Our Interns
Denis
Being part of the See 1 Inc. nonprofit Eye to Eye Project, a Sonoma Valley Museum portrait project, was a really meaningful experience for me. I really enjoyed working with Jock, who showed me different techniques for taking portraits, especially how small things like angles, lighting, and positioning can completely change a photo.
Through this experience, I learned that portrait photography goes far beyond the technical side. What stood out to me the most was how important trust is when photographing people. Being in front of a camera can make people feel vulnerable, and if they are not comfortable, it immediately shows in the image. This made me realize that strong portraits come from real human connection. Learning how to communicate, guide, and make people feel at ease became just as important as camera settings.
Over the course of the project, my confidence in taking portraits grew a lot, especially when it comes to interacting with subjects and creating a comfortable environment for them. Overall, being part of the See 1 Inc. Eye to Eye Project deepened my appreciation for portrait photography and showed me how powerful genuine connection can be in capturing authentic moments.
Sofia
Through helping produce the Eye to Eyes Sonoma Valley Museum Portrait Project, I have developed strong capabilities in contact engagement, communication, writing, and interpersonal collaboration. I have strengthened both my written and verbal communication skills while gaining confidence in my ability to execute them effectively.
This project’s mission is truly unique, and through my work I have cultivated a genuine passion for producing with purpose and intention. I have learned a great deal throughout this experience and look forward to seeing how the project evolves, as well as how our community responds to and connects with it.
Ritchie
In July of 2024, I began the Eye to Eyes Portrait Project, a journey that has become one of the most meaningful experiences of my life. What started as outfitting a van building a custom false floor, installing carpeting, testing cameras, buying printers, and figuring out the best workflow, quickly turned into something much bigger than I expected. Alongside my best friend Adriel, Zoey, and Jock McDonald, who made this entire opportunity possible, I've had the chance to meet incredible people and document communities throughout Sonoma County that bring life and keep the county running. From the 4th of July Parade and La Luz Festival to Bodega Bay, Petaluma, Glen Ellen, the Community Center, the Feed Co-op, and many other places, I've been able to connect with people from all walks of life and hear stories that have impacted me and how I see humanity.
Through this experience, I've grown both creatively and personally. I've learned important technical skills like portrait lighting and adapting to constantly changing locations and natural light, but more importantly, I've learned how to communicate better, work closely with others, take initiative, and become more confident and outgoing as a person. This project taught me the importance of trust, teamwork, and showing up with purpose in everything I do.
Every day on this project, I somehow feel more fulfilled every shoot and even more motivated to continue. I'm incredibly grateful to Jock and See I Inc. for giving me experiences and lessons that I know I'll carry with me for the rest of my life, and I'm excited to continue this journey and keep growing from it.
Toni
The fast paced flow of such a grand project taught me how to adapt to new worksites on the spot. Understanding and working with our subjects has taught me that photography is truly living in the moment. Being confident in my role of the workflow and allowing myself to make dynamic decisions boosts my confidence, and thus, my work.
Zoey
I joined the Eye to Eyes team knowing very little about the medium of photography, let alone the intricacies of portrait photoshoots. Adriel and Richie, two of my friends who were already working as interns on the project, invited me to join. They explained the team needed members who understood composition and basic artistic principles, and being an artist myself, I thought it would be a wonderful opportunity to apply my skills to a medium I haven’t had much practice with.
Now that I have been a part of the team for over a couple months, I can say with much confidence that I have learned and experienced an entirely new side of the art realm which I am extremely grateful to have been exposed to. I’ve practiced new online software like lightroom in order to master photograph editing, I have tried camera-work with multiple types of devices which previously seemed almost entirely foreign to me, and I have learned the importance of how to interact with clients during the process of portrait shooting.
As an artist who works with brushes and pens, I don’t typically need to talk with others during the creation of my art. This internship has taught me how to multitask lining up correct compositions while coaxing the subject into candid positions which reflect their personality. I never knew before now how lovely it would feel to capture someone’s laugh, smile, eyes, or style through the lens of a camera, and to see their faces light up when they recognize that someone has truly seen their soul in their portrait.
My experiences with the Eye to Eyes project have been instructional in social interaction, technical management, and collaboration, yet I would venture to say the most important lesson I’ve learned is that projects like this do not work without a team. My co-interns, my director, and I try our best during each shoot to support each other’s tasks, delegating extra work to ourselves if one of us needs a break or feels overwhelmed. Truly under the instruction of Jock, and through the support of my team, I feel I have learned how to be a part of something large, something special.
Adriel
Almost a year ago now, Jock, Director of See 1 Inc, approached me with the prospect of hiring an intern to mentor as a part of a Sonoma-county-wide portrait project. Since then, I’ve had the privilege of helping build the project from the ground up — planning and preparing the van, shooting on the 4th of July, and eventually running my own shoots and driving the van solo. Along the way, I was thrilled to work alongside some of my closest friends and have made countless memories - and I've had an unbelievable amount of fun doing all of it.
Throughout it all, Jock has not only shown us kindness, respect, and handy tips- but also honor and dignity. I feel truly valued as Jock's collaborator on this project, and he has instilled in me a sense of responsibility and confidence that will undoubtedly better the course of my creative, professional, and personal life. This project has taught me invaluable technical skills that will serve me throughout my filmmaking career, but alongside that, it has allowed me to connect with my community in a way I never could have imagined. Seeing the joy on the faces of individuals who otherwise have never gotten their portrait taken professionally before has been so important and meaningful for me, and seeing this excitement come from oftentimes overlooked or underrepresented communities makes me feel such humility and honor. It assures me of the power of art to break barriers and bring humanity a little closer together, one photo at a time.