What can I say about my friend and photographer Bill Diodato? Well, let me start by sharing that he and I first met on season one of Bravo’s Make Me a Supermodel. Bill shot the “Into the Wild” episode. Upon meeting Bill for the first time I could tell that he was a stand-up kind of guy and learned that he had a passion for life, a passion for photography, and a passion for his family.
After MMASM, I moved to New York City from Chicago – one of the biggest risks I had ever taken. I was out of the protections of my comfort zones and hundreds of miles away from my family, but thanks to Bill & Linda and the rest of his family – I felt welcome and more at home in NYC. We have worked together several times on projects for his clients and a couple of times just for fun. One thing is for certain, Bill is a perfectionist – he does not settle for less than the perfect shot. When you shoot with Bill you are a respected and vital part of the artistic process. He makes you feel comfortable in sharing your thoughts while giving great feedback and constructive critiques thorough-out. While some photographers get frustrated and think that yelling and screaming at talent and co-workers will solve problems, Bill believes in holding the team accountable and encourages everyone around him to live up to their potential. The pictures speak for themselves!
Most recently, my friends and I attended the book release party for Bill’s recent publication, c/o Ward 81. We had such an amazing time! “c/o Ward 81” is the first of a series of two monographs by Bill Diodato. Located in Salem – The Oregon State Insane Asylum – as it was then known and which was also the location for the classic film “One Flew Over The Cuckoos Nest” – had a ward set up at the end of the 19th Century to help women with psychiatric needs and provide them with isolation: Ward 81.
During 2005, the entire site was being redeveloped… the Oregon State Legislature authorized Bill Diodato to photograph and thus document the cremated remains of some of 3,500 deceased patients of the “Asylum” which, in one final act of inhumanity, had been exhumed.
During this very moving project – Warden Marvin Fickle also granted Bill access to the infamous closed-off Ward 81. Knowing that he would be the last person to document the ward, Bill felt a sense of responsibility to remember the women who inhabited this extraordinary place. The result is “c/o Ward 81”.
To learn more, or to purchase your very own copy of “c/o Ward 81″, please go to Bill’s web-site: http://billdiodato.com/blog
