The headline says it all. Read all about it here. It's a well-deserved promotion.

Bravo Sree!

The SAJA Convention begins on June 16. Hope you have registered and will be attending all the events. It promises to be the best convention yet!

As a sort of sideshow, I am arranging for a meet up for fellow photographers and photo editors on Thursday, June 16, 2005.

Here is the plan – we'll meet between 4.30 pm and 6 pm, before the official SAJA opening reception that night.

Here is where we will be:

Chelsea Grill
135 8th Ave
New York, NY 10011
Wed-Sat 11:30am- 4:00am
Sun-Tue 11:30am- 2:00am
Tel: (212) 242-5336

The Chelsea Grill is conveniently located near the Rubin Museum of Art where the SAJA receptiion will take place [a block and a half is my estimate].

Please email me at – sajamail [at] pipalproductions [dot] com to let me know you will be coming. Tell me who you are, whether you are a photographer or a photo editor and whether you are on staff or a freelancer. The subject of your email must be – SAJA PHOTO MEETUP.

You can bring friends, but please know that this gathering is limited to those working in the photojournalism business. If you have a particular affinity towards South Asia, great. If you would llike to work there someday and want to meet photojournalists like Shahidul Alam of the Bangladesh-based Drik photo agency, do come along and join us. Either way it should be fun.

Magnum photographer Alex Majoli on using point-n-shoot cameras for his professional work.

Former UN Chief Photographer, John Isaac [and fellow Madrasi] delivers a portfolio of evocative images from Kashmir.

Punchy images from Kalyan Varma.

Punchier images from Balagopal Ambalakkat.

Waiting For Fares.

It's A Miracle.

Professional photographers, WalMart has your back.

Gotta toy or plastic camera? Lightleaks magazine wants to see your work by July 1. First issue's theme is “UNUSUAL”. Go for it!

Dina Mehta is interviewed by Ethan Zuckerman for Global Voices Online. The podcast's MP3 is here.

Via Melissa Lyttle

“The first issue of a new photo zine was just launched. Enter provides a platform for the sharing of information about the participants, organizations and other topics related to the World Press Photo foundation. You’ll find a variety of features including galleries showcasing the work of former participants and hear from experts about the many issues facing those taking documentary photos for a living.”

I have been published in Snaps Magazine.

What do “cabochon, priscilla, oligopsony, sphygmomanometer, prosciutto, rideau, pompier, terete, tristachyous, schefflera, ornithorhynchous, agio, agnolotti, peccavi, ceraunograph, exsiccosis, hodiernal & appoggiatura” have in common?

Answers:

1) I have never heard of these words ever before
2) I am glad the SATs are over with
3) Anurag Kashyap
4) All of the above

Final answer: 4.

Jokes aside, Kashyap is the winner of the 2005 National Spelling Bee competition. He is in a distinct group of desis who have won this hallowed annual tournament.

This article in the Inquirer sparked a debate in techdirt about the future of wedding photography. Gizmodo picked it up from there and ran this little blurb on their site.

The synopsis: if you are a wedding photographer you are gonna have to change the way you conduct your business because it is much too easy for your clients to simply and quickly (and illegally) copy your work. Sad, but true.

The times they are a changin' – so look at my price packages for wedding photojournalism on my professional wedding photojournalism site: Pipal Productions. The budget packages, starting at $999, are all digital and include an archive-CD or DVD with high resolution images.

David Powazek's Pearls of Photographic Wisdom

Where To Find Great Free Photographs And Visuals For Your Own Online Articles

my brother … Nikhil

DesiVision is a broadband television station dedicated to promoting South Asian arts and entertainment.

daily type

PhotoMail [beta and works only on a Windows 2K, Windows XP running MS IE v. 5.5+ … lame, but it's a start I guess]

Who owns Culture?

Just launched: Karmacy – The Movement Check out their rap “Blood Brothers” in Gujarathi no less! Buy the album and support a great band.

“Every Tom, Dick, and Harry is a photographer,” he says with a shrug.

This brilliantly executed image is by Venkitu Narayanan. I also loved his caption for this image – “Somebody is going home!”

Perhaps there is a tinge of envy there in what Mr. Narayanan is expressing. At least I feel that way when I see the contrails of a high-flying East-bound plane.