TRUE COLLABORATION: Show up. Do the work. Consider it good enough. Say Yes. Make your partner look good.

HALLELUJAH TRUTH by Lisa Alexander Streib

My name is Hallelujah Truth, and did you know that I am living the fulfillment of my destiny? Hot donuts now! Yes, I am eating the bread of life at this moment, without delay.

Without hesitation.

In part because I am implementing the rules of improvisation into my life. One of the rules is this:

SHOW UP.

Hidden inside of "showing up" is that you "do the work" and what you do and who you are is "good enough." So the sequence is this:

SHOW UP.
DO THE WORK.
CONSIDER IT GOOD ENOUGH.

This past Sunday morning (October 5th, 2014), creative collaboration fell like manna into my life!  Photographer Lisa Alexander Streib invited me to her studio in Decatur, Georgia, to work on something that may well be a long-term collaborative project, so stay-tuned! 

And I SHOWED UP!

SHOW UP. The plaintive cry of a train approached us as we got out of the car at the entrance to Lisa's studio. One of the first cool fall days, the sun shone intensely causing us to squint at the conductor who waved at us as the train cars chugged by. Our feet felt the Earth vibrate. I had shown up to do the work. (photo by Hallelujah Truth)

Collaborating. What is that? How is it done? Especially when you don't know how to do something--like modelling for a photographer. Improvisation to the rescue!!!

Even though today with the ubiquitous presence of digital media and I-phones, which allow all of us to be photographed daily and repeatedly grants us almost amateur status as subjects of a photo composition, few of us feel prepared to model for a professional fine art photographer. So improvisation rules continue to serve us well...or me that is...

SAY YES
One of the primary rules of improvisation is to always receive what your partner gives, with a resounding and supportive YES! Lisa and I are friends and have an established fluency in our relationship of speaking YES to one another's ideas. Therefore, as we moved into our roles as photographer and subject, we ping-ponged ideas back an forth as we co-created the images!

MAKE YOUR PARTNER LOOK GOOD. Lisa is the expert. Getting the natural lighting right for the 56-year-old face of Hallelujah Truth meant Lisa's climbing a ladder to open the curtains to let some of that gorgeous sunlight into the studio. (photo by Hallelujah Truth)

MAKE YOUR PARTNER LOOK GOOD.
I trust Lisa to make me "look good" in a photograph. She possesses many skills in lighting, composition, and graphic design. At the same time, she as a collaborator is receiving and accepting all of my ideas concerning costuming, hair, and position. Her acceptance of my input validates me, and validation is pure treasure. Validation is "hot donuts now"!

IN HER STUDIO. Other preparation for our photo shoot included Lisa's setting up a white screen for background and on the floor so my feet could be photographed. (photo by Hallelujah Truth)

Our morning collaborating as photographer and subject was profoundly meaningful. Like girlfriends we played with my hair in front of a mirror, choosing pretty barrettes and arranging my hair (some of these photos will be revealed at a later date). When in front of the camera, Lisa allowed me to breathe into my poses, to dance, and play. At intervals as she adjusted light, she would show me the images on her camera so I could give my input. And we continued our work, saying yes to one another, resulting in what felt to be true heartfelt collaboration!

Let's review the key points to our successful collaboration:

MODEL PHOTOGRAPHS THE PHOTOGRAPHER!

1. SHOW UP.
2. DO THE WORK.
3. CONSIDER IT GOOD ENOUGH.
4. SAY YES.
5. MAKE YOUR PARTNER LOOK GOOD.

EQUALS...


TRUE HEARTFELT COLLABORATION! 

Ta Da!


That's Coffee With Hallelujah! SOUL BLOG with me. I am an artist making images, writing, teaching, dancing, and making meaningful relationships with you, you and you! I am so grateful for your presence here on this precious Earth. I need you to be manifesting your heart's desire now too! Join me at Revolution Donuts (It's an actual place here in Decatur, Georgia)!

COLLABORATORS' SELFIE. Showing up to the do the work and saying yes to your partner is such a loving and productive way to work together. What you give one another in ideas is precious. I love my Lisa Alexander Streib!

You are invited to see other blog posts related to my work with Lisa Alexander Streib:

Defining My Mission

Atlanta Along the East West Line MARTA and a Portrait of Two Women

Mark Nepo and Lisa Alexander Streib Collide in My Life

Infinity and the Selfie