#100.

Oh It's Post #100.

Ahh, Home

Let me come Home

Home is wherever I’m with you…

Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros

For the past 6 months, Aarhus, Denmark has been my home.

But it’s been so much more than that. A place of learning, inspiration, challenges, and fun.

This study abroad experience has been more than I could have ever expected or hoped for.

When I left the states, I was very much in a rut, both personally and with my photography. I was making the same photographs over and over again and couldn’t push past it. I was ready for a change and a challenge.

Working at the Danish School of Journalism pushed me harder than I have ever worked in my entire life. And I loved every second of it. There’s an energy when you work with the students and teachers, a passion and focus for what they do that’s not only inspiring, but also contagious. I found myself feeding off this energy within the first few weeks of being in Aarhus.

I am extremely lucky to have worked with the other photographers in my program. Learning, laughing, “debating” and struggling together, we made it.  Their final projects are incredible. Iranian youth in Milan, Refugee camp in Denmark, Christian youth in Denmark, Armenian wounded veterans, Czech nurses, Community garden culture of Denmark and Pig farms in Denmark. They all told important visual stories through multimedia and magazine layouts. I will miss our dinner parties, critique sessions, bus rides and karaoke.

But, I have also been lucky to get to know other students as well.  Working with my friends in the other international programs has been so meaningful. Being surrounded by so many different cultures and perspectives has only inspired me to travel more but increased my curiosity about the world.

I loved working with the Danish photojournalism students. Through working with them, they have inspired, pushed and pulled with me at my photography and could be responsible for a major part of why my photography has evolved. They taught me to push the boundaries, break the rules, and work outside the box I felt trapped in. By the end of the semester I was hearing things like, “Oh Eve! You are beginning to shoot European” or “Eve, the American photographers aren’t going to know what to do with you.”

I’m making photos that I never thought I could make, telling stories that I only dreamed of telling. And I know, that this is the beginning of a whole new chapter in my photography and adult life. 
 I can’t remember the last time I was this truly happy.

I am looking forward to my going back to my “homes” in Columbia and Minneapolis. Listening to this new song I was just introduced to, I am beginning to realize why Aarhus has become such a “home” to me. It’s the people…and I already miss them.

So here I go. Cedric, rail pass, backpack in tow, I’m off to start an adventure I have been waiting a very long time to begin. To leave Aarhus, it’s difficult. But, I’m ready. And I’m pretty sure I’ll be back much sooner than I ever thought. So, for now, it’s see you soon.

Here are some photos from my last days in Aarhus:

(as always..there's more on my flickr)

 If you’re curious here’s my “plans”, but let’s be honest. It’s Eve, so they are bound to change about 10 times.

June 21^st-June 25^th-Florence, Italy.

June 25^th-June 28^th-Rome, Italy.

June 28th-June 30th-Nice, France.

June 30^th-July 3rd-Amsterdam, Netherlands.

July 3^rd-11^th-United Kingdom

July 11^th-July 13/14^th-Stockholm, Sweden

July 13/14^th-July 16^th-Aarhus, Denmark

July 16^th-July 20^th-?????

July 20^th-Munich/Iceland/Minneapolis/ChipotleBurrito/Sheldon/Byerlys/612/952/Mybackyard/6221Belmorelane/ “home”

My Final Project. Siempre Juntos.

This is my final project for my semester abroad at the Danish School of Journalism. 

This is a story about Antonio and Fernando. Now living in Madrid, they moved from

 Mexico City to be open about their relationship and sexuality.

I came to Madrid with high hopes for another story, and everything that was planned didn't happen. So, with a bit of luck, coincidence and my overtly outgoing personality,

 I met Antonio and Fernando. 

Meeting them in Madrid, listening to their stories and having the privilege of becoming a part of their lives on such a short notice and tight schedule, was an incredible experience. 

Many thanks to them for allowing me to document their lives.

As I have said before with other projects, 

I look forward to working on this project in the near future. 

I look forward to comments and critiques!

Madrid Manifestation.

 Many times I was asked, "Why Spain for your final project?

For me, it was about following a re-occuring piece of advice that simply would not go away.

“Eve, you have to learn how to trust yourself and follow your gut.”

My gut told me Spain. My gut told me Madrid.

I originally wanted to tell a story about the economic situation in Spain. Even thought my final project took another path, I still went and took photos at the protest on June 8th. 

"uno, dos, tres."

With the announcement to begin the march, so came the rain. It was very fitting for the overall mood of the protest. It seemed to raise the energy level, and not turn people away. 

The protest was held by several unions who have been affected by the new austerity package presented by the Spanish government in an effort to save the already sinking economy. 

75,000 people attended and tried to make their voices heard. 

This is only the first of several protests that are taking place in Spain.

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The rest of my photos can be seen here.

Here is an example of some of the more impulsive, super fun things I did during the protest. Other fun activities included: Getting on the CNN press riser, getting a Spanish press pass, following by example and standing on cafe tables, and climbing a 10ft press riser in the pouring rain.

I loved every second. 

Oh Cedric.

Here are some new shots of Cedric's travels to Ireland, Spain and his final goodbyes in Aarhus.

Cedric connecting with his past, gnomes on a Celtic cross in Ireland.

Cedric always paid 19 Kroner when riding the bus in Aarhus.

Rita, Cedric and I. Best photo of all time. (Stupid pink walls.)

Cedric made a new friend in Madrid. (I felt so bad for this bunny)

Cedric was exhausted after working on his final project.

Ireland.

A visit with my parents in Dublin before beginning my final project in Madrid was great. It was the boost I needed before working on my final project.

The rest of my photos can be found Here.