Shutter Speed Project

Photography / Fine Arts / Other projects

About

I bought my Canon EOS 350D (Rebel XT) back in 2007, after months of money saving.

On August 7th, 2011; it got stolen from me, along with my handbag, a Lomography Diana+ and two Canon lenses : the basic 18-55mm and the 85mm f/1.8, my favorite.

That DSLR was the result of years of hopes and patience. As the time went by, it became my accomplice during numerous events. With him, I learned, tried and experimented photography and its technical challenges.

From landscapes and still life pictures, I took the step to try out model photography. Meeting strangers, look for and gather creative teams, scout for shoot locations,...Things got organized from time to time, while I was attending University. Sometimes, I manage to sneak backstage of small gigs and get the approval of the manager, to shoot some close up shots of the artists.

My hopes were to keep on going with photoshoot, and multiply the experiences, share a vision, create visual poetry, freeze people on pixels.

But this 7th August, things collapse. While I was going back from a tiny photographic report on the Vintage Market of Brussels, my hand bag is stolen. The cameras and lenses, gone too.

Plans, dreams and efforts seems to have gone to waste now, shoots are cancelled, they will never happen. My favorite expression medium disappears, it is like they stole my voice with this.

I wish more than anything to keep on going with my photographic adventure, unfortunately, without a quality camera, the road has been shut for me, leaving behind a bitter taste. My old Canon may have been old, a bit broken and showing its technical limits, but it was my first camera, and the only one I could afford.

More than a medium to express myself, I also need a good quality camera to be able to photograph my craft works and my school works.

A new bottom range Canon DSLR kit cost 745€. A new 85mm is 380€, which makes it impossible for me to buy the two on my own, for few years. There is only little money that I can make, with my student job and by selling crafted accessories, but it won't be enough : at best, I can save 300€ while paying for my rent and school fees...

In despair, I am thus swallowing my little pride, and come to you, to make this dream and wish come true. There won't be enough words to tell you how much grateful I would be for you help, may it be moral or financial.

Any participation counts, sharing a link, posting a small post on your blog, even 1 small euro would do !

Thank you very much already.

(Models : Henri - Valerie )

This project also has a blog, updated daily with new photographs. These photographs will be available as print as a reward for donations.

http://shutterspeedproject.blogspot.com/

What are the funds for?

I hope to be able to gather enough funds to help me get back what was stolen from me : photography gear.

Ideally, I'd like to look at Canon Eos 550D + 18-55mm (basic kit), a middle range DSLR, brand new which cost 745€. A new 85mm f1.8 lens cost 380€ by itself.

Another solution would be to buy a second hand camera body, older maybe, and re-invest in the portrait lens I lost, to be able to go back faster on the tracks of photoshoots. I would look at 300€ max for a low range, second hand DSLR with a basic 18-55mm lens (something like a 400D or 450D minimum).

About the project owner

My name is Marie, some of you may know me from around the web with the name of Mad Chantilly.

I'm 21, studying Industrial Design, with a love for sewing, accessories making and of course photography. I have moved from my home in Belgium to London, to pursue a master degree in Design & Innovation, related to Industrial Design. With my students jobs, I am trying as much as I can to pay for all the school fees, therefore I can barely make any savings anymore.

I come back in Belgium several times a year, for holidays mostly, and at these times I can hold few photoshoots. I can also go to Paris or Lille for photoshoots, depending on the period and such.

You can see some of my photographs on the Project's blog, deviantArt or MY ONLINE PORTFOLIO

I also make hair accessories (for which I self-model and take the pictures) that you can see on this gallery.