beautiful
Amanda
Koster is a documentary photographer based in Seattle. Besides shooting
for magazines and NGOs/non profits around the world, writing and videography,
she gives equal energy to her personal projects that orbit socially
conscience ideas. Amanda picked up a camera to get an edge on her fellow
anthropology students at university, and hasn't put it down since. "I
want to teach through photography, a medium whose only requirement to
appreciate is to see. I want to give this planet some perspective and
teach us all that life and the world is an incredible thing." Her latest
project is a collection of photos of real women, entitled This
is Beautiful. You can view more of the exhbition at www.thisisbeautiful.org.
Why did you create This is Beautiful ?
I started TIB back in 2001 for many reasons. I created the project mostly because as a photographer so entrenched in 'the media' I wanted to ADD to the media. I wanted to, in addition to the images that are already out there of women, contribute with images that I think are beautiful.
What do you hope viewers take away after seeing photos from This is Beautiful ?
I really hope that viewers, men and women alike, realize the beauty in every body. Us women, we are your sisters, mothers, daughters, girlfriends. We are real and our bodies deserve to be treated with respect and honor. We need to treat ourselves that way and deserve that compassion from the world as well.
How do you think This is Beautiful is challenging ideas about media, culture, and imagery?
I think This is Beautiful challenges these things because it is not a 'backlash' at all. I am better than that. I want TIB to JOIN the culture and be a part of it. This is Beautiful is not interested in alienating this culture like this preset culture has alienated me. I am my culture and want to see myself within it. I want everyone to realize that we are the media and our culture, that no matter what our bodies and minds belong to us and they are all a very beautiful thing.
Sponsors of This is Beautiful:
- Feys & Hobbs: Catered Arts Inc. (lunch both days)
- Starbucks (coffee sat and Sunday)
- Mount Royal Bagel Factory (b-fast Saturday)
- Lodging: Laurel Point Inn (3 nights)
- Transportation to Victoria: Yankee Clipper ship, thanks to Spencer Villam at Laurel Pointe Inn (round trip: 4 person crew)
- Studio: Lynda Raino Studios (studio space, sat and Sunday)
- Film: Kodak professional: all film (seattle)
- Film processing: (nearly confirmed): Ivey Imaging (seattle)
- Additional camera gear: Glazers Camera (seattle)
Pre-Sale Information:
$100 in advance of the This Is Beautiful exhibition
in Victoria, (really, before October), buys you an exhibition print,
20"x20", of your choice from the exhibition. The exhibition images will
be posted on the This Is Beautiful web site by December.
The collector gets a great deal, as framed pieces are valued by galleries
at $400, and the project gets your support. For more information, go
to www.thisisbeautiful.org.
Contact Information:
Amanda@amandakoster.com-- photographer and creator of This is Beautiful
Stjolie@earthlink.net -- documentary videographer, (Sara Teitelman)
Brooke@cedriccentre.com-- Victoria, B.C. link, media relations, administraion, registration
Nan@amandakoster.com-- assistant to Amanda, event planning, sponsors
Rain@amandakoster.com--assistant to Amanda, event planning, sponsors
Bios:
Sara Teitelman, MPH is a filmmaker and public health researcher who has worked extensively on projects exploring the connection between culture and health both in the US and internationally. Through employing a participatory, inclusive approach, Sara strives to empower those she collaborates with to explore their strengths and discover innovative ways to address important health issues. She holds a Masters in Public Health from the University of Washington and a B.A. in Comparative Literature from Colorado College and has worked for several high profile public health organizations including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Battelle Centers for Public Health Research and Education.
Nan Brotherton graduated from the Carroll School of Management at Boston College in 2001 with a degree in marketing. She is currently a student in Seattle Central's Commercial Photography program. Nan's love of photography is paralleled by a passion for non-profit work. In addition to being a photography student, she is the Marketing Director at Teens In Public Service, a Seattle-based non-profit organization.
Brooke Finnigan is the Communications and Administrative Coordinator of The CEDRIC Centre. She has worked as a freelance writer in NYC and is currently enrolled in The University of Victoria's Public Relations program.
Updates:
| Update #1 | Update # 2 | Update #3 |
| Update # 4 |
Media:
We've been featured on CFAX 1070, B 107.3, and Village 900.
The Victoria News Group profiled This is Beautiful in the Saanich edition.
Focus and Monday Magazine both had classified ads for participants.