I received an email from my cousin, Harini. I loved her reference to photography and so here it is, her travelogue:

“though i've taken lots of pictures, i already know i will be disappointed, partly because i'm not the greatest with a camera and also because all of the images are best captured in my mind anyway.”

“i can't even begin to explain how incredibly beautiful kerala is, but i will try because it is worth the attempt. people here call it “god's own country” and i see why they believe that. in the past several days we have seen amazing beaches, beautiful little temples, churches and mosques in the little surrounding villages, amazing sunsets, fields and fields of rice paddies, coconut and banana trees as far as the eye can see, the big white smiles of people, big brown eyes of the children, jungles, lagoons, and now forests. and added to all of that is all of our amazing experiences with the people here. they are so proud of their land, work so hard, crazy back-breaking work and all with their own two hands, they believe in the politics of their place (can you imagine that? i can't tell you how many communist flags we've seen proudly hanging in the villages with pictures of che everywhere!), and most amazing of all, they remain, truly in awe of the beauty of this place. it really has re-defined my perspective on peace, happiness, quality of life, so many things….”

I can't tell you the number of times I have been left utterly frustrated and flustered at MSN Messenger. I'll be in the middle of a conversation about photography and quite eager to share an image I made, when that darn firewall at work will block any such exchange. {Sigh!}

Mike Baker does an amazing job explaining how Flickr, a new online service works, so I won't be redundant here.

But be sure that Flickr is not limited to photography – as Baker suggests, you can form your own group and find like-minded people to chat up. So, there is the potential to be a part of an online community or a social network.

I am very excited about this new feature. If it eases my angst, I'll be happy. If I end up meeting some cool people, that would be great!

Via Harikrishna Katragadda

Democracy Now! is looking to immediately hire a full-time TV news producer to work on our national grassroots newshour that airs daily on over 180 non-commercial radio and tv stations. Democracy Now! is based in lower Manhattan.

Requirements: News production and journalistic experience, excellent camera skills and editing in Final Cut Pro. After Effects, Photoshop and web experience helpful. Salary negotiable, starting immediately. People of color and women strongly encouraged to apply. Please send resumes by email in text or PDF format to job@democracynow.org.

UNITE!

Via SAWCC

Independent Television Service (ITVS) in San Francisco, California is looking for a Program Manager.

“Independent Television Service, Inc. (www.itvs.org) is a nonprofit organization created and chartered by Congress to make unique, provocative, compelling programs for public television by independent producers. ITVS is an equal opportunity employer; women and people of color are encouraged to apply.”

POSITION DESCRIPTION

TITLE: Program Manager
Reports to: Director of Programming
Supervisory Responsibility: N/A
Salary Range: DOE
Status: Exempt

JOB SUMMARY:
This position is responsible for managing programming initiatives through all phases of review, evaluation and selection. The position manages and coordinates program development projects including the Diversity Development Fund.

JOB FUNCTIONS:

· Oversees the creation, evaluation and improvement of guidelines and application materials for program development programs and the Diversity Development Fund
· Assists department head to evaluate and recommend program and development proposals
· Evaluates proposals and application materials
· Provides telephone feedback to producers for all programming
initiatives
· Works with production and business departments to create agreements and contracts for program development projects
· Coordinates and leads programming meetings, panels and outreach events (forms agenda, coordinates schedule and logistics
and moderates discussions)
· Participates in conferences and events in the media arts field for outreach to producers and to represent ITVS
· Reviews programming for special initiatives and Independent Lens

QUALIFICATIONS:
· BA Degree
· Detail-oriented, hands-on administrator with demonstrated managing and coordination skills
· 3 years minimum experience in film/tv and/or media programming, production or administration
· Strong verbal and written communication skills
· Demonstrated knowledge of public television system and the independent producing community desirable
· Ability to work independently and in small groups
· Enthusiastic team player

Send/fax resume and cover letter by March 5, 2004 to:

Aimee Bruederle, Office Coordinator
Independent Television Service, Inc.
501 York Street
San Francisco, CA 94110

No phone calls or emails, please.

Via Sree Sreenivasan

Photography Editor, National Geographic Magazine: Team player to originate compelling, relevant story ideas with strong visual potential. Must have demonstrated excellence at orchestrating visual narratives with documentary photojournalism, and capability at conceptualizing maps and art. Hands-on expertise architecting and implementing digital photography editorial workflow systems preferred. For full job description and to apply, please visit www.nationalgeographic.com/jobs. National Geographic is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Hope some of you have seen Jasmeen Patheja‘s portfolio and artist's statement. We are looking for other emerging artists, writers, photographers and designers.

Next up on Tiffinbox will be one-on-one interviews with practicing and seasoned photographers, artists, writers and designers. Questions will be answered, links will be provided, portfolios will be exhibited. It will be a feast for your eyes!

First up is John Isaac. An introduction of John Isaac from the FOTOFUSION 2004 web site:

John Isaac, a celebrated award winning photojournalist and documentary photographer, has traveled to more than 100 countries in his photographic career. After almost 30 years with the United Nations he retired as chief of the Photo Unit in 1998. He continues to pursue his humanitarian concerns, but after years of documenting strife, carnage and starvation, he is pointing his camera at more aesthetic subjects these days, such as scenics and wildlife. A native of India, his worldwide coverage includes the Israeli/Lebanon conflict in 1978, the Vietnam boat people in 1979 and the US/Iranian hostage crisis in 1980. In the ‘80s he worked throughout the African nations covering drought and famine, and more recently his many assignments included the Kurdish refugees and the Gulf War in 1991, Bosnia and the conflict in Yugoslavia in 1992-94, and the ethnic carnage in Rwanda in 1994. Among his many awards are Best Outdoor Photograph in 1991 from Graphis magazine, 1993 PMA Photographer of the Year, Kodak Int'l Professional Showcase Award in 1990, thirteen Nikon International Photo Contest prizes from 1977-1996, and in 2000 he received the International Photographic Council's Lifetime Achievement Award. Isaac's coverage of Ethiopian famine from 1984-88 won him a prestigious Picture of the Year award from the NPPA/Missouri School of Journalism.

Several years ago, John's book COORG: The Land of the Kodavas fascinated me, not particularly for its photography which was of course spectacular, but because here was a desi photographer who had arrived. I made a mental note to drum up the courage to speak to him if and when our paths ever crossed.

Sure enough last year, at PhotoPlus Expo, John was signing huge posters of his image from the Day In The Life of Africa project. There wasn't much of an exchange between the two of us, because he was busy. But I managed to sneak in a little fact about myself – that I had lived in Chennai and I spoke Tamil. His eyes twinkled. “This is my brother,” he told no one in particular but well within ear shot of a long line of other fans. It was my turn to beam in such august company.

John is from Mylapore, a hop, skip and a jump from where I lived in Madras/Chennai. So the connection was made. We exchanged phone numbers and email addresses but his terrificly busy travel schedule didn't really make it possible for us to meet. I invited him to the SAJA conference. He attempted to stop by but I missed him in the commotion. But several more emails later, he sent me a couple of images from his current project.

John is a digital photography evangelist. The image you see above of a tiger was shot on a digital camera. He is sponsored by Olympus and the new E-1 cameras are all that he now uses on assignment. He no longer shoots for the United Nations but he is in Kashmir … photographing birds off of Dal lake.

But his pursuit of photography is more than pleasure, it's pure passion.

I asked him about his trip to Kashmir and he said:

“…let me tell you the conditions in Kashmir is not so enviable. I will be freezing my ass off in a house boat where there is no electrical heat and by half an hour after I go to bed the coal heat will die and I will not even feel like getting up to go to the bathroom. I was there in November when it was so cold.”

His advice to young photographers:

“The grass is always greener on the other side. Do not hastily do something that you will regret. It is always great to have a job in hand and pursue all your dreams. When I worked at the UN it was not so green always. I made it green for me. That is the trick to work and life in general. We will have to make things work for us.”

Want t learn more about John Isaac? Come on back and visit us here at TIFFINBOX. Part 2 will have links to his work. Part 3 will be the result of a face-to-face interview – 20 questions – after his return. If you have any particular questions you want answered, please email me at: tiffinbox[at]pipalproductions[dot]com.

Via Aag News

Masala: Diversity and Democracy in South Asian Art brings together a varied and eclectic collection of contemporary art and photography, folk art, and pop-culture art from South Asian countries. Masala presents an exhibition of each of the art froms as well as a discussion of how they overlay, intertwine and inspire each other. Over several weeks, special speakers and panel discussions will elaborate on the arts of colonial and contemporary India, village art, women's art, and art in the diaspora.

The exhibit runs Februay 1 – April 9, 2004 at the William Benton Museum of Art, at the University of Connecticut, Storrs.

Via S. Mitra Kalita

Chowrangi is quarterly magazine to be published in the United States. Chowrangi is a vital platform for progressive Pakistani and Pakistani-American voices. Chowrangi showcases the cultural diversity and complexity of the Pakistani diaspora. The publication focuses attention on social, cultural, political, technological and business issues as they impact Pakistanis in North America and Pakistan. Insightful, provocative, and candid, Chowrangi is a unique resource for Pakistan-watchers and those who feel a kinship with the country and its people.

To receive a free first copy of the magazine, please visit our website.

Given that I link to so many photography web sites and photographers, today, I decided it was time to launch a photo gallery on this site. No, not my own work. That will come later. It's time to show off the work of some very enterprising friends.

The first photographer to be featured is Jasmeen Patheja, a graduate of Srishti, one of India's leading institutes for art and design education.

Look in the right column for Jasmeen's photo album (or click here). I expect to have an artist's statement or at least a description of her work real soon. Keep checking back. Want to see more of her work? Check out her fotolog.

Next up is John Isaac, the former Chief photographer for the United Nations. I am going to interview him – 20 questions. If you have anything to ask him, please email me.