Alex photographed in front of the wood chips from the tornado-downed trees at MacDuffie School.

Alex Wilt, brilliant photographer in her own right is slated to start in an honors art and liberal arts program at the University of Michigan this fall. For a month this summer she interned with Diana Mara Henry and made a beginning to cataloguing the information on the more than 50,000 rolls of black and white film that Diana Mara Henry shot during the 1960's, 1970's, 1980's and 1990's. She writes about the experience:

July 2011

To Whom it May Concern,
My name is Alex Wilt, and I had the great honor of interning with Diana Henry for about a month this summer and staying at her bed and breakfast. This internship, although unpaid, was incredibly rewarding and if I had to do it all over again I would in a heartbeat. I did a lot of scanning and uploading photos and documents to her website, in addition to researching political figures and activists and cataloguing negative sheets. Diana was the one who first introduced me to photography taken with a film camera because previously I had only been familiar with digital work. In addition to broadening my knowledge of different types of photography and of historic people and places, I had the pleasure of spending a lot of personal time with Diana and hearing her stories and wise words. She has lived and is living a truly remarkable life, and her many talents and interests are certainly reflected in that.
My stay here has been more than comfortable! There’s always plenty of food to snack on around the house, and it’s nice to only have to walk downstairs to start work in the morning. There’s plenty to do around here, whether is be going to Vietnamese restaurants, biking, going to museums, or the local Six Flags if you like amusement parks. During my stay, I sparked up an interest in yoga, and for me that was both fun and surprising! Diana gives you a lot of flexibility to make your own schedule, and for me that was really key to my happiness in such a relaxed environment. It really has been an amazing month, and when it comes down to it, there are few photojournalists and entrepreneurs as helpful, charming, and accommodating as Diana. I would highly encourage anyone interested in photojournalism or business and communications to intern with her and take advantage of a wonderful opportunity. If you’d like to hear more about the internship or my stay with Diana, you can email me at alexwilt@mail2me.com and I’d love to chat with you!

See more of Alex' work at: http://luckyebbie.deviantart.com/gallery/

Diana Mara Henry is seeking an intern to continue the brilliant work of Alex. Please call us at 413-736-6414 or email now. Thank you! Internship description follows:

              On-going need. Please keep this listing active.

TO:

Students of political science, American history, women’s studies, or photography!

and others....

Internship / work trade for food and lodging. Cozy / glamorous setting. Stipend for longer hours.

WHERE: Forest Park neighborhood, Springfield, MA

.                  Near city center, safe neighborhood, on bus line.

WHEN: Beginning immediately, semester break or semester-long.

WITH: Diana Mara Henry, photojournalist, photographer of the women’s movement, national conventions, presidential campaigns, and many other events and personalities as seen at http://www.dianamarahenry.com

Offering the opportunity for an enthusiastic and energetic person to participate in varied projects: on-line research and outreach locating subjects of the photographs (prominent women, actresses, and political leaders); on-line and mail correspondence and organization of emails and contact database; scanning and uploading photographs to website; filing and organizing documents and photographs - any or all of these and more, as time, inclination, and skills allow.

Must have good writing skills and some knowledge of, or ability to learn, computer programs, including FileMaker Pro and Contribute. These programs are not difficult and will train anyone willing and able to learn.

In the context of a home office (a successful B&B) with two cats; please be able to focus and adapt to a fast-paced and multi-tasking work style, and please have some enthusiasm for entrepreneurship and marketing and a loyal and sympathetic attitude. Flexible hours.

Thank you for participating in the adventure of a lifetime if you possess integrity, thoughtfulness, resourcefulness, and attention to detail to make this partnership a success and a pleasure!

Stephen Felde - Westfield State University - Communication Major - 2012 Spring Semester Intern

Over the past couple of months, I have had the pleasure of interning for Diana Mara Henry.  Having been the official photographer for the First National Women’s Conference, Diana played a key part in the women’s movement.  Additionally, Diana covered the 1972 and 1976 National Democratic Conventions, as well as the campaigns of political figures, such as Bella Abzug, Ronald Regan, and Jimmy Carter.  I feel like my generation lacks knowledge of our country’s history.  Make no mistake about it; I am guilty of this too.  However, being around someone who has a great understanding of history is something that I appreciate.

I was surprised by the amount of effort that is put in to becoming a photographer. No matter how good your work may be, it can take years to be truly recognized and appreciated. I had the chance to go along with Diana to meetings at UMASS Amherst and the New York State Museum. There, we met with people involved in special collections whom were fascinated by her photography that is so rich in history. As Diana has done, it is a great idea to keep ephemera along with your photos. Just having your photographs might not be enough and may leave someone wanting more. Additionally, it is important to keep in touch with the subjects you have photographed, as well as the people that have been involved in you career all along. Day in and day out I have seen Diana do this whether it was by mailing, e-mail, or a phone call. The connections you make with someone can go a long way in life.

People often discourage the idea of photography as a career.  In spite of this, Diana knew what she wanted to do and had the will power to actually go through with it.  Diana is one of the few who have successfully made a life out of it.  You can’t overlook the power of a photograph.  It’s a reminder and more importantly, a memory of someone or something in the past.  Also, it is not just a camera that makes a photograph look appealing.  A camera is a tool that helps you create your vision and point of view.  I enjoyed just looking at Diana’s photographs from scanning photos, uploading photos to the website, and e-mailing them to others.  It is the work of a true professional.  Life is all about experiences and I am truly grateful having been able to spend time with Diana.

Click here for more photographs by Stephen Felde