Our Story
OpenShade is a blog for photographers who have embarked on personal projects that give back to the world.
Who Is Behind OpenShade?
Seshu, a documentary wedding and portrait photographer based in Connecticut.
The Very Short History Behind OpenShade
In early 2009, I launched Phases + Faces: The Kids of Connecticut, a portrait book project that will benefit the Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, in Hartford.
While I had my own ideas for launching this win-win-win project, I found few resources or nuggets of inspiration online to guide me. A couple of local photographers I know had their own personal projects, but they too appeared to be working in near isolation. I know they were eager to tell their peers about it; share their successes and images. I wondered if it was possible to bring every photographer who was working on a personal project under one umbrella and have them describe their projects, display their images and distribute their messages collectively across the most powerful medium in existence – the web.
Why OPENSHADE?
For photographers, an open shade presents itself as a comfortable, if not a familiar space to photograph their subjects. OpenShade is a venue for photographers to express themselves through their metiér and discuss their personal and or socially relevant projects.
How Are Projects Selected?
Complete this application, so that we may know more about you and your project. Also, use the application to let us know if you come across a photo project that you feel deserves to be mentioned. A small team of editors will decide on whether to further contact you about your proposal or recommendation.
