By Courtland Thomas
J Camp Live! Staff Writer

It’s one in the afternoon. It’s after lunch. More than half of the 42 Journalism Camp students are sluggish and ready to crash. Darkened lecture hall lights only add to the desire to sleep. However, a woman dressed in casual wear – as opposed to our business wear — steps onto the stage, crushing any craving for sleep.

She paralyzes every student’s movement as they lock their eyes onto the screen. On it: the speaker’s recent project that earned her the Cliff Edom’s ‘New America Award’: “Frozen land, forgotten people.”

A 1930’s-esque photograph of a sundress on a clothesline interrupts a mountainous background.

She follows with an explanation of how the land of both the Navajo Nation and the Hopi Tribe are under the “Bennett Freeze,” a decree prohibiting any construction of necessary utilities in this area, 8 hours from us here in Los Angeles. Until recently — in May 2010, President Obama lifted the law — the more-than-8,000 people in this population lacked properly constructed housing or roads. Every person in the room is transported to northeastern Arizona, where little is known about the world that Barbara Davidson is introducing to us.

Describing in great detail the background of her photos, Davidson happily — and shockingly, at least to us — accepts “such smart questions” from aspiring photographers, distributing not only reliable information regarding the world of photography but also, her history.

An East Asian Studies major at McGill University in Montreal, Canada, the documentary/multimedia photographer transferred to Concordia University to work at a “kick ass” newspaper, graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography/Film.

After confessing she received a total of 50 rejection letters, she chuckles before insisting each student in the room “ask, ask, ask.” If it were not for her persistent behavior towards photojournalism in the early stages of her career, Davidson would not have had the opportunity to explore the devastating world of the Native American tribes. Due to her courageous efforts, increased attention has gone to the well-being of the victims. She lives for such notice.

“Little stories, stories not being told,” said Davidson, indicating her favoritism towards documentary photography, one of the three broad topics introduced to students. Regardless of the topic — sports, features, or documentary — Davidson insists on the importance of training. Much like an athlete, training 24/7 is required.

Necessary training ranges from internships at newspapers to following photographers for a day, both of which Davidson assists students with in the few minutes following her presentation. Students of the Asian American Journalists Association’s J Camp state their residence — “Chicago?” questions Michael Majchrowicz — and Davidson instantly replies with a name — “Try Scott Strazzante.”

She shares another personal experience. Offered both an internship for The New York Times and a position in a small newspaper away from The Big Apple, Davidson admitted it was a difficult decision, but ultimately, she chose the position at the smaller newspaper. Why? “[I was new]. I made mistakes! You don’t want to make mistakes at The New York Times!”

Her creative and critical techniques did not appear overnight. Based on her experience, Davidson dispenses direct advice. “Engaging [the viewer] on an emotional level. I want you to say, ‘Oh! That bothers me,’” she answers to a question posed by a student. This can be seen in her decision to show her photography only in black-and-white, showing us how distracting attention-grabbing colors can be. Black-and-white draws direct attention to the subject.

Documentary photography is an emotional business. There is a thin line of privacy many photographers question crossing in order to obtain “The Photo.” Davidson said, while she may remain a fly on the wall for various funerals of unfortunate families and family gatherings of northeastern Arizona, she knows when to stop. “It’s innate. It’s about reading body language,” another skill she emphasizes.

Davidson was the quintessential instructor of photography for the 42 students of 2010’s J Camp. Enlightening with her comments, but grave with her photography, the woman exemplified what the news industry is about: “Photographing people is like a warzone. You’re in or you’re out.”