Tiffinbox

Adrees Latif Wins Pulitzer

Adrees Latif wins the Pulitzer prize for photography. Read all about it here.

Unsung: A Review

Book reviews aren't easy and for a guy who reads at a glacial pace it's doubly hard. Thankfully UNSUNG by Anita Pratap and Mahesh Bhat has some incredibly captivating images that kept me engrossed, flipping page after page taking in each of the richly textured black & white images.

What I found curious was that the images nudged me on to read the accompanying text. Ms. Pratap's easy writing style makes it an enjoyable read as she narrates each of the nine stories about average Indian citizens doing some great things for society with very little resources. This book is simply inspirational and a must-read for all.

Whoever designed this book must also be applauded. The pacing of the images, the right pull-quotes in the right places and the easy-to-read font make this book something extra-ordinary.

Please support independent photography and writing projects such as this one by buying this book here.

Fundy Album Builder ... Is Fabulous!

As a wedding and portrait photographer, I spend a good deal of my time custom designing albums for my clients. It's not an easy process and it takes a good deal of my time. Part of me wants it all to be perfect. From the colors in the images to the layout; everything must match my vision and the energy of my clients.

Andrew Funderburg's Fundy Album Builder gives me just that option. As a beta tester and now full time user, I couldn't be happier. This isn't me just schilling some product to make a commission (though I do make a small amount to support this website). I have tried it, tested and been in touch with the developer who is continually making this a product you can use in your business. The cost of the program pales in comparison the returns you will make after you use this program on a regular basis. The video tutorials will help you get all set up and started in no time.

Interested? Now until April 15, 2008 receive 15% off of this product when you mention the following promo code: "seshu."

Happy designing! Leave your comment here after you have had a chance to use Fundy Album Builder.

Anjali Bhargava Has A New Web Site

That's right, Anjali Bhargava has a brand new site. I have posted a link or two before to her work. That one of the dancer's legs in the far left corner of the frame in a sea of blue is my favorite. That and other images are on a much bigger display now. The site is has a nice clean, feather-weight feel to it. So, go check out this New York city photographer now (and buy some of her prints).

A $10,000 Grant For Your Photo Project

Read all about ShootQ's $10,000 grant for your photo project. Click here to find out more.

Kevin Kubota's Actions

I am a huge fan of Kevin Kubota's actions. Please click one of these links below to buy his Photoshop actions. They will revolutionize the way you work and will help your images stand apart from the crowd.

Totally Rad Actions, Dood

Adobe's Photoshop is or should be on your computer if you are a photographer. Sure, you could use other image editing programs that may just do it for you, but after I bought Photoshop CS3, there simply was no turning back.

But Photoshop by itself isn't going to get you too far if you don't use the program's ability to automate through programmable actions what you need to do to enhance all your images. You could, if time is your friend, sit and figure out all the actions you will need or outsource that work and buy the actions from people who simply do a great job.

Doug and Chenin Boutwell are a husband-wife wedding, portrait (and now even commercial) photography team who has produced a pack of actions they call Totally Rad (the name is perhaps a nod to where they live in Orange County). I bought their actions early on and simply couldn't do without them. What's particularly important to me is that their actions creates a separate layer above the image you are working on. Accessing this layer allows one much greater access to tweak it to one's own liking. That is, while some actions flatten your file and you have to just accept what is given to you, Doug and Chenin's Totally Rad Actions give you the freedom to make your images look like your own creation, not someone else's interpretation.

Doug has recently launched a series of online video tutorials on how to best exploit his actions. Here are the first three:

Action Basics - Mix & Match Actions - Layers and Layer Masks

Would it help to buy the action pack as you follow along? Sure. Do I get anything for mentioning the actions here? Nope.

Here is Doug's blog where you can learn more.

Feeling Pixish Today?

Pixish is a place for photographers and publishers to meet. It is another Derek Powazek production (remember JPG Magazine?)

The Modern Portrait, A Workshop

This post is part link love and part real love for what Justine Ungaro has brought me in terms of her knowledge about the portrait photography business over the course of the last few months. I belong to an online forum for professional wedding photographers and Justine has made a name for herself as one the most successful portrait photographers on the planet. That's really no exaggeration. She freely shares information and is clearly a wonderful teacher. I remember reading about some of her marketing materials and requesting that she send me just one sample for me to check out. Three days later I received a packet from her containing all of her samples. Woah! How cool is that?

And so, she is taking her skills on the road. Justine and her mom Diana, also a terrific photographer, are conducting a workshop in DC called "The Modern Portrait." The associated blog is located here.

"We are not going to try to teach you how to be a photographer or how to be a better photographer. You can learn that anywhere. We are going to give you the tools and the knowledge to sell more of what you are already creating, how to price yourself for a higher sale , how to present your images for maximum impact and how to keep your clients coming back for more."

Music to my ears. I would love to go. I want to win the scholarship Justine is offering. It's as simple as that. So, please do me a favor and click on this link (all 389 of you!) to send her some link love. Valentine's Day is around the corner isn't it?

Benazir Bhutto

A couple of days has past since the former Prime Minister of Pakistan was killed by ... well, by someone or something, depending on what the Pakistani government's PR folks want to sell you as "the truth." From my limited perspective, I can only wonder how someone of her stature gets killed and there is no state funeral where dignitaries from other countries have a chance to say goodbye. The rush to bury her has a boat load of conspiracy theorists already in a tizzy. So, I won't dwell on this as it will only add fuel to the fire that is burning in South Asia.

The future of Pakistan is truly at stake now that former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has said he will boycott any elections there. Ok, so the rationale is that by not participating in an election, you can usher in democracy? Sounds a little wonky to me. By stepping out of the election process, Mr. Sharif has simply given "President" Musharraf the green signal to do what he pleases. It will be a defacto dictatorship, without the military regalia. The political vacuum that will be felt in that country will have repercussions around the world.

Who will emerge as Pakistan's leader and when are the biggest questions as we turn the corner on 2007 and jump into 2008?

Thanks again to A Photo A Day, here is a link to a New York Times feature showing Benazir Bhutto's last minutes.

[This is by sheer coincidence post #1300 here on Tiffinbox ... make of it what you will ...]

Upcoming Book Reviews

I have three book reviews to complete and I hope to have them done by the end of the year. The books are: Betsy Karel's Bombay Jadoo, Mahesh Bhat's Unsung and Steve Raymer's Images of a Journey: India in Diaspora.

Please click the links to find out more and to buy the books.

Anjali's Prints On Sale

I met Anjali Bhargava at the Eddie Adams Workshop, about 7 years ago. Our paths have crossed thanks to her being in NY and my involvement with SAJA. As a fellow desi photographer, we have been in touch through Facebook. A couple of days back I found out that she has a print sale going on until January 15, 2008.

8x12 unframed: $85
12x18 unframed: $110
8x12 framed to 11x14*: $140
12x18 framed to 12x18*: $170

"*My frame of choice is black metal and is an 1/8" wide which sets off the images beautifully without interfering. 12x18 prints will be full frame. Framed 8x12 images will be printed on 11x14 paper. Payments can be made by check or via PayPal."

Check out the images she has on sale here.

This one is my personal favorite, called "Blue":

Lines Of Grey On YouTube

Get Photo Inspired

It's cold outside and snuggling in front of the television might be a bigger draw than to get out and shoot some pictures for yourself. How do you keep motivated or inspired?

Lighting Mods suggests clipping coupons. Hey, no seriously, check it out. Based on an article in Digital Photo, Lighting Mods points to a PDF that you can print and then clip with some photo-centric words on them. Mix and match them and voilá you have the directive to go out and find or create what those words describe.

Too lazy to clip coupons? Com'on ... ok, for you folks there is this awesome site by Viljo Marrandi that generates these words on the fly.

Get off your duff. Get inspired.

Strobist + Flickr = Inspiration

Need I say it? I love visiting the Strobist website on an almost daily basis. If you are a photographer, especially one who is starting out, you would be well served if you bookmark the site. Well, I had always known that David Hobby (the guy behind Strobist) had an active Flickr site. I hadn't publicized it before, but check it out here. It's full of great inspiration.

And, eh hmm .. did you download that PDF off of the Strobist site I told you about? Get to it!

What The Duck: Rule Of Nerds Has Arrived

I gave myself a gift. I bought Rule of Nerds. I flipped to the back cover and showed my wife one of the comic strips and it even had her grinning. Yes, it is humor that is more directed towards photographers, but Aaron Johnson is so on target. Get the book. For the photographer in your life. It's the holiday season. We all could use a good laugh.

Christmas Comes Early For Some Photographers

David Hobby, the Strobist has a PDF of his Lighting 101 course. Give yourself the gift of light(ing) and download it. Christmas, Diwali, Ramadan ... call it what you will ... is here and now. Learn and enjoy!

How Jay Maisel Makes $45,000 A Day

Ok, let me at the outset tell you that I am a Jay Maisel fan. A huge fan, but a poor one of this American master of photography. I don't have a $5000 to attend his unique workshop, but I would go if could find that kind of cash in pennies even, tucked away in the far reaches of my couch. He is worth every red cent. As far as how he makes $45k in a day, well he will only accept 9 participants to his workshop. Do the math.

"It will take place Mon. Dec. 17 to Fri. Dec. 21, from 9am to 10pm each day. All meals are included." Be sure to mention Tiffinbox if sign up. [Link thanks to Adobe's John Nack]

The Rule Of Nerds

Here, I have mentioned Aaron Johnson's What The Duck comic strip before. It pokes fun at photographers, clients and everything and everyone in between. It's good for a good laugh and as a comic strip nut, I have to buy his new book, The Rule Of Nerds (a take on rule of thirds, for the uninitiated) before the year is out. It covers his first year's comic strips. Check it out and buy yourself a copy. This Thanksgiving, give yourself a chuckle or two. You can thank me later.

Flying With Fish Around The World (In 11 Days)

This is a photography workshop for the well-heeled, Marine-at-heart types. Steven Frischling, an editorial and wedding photographer is playing host to 8 lucky people to travel the world with him (and yes, he goes by the name "Fish") and experience the kinds of things he does when has to shoot assignments around the world. Very cool. Very interesting. And, no, while my itchy feet may start burning, I ain't going no where. Tempting, though.

Matt Brandon Has Kashmir Covered

Found this link through the pixelated image [where there are gobs more useful information] of Matt Brandon's arresting photographic work in Kashmir. Turn up your speakers and enjoy the show as I think you will also like the music. I did.

Matt Brandon's blog is here and his awesome website is called the digitaltrekker.

Brandon has a new book out called Catchlight. Buy it here.

Everywhere Is Here

Everywhere magazine is a new travel magazine. But it's no ordinary magazine because you, yes you, can contribute to it. Brought to you by the same fine folks who brought us JPG magazine, "Everywhere's website is similar to JPG, with a few important twists. With Everywhere, you add your photos to a specific geographic location. These locations are called Places, and a Place can be a hotel, a landmark, a restaurant, a quirky attraction, or any other thing to see or do in a city or town."

Mark your spot in the world with a photograph. Saves you from peeing.

Mahesh Bhat & Anita Pratap Launch "Unsung"

"UNSUNG is a book about unknown Indians from ordinary backgrounds who have made extraordinary contributions [sic] their communities. UNSUNG tells the stories of nine amazing people from across India ."

Buy the book here.

Three Blind Men

Three Blind Men is a Sri Lanka-based collective of photographers co-founded in 2006 by Rukshan Jayewardene, Sebastian Posingis & Dominic Sansoni. Want pictures from Sri Lanka, India and the Maldives? This is the place to go.

Memorializing Our Fallen Soldiers

The Vietnam Memorial is a way for us to meditate on the loss of our soldiers and an awesome epitaph to a war gone awry.

See here how Scott at Weekly Photography Tips has chosen to dedicate a post about his friends who died in Vietnam. The images he has created using the names on the Vietnam War Memorial, images of his combat friends and a little Photoshop are astounding. It's a such a touching and honorable way to salute those who served their country.

Please visit Scott's web site and post a comment there.

Being A Photo Dad

Found this very cute YouTube video on Strobist [bookmark this site damnit!]

This was on Strobist for a reason. It shows a photographer/dad using off-camera lighting to produce some really cool pictures. Take a hint and take your flash off camera for more dynamic image making!

And check out LightSite, a Google-based custom search engine that will plumb the depths of these fine flash light oriented teaching websites:

www.strobist.blogspot.com
www.flickr.com/groups/strobist/discuss/
www.dg28.com
www.flashflavor.com
www.onelightworkshop.com

Film Is Dead, Digital Is King

Ok, now that I have got that off of my chest, I have to mention Jonathan Canlas' workshop, Film Is Not Dead, in Hawaii, no less, where he will be teaching people like you and me about going back to film and using it to capture moments at weddings. Here is the official website.

While that's certainly a noble gesture, I am selling some all of my dated film [stored in a cool dry place of course]. The first person to email me with the subject heading - "FILM IS DEAD, DIGITIAL IS KING" - gets about 100 rolls of 35mm film for $100. That includes shipping within the borders of the United States of America. And, yes, I do accept PayPal. The film is a mix of color and black & white and I declare openly that I am not to be held liable in any way for its use or misuse and that I cannot guarantee results, success from your experimentations with said film.

For those doing the math, at an average of about $5/roll, you are saving $400 (ok, ok, it's not fresh film but whatever ...)

Step on up if you are truly old skool and proud of it!

The Great Picture Exhibition

If you are in Los Angeles you gotta check out The Great Picture Exhibition

"In July of 2006, a group of photographers called the Legacy Project pulled off two truly staggering feats: converting an airplane hangar into the world's largest pinhole camera, and producing the world's largest black and white photograph, measuring a stunning 107 ½ x 31 ½ feet."

Wowza! Goes to show you don't need more than a pinhole to create a great image. Now if only my subjects didn't move so much!

Learn more about The Legacy Project, that spearheaded this exhibit.

Seshu Photography – My "Tryst With Destiny" – Goes Live!

So at midnight, on August 15th, I flipped the switch and now Seshu Photography is live. Go check it out, explore the site and let me know there or here what you think. Many more images and galleries will be added in the days and weeks to come.

I am very excited about how this new web site will take me into a new direction and in some ways be my tryst with destiny.

Please help me spread the word about Seshu Photography, to all your friends and family.

Vinay + Rashmi

I was asked to photograph my cousin Vinay and his wife Rashmi for a post-card campaign Team Vinay is about to launch. If you haven't been following along, Vinay is battling AML, a form of Leukemia. Even after several chemotherapy sessions, he needs a bone marrow match. Please visit HelpVinay.org to read about where you can register and potentially save lives; Vinay's and others like him.

Vinay could very easily be your brother, your husband, your father. As a South Asian it is infinitely more challenging to find a match, but it doesn't have to be that way if only more South Asians like you (yes you reading this blog post) will commit to registering yourselves in the national marrow donor database. I have called you all, and some of you have readily done so, to step up and register. It's quick and painless. So, please DO IT NOW.

Here are the images I shot of Vinay and Rashmi over the weekend. Which one would you pick for the post-card campaign? Make your choice and then leave a comment that others will appreciate. Thank you.

#1 #2 #3

Photography Super Workshop

I am very excited and honored to let you know that I am leading my first photography workshop at SAJA's 2007 convention. There are only a limited amount of open slots. If you are interested in street photography, sign up!

Suchitra Vijayan's Lines Of Grey

Suchitra Vijayan says, "let me quickly introduce myself, I am lawyer working with the UN in Africa, I am also documentary photographer and mostly free lance. I recently started a street kids project in Arusha, Tanzania. The project is inspired by the documentary "Born into Brothels" and is aimed at teaching street kids here photography by giving out disposable cameras so that they can document world around them."

Visit Lines of Grey

Sean Flanigan's India

Run, don't walk to check out Sean Flanigan's images of India. They are amazing!

There is a Bresson-esque oeuvre to his style. Do you agree? Comment!

Life Is Dead Again

LIFE, the photo-heavy supplement that Time Inc. floated for some time is going away for good come April. If you were surprised, take a minute to slap yourself back to reality.

I often picked up the thin supplement in disgust. It was a last ditch effort to resuscitate a legendary brand name in publishing, but it looked pathetic. Nothing about it suggested that it would or even could stay for long. Can anybody here think of one photo essay in the new version that stood out? No? Me neither. What a shame, eh?

Oy! Let's all take a moment and pray that the zine has a better, um, after-life, as an online archive.

[Via Rob Galbraith]

Peace Takes Courage Mr. Bush

This powerful photo-montage is by Ava Lowery, a 16-year old blogger I heard and saw on CNN this morning. Please check it out and spread the word.

We are approaching the four-year anniversary of this disastrous war in Iraq. Stop the madness!

Dolce Et Decorum Est?*

International Women's Day came and went by quietly. A few websites mentioned it. Jason Kottke had a link to a photo exhibit called Women of Our Time.

Blank Noise Project attempted to "to understand how different women ( across age groups/ cultures/ communities) have dealt with street sexual harassment in their everyday lives."

And Mike Davidson asks "What EXACTLY About This Ad Is Offensive?"

"The ad shows a man and a woman, presumably about to have sex, with four other men at various levels of undress looking on. There's no denying that the ad is extremely racy and people are well justified to be offended if strikes them negatively, but from a design perspective, I'm interested in *exactly* what elements of the ad push it over the line."

Sexy or Sadistic? Here is the image:

You decide. Take the poll.

*With apologies to Wilfred Owen, the author of the poem Dulce Et Decorum Est, for the title of this post.

Tainted Tea, 10 of 31

Read more about this project here

Tainted Tea, 8 of 31

Read more about this project here

5th Annual Yarka Vendrinska Scholarship

Mark and Tanya Bohr are pleased to announce the fifth annual scholarship for emerging photojournalists who demonstrate financial need to continue their careers. The award may be used to attend any of the photojournalism workshops at The Maine Photographic Workshops.

The $2,000 scholarship is offered in memory of Yarka, who was a passionate photojournalist. She was drawn to photograph people often ignored by society – the homeless, the aged and the ill. Finding great humanity in her subjects, she attempted to show this through her imagery.

The ideal applicant will not only be interested in photojournalism, but will have demonstrated social awareness in the spirit of Yarka’s work. While the award will be based upon need, the applicant must also provide a portfolio of recent work. Portfolios and proof of need for financial assistance should be submitted in digital format, as the awarding committee is not centrally located. For further information and application forms, see this site and this site.

Application deadline: 5:00 PM on Tuesday, April 20, 2007. The award will be announced on Yarka’s birthday, April 25, 2007.

P.S. It is unclear whether The Maine Workshops is still in operation. I was under the impression that it had shut down. I'll post an update as soon as I can confirm its status.

Twilring Dancer

The image above was originally uploaded by ANINDYA RAY.

Love the color, the ambiguity and the motion of this one frame by Anindya Ray an event and commercial photographer.

I'll often post images here that are interesting, curious and even spectacular. Would you also like to have your images showcased on this blog? If so, join my Flickr community group also called Tiffinbox. Thoughts, suggestions, opinions always welcome, so please leave your comments below.

This blog post is brought to you by Seshu's Pipal Productions.

Ethereal Mosque

The image above was originally uploaded by ♥ chi chi ♥.

This is what happens when you play. I wish we all could think outside our Kodak boxes (oh, wait, that unit is being sold I hear) and stop playing safe. Here the image was shot on Fuji Velvia film (FILM - remember it?) and then cross-processed (in color negative chemistry). Awesome!

I'll often post images here that are interesting, curious and even spectacular. Would you also like to have your images showcased on this blog? If so, join my Flickr community group also called Tiffinbox. Thoughts, suggestions, opinions always welcome, so please leave your comments below.

This blog post is brought to you by Seshu's Pipal Productions.

Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Learning Center

The National Association of Photoshop Professionals, of which I am a proud member, is really outdoing itself.

A couple of weeks back it announced that it was going to publish Darkroom, a magazine dedicated to Adobe Photoshop Lightroom (wordy, isn't it? so, let's call it APL). Today, I found out that the organization is dedicating an entire portal, a learning site, for the Adobe product.

APL, by the way, is out of beta and available for $199 till May. Goes up to $299 after that. I think there will be several tweaks between now and May, so I'll pounce when the time is ripe.

If you are a photographer, do yourself a favor and become a member of the NAPP. The organization provides you a tremendous learning experience, tons of discounts on products all closely associated with the field of work that we love.

Vision Quest, A Bust?

I'll be the first to admit that my attenpt to create images every day has died a quick death. Why? Well, here are the top three reasons excuses:

1) Lack of time
2) Lack of a small/compact camera, though I did try using the Fuji F31fd with mixed results
3) 1 + 2 = 3

I am open for suggestions for a compact camera that produces great images. I might give the Fuji a whirl again. Talk to me people.

When Earth & Sky Meet

The image above was originally uploaded by lecercle.

I'll often post images here that are interesting, curious and even spectacular. Would you also like to have your images showcased on this blog? If so, join my Flickr community group also called Tiffinbox. Thoughts, suggestions, opinions always welcome, so please leave your comments below.

This blog post is brought to you by Seshu's Pipal Productions.

Pavan

The image above was originally uploaded by machlee in the tank.

This is one among many colorful, amazing and fun wedding images Jasmeen recently shot. I think it is in Delhi. Here is the complete set of images in a slideshow. What I love about these images, you ask? They place you, the viewer, in the midst of the wedding; making you feel like you were actually there. This in itself makes them unusual because traditional Indian wedding photography is nothing more than a form of treachery, an assault on honest emotions and well, dare I say it, a complete bore. Jasmeen's images are full of the energy we ought to remember for a lifetime or more. Beautifully executed!

I'll often post images here that are interesting, curious and even spectacular. Would you also like to have your images showcased on this blog? If so, join my Flickr community group also called Tiffinbox. Thoughts, suggestions, opinions always welcome, so please leave your comments below.

This blog post is brought to you by Seshu's Pipal Productions.

Best Business Practices For Photographers

If you are a photographer, a serious one and in business, don't walk but run to buy John Harrington's book Best Business Practices for Photographers. I just got it in the mail yesterday and am devouring it.

Also check out Harrington's blog, Photo Business News & Forum. Bookmark it fellow photographers!

Vrindavan: The City Of Widows

Richard Koci Hernandez's new site Multimedia Shooter prompts a near-daily visit from me. When he posted a retrospective of his work at the San Jose Mercury News, and it included a piece about Vrindavan: The City Of Widows, I had to post it here.

Feel free to post your comments here after you have seen it.

Update: Photographer Tewfic El-Sawy wrote asking me to mention his multimedia project also on the widows of Vrindavan. Take a loot. Elegantly produced. Also take a look at his project on The Supplicants of Bahadur Shaheed, a Sufi shrine.

Phil Borges on TEDTalks

Via TED

A Memorial For Bruce Fraser

There is an emptiness in my soul without
my friend Bruce in the world.
He was a dear friend who will be deeply missed by many.
– Stephen Johnson

It's a virtual, though real, homage to a giant in the field of digital photography. It's photographer Stephen Johnson's way of grieving. Visit the site. Pay your respects.

Remember Your Kodak Moment?

Link via Melissa Lyttle

Lighting The Dramatic Portrait

One of the finest portrait photographers is Michael Grecco and his new book Lighting the Dramatic Portrait is making its way into my hands in the next couple of days. But to get a sneak peak check out this link on DigitalJournalist.org.

Vision Quest, 5

Vision Quest, 4

Vision Quest, 3

Vision Quest, 2

Vision Quest

The New Year begins. Happy New Year to you all! Wishing you and your family all prosperity in 2007.

Starting today, as I promised way back when, I will be posting one image a day. This will be a daily exercise to flex my visual muscles. This daily meditation isn't for awards or contests or even for deep navel gazing. I hope that it will guide me to express what I see in the world in new and interesting ways.

The pictures will simply follow these rules: 1) the images will be well exposed, 2) they will be well composed and 3) they can be of anything I fancy. The post will be less of which lens or camera or ISO I have used [though, I'll be a geek and mention it if you wish]. Those things matter, but not as much as the act of making images for oneself.

Your comments are always welcome. Feel free to critique the image(s) as well. In fact, among the most helpful critiques I receive through the year, I will choose a group of new friends [and that's what I really hope you will all become] to receive a TIFFINBOX t-shirt [among a sundry of gifts].

This year-long series will be called 'Vision Quest'. If you are checking this site through an aggregator, set it to receive the image through the RSS feed. If you find it worthy, feel free to tag the post to your del.icio.us or digg account.

I'll post my first image in the evening.

A Father's Sorrow, A Father's Love

"In a single snapshot, during 40 seconds of silence, you could absorb the emotional arc of Bob Gainey's life because you knew ever detail, every epiphany and pain, behind that photo of a father and a daughter."

That was written by Selena Roberts for The New York Times, describing the scene at Bell Center in Montreal, before the Canadiens played the Boston Bruins.

It is a terrific testament to what a photograph can evoke in all of us and a reminder to keep making images of our loved ones. This reminds me of a cheesy tag line that one of the Indian film companies (that existed back in the 70s, I believe) used: Memories Fade. Photographs Do Not.

Heartworks, A David Williams Workshop

As some of you may be wondering, I have been "gone" for a couple of weeks. Thanksgiving came and whizzed past me. And then I attended a terrific three-day photo workshop in Rhode Island, led by David Williams. It was just the right injection of art + photography that I have experienced in a long time. If I can paraphrase David, his message is essentially, "imbue your work as an art form and all glory will follow."

If you are a working photographer – no matter what sub-genre your persuasion happens to be – treat yourself to one of David's workshops. You will come away a better photographer and perhaps even a more enlightened human being.

Flags Of Our Fathers

Clint Eastwood's epic drama about the lives of US soldiers who victoriously raised the American flag on Iwo Jima called Flags Of Our Fathers opens in theaters here today.

The story is about how these soldiers were iconized and subsequently exploited by the US government. The act of raising the flag was captured and memorialized in a single image by Joe Rosenthal, a photojournalist documenting the war. It was distributed widely to build morale and support the allied actions in the Pacific.

Do you know of other movies where an image or a photograph played such a pivotal part? List your choices here in the comments section. If you see your choice already listed, please do not list it again.

Here is my choice: Chris Nolan's Memento.

Now, it is your turn.

What The Duck?

Aaron Johnson is the brains behind "What the Duck," the funniest comic strip I have come across in a very long time. It's photo-centric, which makes it all the more funny for me [because I do like to laugh at myself sometimes].

Using a duck as his protagonist, Johnson goes about illustrating some very poignant moments that photographers experience, especially with their clients. Some photogs may not find it humorous as the punch lines can be acerbic like this one:

The RSS feed is here. The comic strip's archive is here. Listen to Aaron Johnson on October 21 at Photo Talk Radio.

[via Rob Galbraith]

A New Year's Resolution In Mid Octber

Ok, I searched high and low, narrow and wide. I have finally found a new year's resoltuion that I can stick to this coming year. It's not that old promise of running 3 miles a day or buying my wife flowers every week [though, hey, that's another resolution I think I can keep]. No, this one involves my metiér – photography. And while I didn't have to find it through the Internet, I was inspried by this latest post on Photojojo about Project 365.

The concept is a simple one. Carry your camera everywhere and keep seeing. Why do it? Reason number three in the Photojojo post says it all: "Taking a photo a day will make you a better photographer. Using your camera every day will help you learn its limits. You will get better at composing your shots, you’ll start to care about lighting, and you’ll become more creative with your photography when you’re forced to come up with something new every single day."

Fear not, this won't be an exercise in narcissism. There are already some very good examples of that here and here. This "project" will provoke me into carrying my camera and capturing what I see everyday. Rain, snow, sleet or shine, I am going to make images for one year starting January 1, 2007.

If you see me slipping, I hereby authorize you [all of you] to give me a whole of shit so that I can get back onto the photo wagon. If you start this project with me, send me your link. I'll be sure to share it with others here. And, good luck!

PhotoBert CheatSheets

Whose eyes don't glaze over when the words "camera manual" are mentioned? I know mine do. While I do refer to my manuals, I have long depended on PhotoBert's CheatSheets for a quick refresher. Whenever I have needed to know which sequence of buttons to press for multiple exposures or where a certain menu is buried within the camera system, my "cheat sheets" come alive. I reckon they are sort of the Cliff Notes for the camera world.

On a whim, I drifted over to Bert Sirkin's site and was pleasantly surprised to see that he lives and operates his business about 15 minutes from where I live. I am going to have to go out and meet the man.

Open Society Photography Grant

Via International Journalists Network

A grant competition organized by the Open Society Institute (OSI) will award grants of up to US$40,000 to innovative photographers worldwide. The proposal deadline is October 6. The Documentary Photography Project gives grants to photographers who partner up with news media organizations, NGOs, schools or other groups to publish documentary photography that works to stimulate constructive societal change.

Interested applicants must submit proposals that address a current social justice issue, especially those that relate to OSI’s work. Projects must use innovative strategies to present the work to the public such as: Web sites, podcasts, or traveling exhibitions.

OSI is a New York-based private foundation. It was launched in order to support former Soviet States transition from communism to democracies. It has since opened up projects in other areas of the world where the transition to democracy is of concern. Among the activities OSI sponsors are: grant making to strengthen civil society, education, human rights, legal reform, media and communications, arts and culture, among others.

For more information, or to submit a proposal, contact whjohnson@sorosny.org, or visit this site.

Going Back To School ...

May be not school as we know it, but I am looking for a refresher. So today, I decided to register for two workshops.

I am heading to listen to photographer Kevin Ames at his Pro Digital Workflow seminar on October 22, in New York city.

Then on January 28, 2007, I will be attending the Epson Print Academy also in the Big Apple.

Will you join me?