Today (Sunday) our workshop moved to the county fair where we were asked to take lots of photos, the contact sheets of which we'll be mailing to Mary Ellen Mark for a critique. I had a very special day, not the least of which was spending quite a bit of time with Mary Ellen, first watching her get her hair braided--see photo--and then having a real heart-to-heart talk about our lives. She also reviewed about sixty 4x6" prints of possible additions to my Self Portraits/Daily Life series. Mary Ellen chose a good number more than had David Alan Harvey in his review last Monday, so now I have some decisions to make. MEM's opinion is certainly something to take seriously. And I will.

Gina Martin on David's blog had predicted that Mary Ellen Mark and I would make a deep connection, and she was right. We plan to stay in touch by email. Actually the entire workshop community formed close bonds. I plan to stay in touch with as many of these wonderful photographers as possible.

Tomorrow (Monday) our niece Carolyn will be driving up here to Kingston, NY with her Significant Other, Jonathan. As I ate dinner tonight at my favorite restaurant in Woodstock, I made a reservation for the three of us at 7 p.m. tomorrow night. The Garden Cafe is run by an exceptionally creative gourmet vegan chef, and since Carolyn and Jonathan are both vegan, it will be perfect. Besides just being in the garden is lovely.

If I were to say in one word what I received in Mary Ellen Mark's workshop, it would be "confidence." Coming just a few days after David Alan Harvey's visit and review of my work, the responses I received from him and from MEM and the workshop participants have given me the confidence to call myself a photographer. I now feel like the real thing. And for that I am deeply grateful.