Our blog is intended to inspire and educate others about documentary photography. In our Behind the Frame series, we’ve asked staff and students to go back to their favorite images over the years and tell us, “Why does this stand out to you as an exceptional documentary moment?” We hope you enjoy what they have to say!

Photo © Sarah Jane Holden/Momenta Workshops 2018.

Student: Sarah Jane Holden
Workshop: Project Puerto Rico
Nonprofit: Mujeres Aydando Madres
Teaching Team: Gabi Perez-Silver, Jamie Rose

This lovely moment simply shone out of the contact sheet when Sarah and I pulled up her day’s take in Photo Mechanic during our one-on-one editing in Puerto Rico. I literally gasped out loud at this when I opened it up to full screen. The colors, framing and light were all perfectly executed and the moment was just lovely.

I said, “Oh my god, this is a gorgeous frame! Do you see it has a perfect Fibonacci spiral in it? Wow, well done.”

Sarah looked at me, looked at the screen, frowned, and hilariously said, “What? No! It’s not that good. You’re wrong.”

I just blinked at her and burst out laughing. I jokingly replied, “Well, technically, I have a Master’s Degree in photojournalism and about two decades of experience… so I’m gonna ask you to take my word for it.”

While we both had a good giggle over this interaction, Sarah displayed the one trait we all have at times: being overly critical of ourselves. This can happen especially when we are in the thick of a project. After working for days on end with little sleep, too much caffeine, and likely more than a few missed meals, we all tend to be even more hard on our work than we should.

After we posted this to social media, the likes and compliments poured in. People at the final slideshow gave a unified, “Awww!” when they saw it. And I’d like to hope Sarah looks at this frame now with the true appreciation I did in those first moments.

So, my Behind the Frame story is a wish for Sarah and all our workshop photographers to find the satisfaction of looking at their work and believing in the beauty we editors see in them.

Please join us for the next Project Puerto Rico in 2022 in the lively San Juan. For more information and to reserve your spot, click here.