Shooting The Blues Mentoring Program

From August 30th to September 3rd, Jenn Ocken lead a photography workshop at the Blues Festival in Hot Springs, Arkansas.  Jenn also participated in the "Shooting The Blues Mentoring Program," where she had the opportunity to spend the day mentoring a young photographer, who took these photos, Tatiana Hubbard. She and Tatiana worked on the fundamentals of photography and photographing live music events. "Shooting The Blues Mentoring Program" is an up-and-coming program for young photographers with a love of Blues. Tatiana was awarded the mentorship based on her essay "What The Blues Means To Me."

You can read her touching essay below and see more of her photos in our gallery

Visit the Spa City Blues website 

“What “Blues” Means to Me”

Narrative by Tatiana Hubbard

    What “Blues” means to me is a beautiful soulful mix of classic jazz, “scratch” jazz, urban blues and “backstreet” blues to what has to mix and form modern “Blues” as I know it and love it. It can make me feel better when I am sad, and make me feel sad when I am I am happy. But mostly I feel that it relates to my deepest secret feelings, like a best friend. The kind of feelings that you only tell a pet or a stuffed animal, or experience in a dream, but yet, you hear that sentiment somehow expressed in a “Blues” song is cathartic. I hope to capture those feelings today through photography during this 17th Annual Blues Festival. I feel so fortunate to be a part of this event. My father just died last year, and my mother has been battling terminal cancer for the past three years. During that time, I have been feeling very sad. I have dived into music and photography for relief and inspiration. And through music, I have found relief and inspiration indeed. Photography will allow me to document and journal events in my life, as well as with my mom. It is so important to share with her. I want to share this Blues festival with her. She is the one that shared music with me, thinking that it would open a new world for me and it has. I first discovered “Blues” in Memphis, then again in Nashville, Tennessee. I am so glad that we are able to continue this adventure in Hot Springs on our own stomping grounds in an area we love, and in such a beautiful scenic, historic town. I hope to capture as much as I can through photographs. And, one day, I hope to have a jewelry store and display my photographs with great pride.