Listening for my Great-Grandfather by Kyle Bajakian

Created April 2008; Denver, CO

Kyle reflects on the storied legacy left by his great-grandfather, a Canadian adventurer and author, whose experiences greatly impacted the lens through which Kyle views the world.

Tell us about yourself?
I am a former New Englander raised in Concord, MA and very much influenced by another former Concordian, Henry David Thoreau. I started out as a reporter and then took to photography, which I chose to pursue out West, and now I live and teach photography in Bozeman, MT.

Why or how did you choose this story to tell?
When I was a kid, I learned that my great-grandfather (who was a renowned author, adventurer and conservationist during the early 20th century) also started out as a journalist. I felt a kinship. He served as a role model as I grew up - In particular, I identified with his adventurous spirit and his philosophy on Nature and Religion. As as the years went by, I became more and more curious about him. So, this digital story is my first attempt to "find" James Oliver Curwood, through his photographs, writings, autobiography and biographies. I think telling the story broke the ice and helped me to connect with him

How have you changed as a result of making/telling your story?
By externalizing my thoughts and feelings about this man, and putting those ideas in a visual form, Curwood became more real in the process, and I think became close to him. (And, it is indeed a process!)