Jenna/Sass I

Jenna is one of my high school friends who ended up working at camp this past summer. During high school we were very close but we have grown apart since going off to college. She is a writer who also draws comics. You can see some of her comics here at her blog, sassyfrasscircus. She is a huge activist and she always seems to be involved in something and to know anyone worth knowing. 

She offered me a drawing done specifically for me in exchange for a print. I offered her another print is she would also give me some of her zines that she produces. We had originally arranged to meet up this past weekend because her school is near where I was traveling but it didn't end up working out. So this exchange will have to be done by mail. 

Elphie I

Elphie is the first person who solicited me for a trade after hearing about it via facebook. She is another camp person and we have worked together for two summers. She offered to crochet me a hat and scarf set in exchange for the paper cranes image. She too, like Chica, was reminded of the song "Fireflies" by Owl City.

Elphie gave me lots of choices in the production of my new winter wear- what color scheme, how thick, brim or no brim, tassels or no tassels? I chose blue, looser stitch, yes brim and no thank you to the tassels. I too make hats and scarves but rarely keep them for myself. I usually give them as gifts. Even though I could make myself a hat or scarf, I accepted Elphie's offer because it would not be the same product. There is also the meaning that I will create for these objects. They will mean more because she made them for me.

I met up with Elphie yesterday for lunch because I happened to be near her school while visiting family. I gave her the print and she had already completed the hat. I had not expected it to be ready in time because she only had 5 days to make it and she has plenty of other things to do. She told me that the scarf would take a bit longer but that it would be in the mail as soon as it was done.

Chica I

Chica is another friend who I worked with during the summer at camp. We both attended this camp growing up but never at the same time.  I contacted her via facebook for a trade and she offered me the DVD "Twister" in exchange for a print of this image.  She said that it reminded her of the song "Fireflies" by Owl City. I asked her why she offered me the DVD and she said that she really enjoyed the movie, so much that she had recently purchased it, and wanted to share it with me. I have never seen the film but would like to, so I agreed to the trade.

I sent her an 8"x 10" print in the mail and now wait for a DVD in return.

Andrew S. III

Although the deal with Andrew was an 8"x 10" c-print for a car wash, I decided to mail him a 16"x 20" print instead. I did this for a couple reasons. Firstly, I already had a 16"x 20" print that is a duplicate of my portfolio copy. It would have been more labor intensive to print a new one. Secondly, I think that Andrew will like the larger print more. Hopefully he will be more apt to frame and display it due to it's size.

Edward III

Edward and I had tentatively agreed upon a visit for this past weekend. However, he never contacted me to confirm or to say that his plans had changed. I did not call him to press the matter because in hindsight, I made a poor deal. History has shown Edward's visits to be more of a burden than a gift so I am more than willing to let this particular deal wait and be resolved at a later date.

Flint I

This is the first entry dealing with interactions with people I know from summer camp. I have attended the same summer camp for 8 years as a camper and for 3 years as a staff member. It is a sleepover camp which means that I spend 9-10 weeks working closely with the rest of the staff and develop close relationships with many of my co-workers.

One such person is Flint, with whom I have worked the past 3 summers. I must mention that at this camp the counselors do not go by their birth names but rather, a name that they have chosen for themselves. Flint recently graduated from Pratt Institute in New York for photography and now works at Delaware College of Art and Design in Admissions but will soon be teaching in their continuing education department.

Although we are close at camp, we have limited contact during the academic year. We mostly communicate via facebook and text messaging. I contacted Flint via facebook and he responded with a voice mail. In the voice mail he said that he would trade something that was not only dear to him, but also iconic of his point of view and representative of his body of work. He went on to say:

"If it was just a flat out trade what would I give you for a photograph? It would depend on what the photograph looked like. If it was something that I enjoyed, I would give you something of equal value.

My point of view of changed when you told me that it was for your thesis. I remember you speaking about it but when you asked me, I had forgotten. So, I think I'd be more apt to trade you almost anything for the progression of your thesis. I think that our friendship also speaks for a lot more. I'd be willing to trade you almost anything because I know you and I respect you and you're one of my friends as compared to if I had just met you and then traded you something. So, if you physically would like to trade, my favorite way to trade is a postcard of my work..."

I called him back and we arranged to do an exchange in person for this coming weekend. He would pick something that he feels is iconic of his work and I would do the same with no size constraints. I haven't seen his work in a few years so I'm really interested to see what he has been working on as well as talking more in depth about the value he assigns to photography.

Sandy I

I was looking on craigslist and underneath the For Sale section there is the subcategory of Barter. I found a woman offering tarot readings who lives in the same area as me. I e-mailed her offering prints. She responded by saying that she was interested and wanted to look at my website. She introduced herself as Sandy and mentioned that she recently graduated from the University that I am attending. Sandy also wanted to know if I would consider bartering my services as a photographer by shooting a head shot. I said that I would consider it but that we could talk more after she took a look at my website.