Blurb Self-Publishing Seminar

A Step-by-Step Guide to Creating Your Own Commercial-Quality Books
Instructor: Suzanne Caballero Knowlton

International House Hotel, 220 Camp St.2nd Flr, New Orleans, LA 70130
Friday, December 11, 2009
10am-12pm
Free and open to the public. Register here.

This provocative PhotoNOLA seminar will provide a hands-on demonstration of Blurb’s creative publishing platform as well as an introduction to the fundamentals of book design. Suzanne Caballero Knowlton, Vertical Marketing Manager at Blurb, provides a detailed step-by-step demonstration on how to make, publish, share, and sell commercial-quality books using Blurb’s creative publishing platform.
Whether you want to make a killer portfolio, client deliverable, or the next great American photography book, this session shows and tells you what you need to know about BookSmart, Blurb’s free book layout software: Blurb’s web tools; and what you need to get started or hone your bookmaking chops. In addition, he will provide an introduction to book design principles and aesthetics such as basic typography, image format, and sequencing. Part inspiration, part instruction, you’ll get some great tips straight from Blurb’s marketing manager.
This two-hour seminar will be separated into two segments. The first hour will provide an introduction and overview of Blurb’s creative publishing platform. The following hour will be devoted to more detailed hands on topics, demonstration and Q and A.

Topics covered:
• Introduction and overview on Blurb’s creative publishing platform
• How to use Adobe Photoshop to prepare your images
• Basic and advanced tricks using Blurb’s free BookSmart software
• Color management and the Blurb platform
• Online marketing tools and our Set Your Price program
• How to create custom layouts in Adobe Photoshop and InDesign
• Pacing and sequencing of your book, including effective use of white space
• An overview of typography and a breakdown of the photo book format and it’s typical contents
• Utilizing sample and inspirational books created by professional photographers
This workshop is free and open to the public, but space is limited. To reserve a spot please register in advance.
Suzanne will also be available by appointment throughout the weekend to answer more specific questions for those who have created or are in the process of creating books through Blurb.

an ADDITIONAL Slideluck Potshow submission workshop

Need help submitting to Slideluck Potshow (SLPS) New Orleans ? Well there's ANOTHER workshop Monday, November 2nd from 7-9pm at the NOPA Gallery (1111 St. Mary St.) to help you through this process.

Please read over the submissions guidelines before coming and bring:
- a laptop, blank rewritable CDs, or an external hard drive (and cords if needed) of sorts . There will be a mac computer available to use if you don't have a laptop, but if you do have one, please bring it!
- the pictures you want to submit. If you've resized them for submissions, please bring the original edited files in case they aren't resized correctly.
- the song you want to play with your pictures during the slideshow.

If you need help submitting and can't make it to the workshop or have any other questions email Andrea at slpsneworleans@gmail.com

Deadline to submit: Monday, November 2nd, 2009. It's free!

SLPS is a potluck followed by an hour to 90 minute slideshow of pictures. During the slideshow, one artist's body of work will follow the next. The event is taking place Friday, December 4th, 2009 from 7-11 in New Orleans, as part of PhotoNOLA .

Cemeteryscape 2009

Save Our Cemeteries invites you to an opening reception for Cemeteryscape 2009!

Thursday, October 29, 2009
6pm-8pm
International House • 221 Camp Street • New Orleans

A photography exhibit featuring the works of: Michael Aldana · Frank Aymami · Sandra Burshell · Crawford Carroll · Brian Cleveland Beverly Coates · Paul Conlan · Ze da Luz · Renee Dodge · Lori Folse · Beth Fury Noelle Swan Gilbert · Nelson Goodrich · Jason Hall · Antonio Henriquez Theresa Jaeger · Brienne Joubert · Charlotte Klasson · Dede Lusk · Marion Lydon Susan McManus · Adrienne Petrosini · Gregory Ramirez · Ciera Rhoades· John Rich William Schuette · Bonita Waesche · Teena Whitmore · Scott Zenz

Exhibit continuing through November 22, 2009.

Forty percent of the sales from this event generously donated by the photographers to benefit Save Our Cemeteries.

Save Our Cemeteries, founded in 1974, is a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation and restoration of Louisiana’s historic cemeteries and to fostering a public appreciation for their architectural and cultural significance.

New Orleans Jazz Fest Volunteer Photographer Program 2010

Submissions for this start today and they only accept 150 applications so get it together quick if you want a chance:

Each year the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation Archive selects Photographers to document the internal culture; people, crafts, music and food, at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. Selected photographers will work according to a schedule provided by the NOJHF Archive and will be provided with festival and photo pit (in the front of each of the stages) access. All photography must be digital. Photographers are responsible for providing the Archive with a CD/DVD of the images taken at the Festival along with a complete index of images on the disk. The images are owned by the photographer and may be used to promote the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and Foundation and for non-commercial and educational purposes. All rights, responsibilities and obligations on the part of the Foundation and the photographers will be outlined in a separate Terms of Agreement for those invited to participate.

Applications can be submitted at callforentry.orgbeginning October 27, 2009; the title of the call is “New Orleans Jazz Fest Volunteer Photographers.” The deadline to apply is December 15, 2009. There is no charge to apply however we can only accept 150 applications.

Gumbo Ya-Ya, with Keith Carter

Here's a workshop coming up in April 2010 at the New Orleans Photography Workshops:

Keith Carter, one of the world's leading contemporary fine art photographers, will be teaching a week-end inspirational workshop on April 17th and 18th, 2010.

The object of the workshop is to help committed photographers explore, strengthen and refine their approach to image making through intensive feedback and discussions.

Through studying the work of both historically significant and little known photographers, group discussions, a shooting assignment, and individual portfolio reviews, we will refine our views on the creative photographic process. Everyone is encouraged to bring a sense of humor and a sense of purpose; wise-asses, hotshots and burnouts are all welcome.

Cost is $495. For more info, go to the website, or call (877) 316-0009.

Gary Smith moderates panel @ Vampire fest

Gary Michael Smith, recently appointed as Special Assignment Editor to the Louisiana Film and Video Magazine, is hosting a panel discussion of four local filmmakers during the Vampire Film Festival, October 23–26.

The event will take place on Sunday, October 25 at 3:30 p.m. at the Zeitgeist Multi-Disciplinary Arts Center at 1618 Oretha Castle Haley Boulevard.

This will provide a glimpse into the world of filmmaking—from writing and directing to producing and marketing by those who are doing it. Discussions will focus on shooting in Louisiana—how, where, and why.

For tickets or more information, go to www.VampireFilmFestival.com

Country Roads gives us editor's pick

Country Roads magazine chose the Spirit World exhibit for one of it's Editor's Picks this week. Editorial Assistant Anne Craven says:

We wanted to let you know that it was chosen as one of the "editor's picks" from Country Roads Calendar of Events for this week. That means that it goes out to thousands as part of Milepost: our Country Roads weekly email newsletter. It was also posted on our Facebook page where we have over one thousand fans ... And as always, thanks for being part of Country Roads! We couldn't do it without you.

click on image to enlarge

Vampire Film Festival wine reception

The New Orleans Photo Alliance will host a wine reception for Vampire Film Festival goers Saturday, October 24, 6-9pm at the Photo Alliance Gallery, 1111 St. Mary St. in conjunction with our exhibit, THE SPIRIT WORLD.

The Vampire Film Festival takes place at Zeitgeist Movie Theatre October 23 - October 26. Featuring over 50 films from 11 countries as well as filmmaker panels, literary panels, a costume ball, the Krewe of Boo parade, a Vampire ballet and much, much more, the Festival celebrates and explores the unique genre of vampire films.

http://www.vampirefilmfestival.com

Slideluck Potshow submissions workshop

Need help submitting to Slideluck Potshow (SLPS) New Orleans? Well there's a workshop Tuesday, October 27th from 7-9pm at the NOPA Gallery to help you through this process. Bring your laptop or an external hard drive (and cords if needed) of sorts with the pictures you want to submit and the song you want to play with your pictures during the slideshow. Check out submission guidelines here. There will be a mac computer available to use if you don't have a laptop.
If you need help submitting and can't make it to the workshop email Andrea at slpsneworleans@gmail.com

SLPS is a potluck followed by an hour to 90 minute slideshow of pictures. During the slideshow, one artist's body of work will follow the next. The event is taking place Friday, December 4th from 7-11 in New Orleans, as part of photoNOLA.

October Programming Meeting

I would like to extend an invitation to all members who are interested in the Programming Committee to attend a meeting Tuesday, October 20, 7:00 p.m. at the NOPA Gallery, 1111 St. Mary St.

The Programming Committee is responsible for developing

exhibitions, educational events, public forums, and exchange

programs with other similar institutions.

We are wrapping up the year but, more importantly, we are looking ahead to 2010! We already have exhibits scheduled for FEB/MAR and APR/MAY but we need your ideas for JUN/JULY. Please think about themes and/or jurors you would like to see and we will discuss them.

Also, we would like to discuss other Programming initiatives for next year and beyond. What Programs would you like? What speakers would you like to hear? What workshops would you like to attend?

If you are unable to attend and want your ideas heard please email me @ 51Deardorff@gmail.com. I will present them for you.

Remember, your voice is the voice of the Photo Alliance so come and be heard. We have a lot to do and it doesn’t get done without you! Look forward to seeing you there. There will be pizza; BYOB.

Thom Bennett

VP of Programming

Ann Schwab's jellies get Inside Art

From Inside Art New Orleans:

Ann Schwab has long explored the healing potential of the plant kingdom in her photography-based mixed media concoctions. Her delicate assemblages of wing-like maple seeds bound with thread to an encaustic base are visual parables of the tension between action and the quiescent repose of regeneration. It’s a theme that recurs in various works that pair broken limbs with verdant growth in a metaphor for trauma and regeneration in the plant kingdom. But Schwab takes a turn toward the wet and wild in her ULTRASOUND series of photographs of dramatically glowing jellyfish accompanied by a recorded sound loop of a child’s fetal heartbeat in the womb, a visual ode to the ocean as the amniotic sea from which earthly life was born. ~Eric Bookhardt

PURE: Photographic Mixed Media Works by Ann Schwab
Through October @ CoLAB Projects, 527 St. Joseph St., 566.8999

Frank Relle video

05am: Frank Relle from NOVAC on Vimeo.

"Over the summer, I had a chance to work with Vava Stojadinovic & Janneke Kupfer from Amsterdam on their City One Minutes video project. It was my first time integrating my photographs and video and I was seduced by the possibilities of music and movement. I shared the video on facebook and the response was positive so I look forward to hearing what you think." -Frank Relle

Kuler color palettes

Confused by color schemes in your work? Adobe has a free, community-based service that takes away the guessing and provides inspiration. Check it out.


Explore, create and share color themes
Discover Adobe® Kuler™ — the web-hosted application for generating color themes that can inspire any project. No matter what you're creating, with Kuler you can experiment quickly with color variations and browse thousands of themes from the Kuler community.

N.O. book project needs submissions

Press Street, a New Orleans-based literary and visual arts non-profit, is looking for photographs for a book project called How to Rebuild a City: Field Guide From a Work in Progress. The book spotlights the resilience and creativity of the citizens of New Orleans who have filled the civic voids left in the wake of the levee failures: those who hand-painted street signs, started or re-opened businesses against all odds, who tend our parks, re-forest our diminished urban canopy, clean our streets, lobby for stronger levees, and organize campaigns to counter crime and violence, artists and cultural institutions whose work helps people stay hopeful and engaged during the long and difficult reconstruction. Its design and tone is inspired by vintage how-to books and instructional manuals, but we are looking for images which portray the ground-up level of the recovery.

Our deadline is November 9th. Entries can be emailed as jpeg attachments, with a minimum 300 dpi to Anne Gisleson.

PPLA Winter Workshop

2009 Winter Workshop
- A Day with the Masters -
The basics of portrait lighting and posing

November 16, 2009 - 9:00am to 6:00pm
Embassy Suites - Baton Rouge, LA

Members: REGISTER ONLINE

Members - Only $59 includes Breakfast & Lunch
Non-Members - $99 - Become a member at Winter and
receive a $40 credit towards your membership.

Call 800-915-PPLA (7752) for info.

MIT's Frankencamera

The guys at MIT are in the process of creating a camera that performs "computational photography." It uses open-source software to do everything you've ever dreamed a camera should be able to do, but Nikon and Canon prevent for proprietary reasons. Basically, while those big guns are fighting it out over megapixel counts and single points like shutter speeds and ISO values, the MIT kids have scrounged together computer and camera parts off the shelf to construct a camera that gives you unlimited image options and does most of the work the second you snap the photo. You need HDR? It happens in-camera. Your focus was off? It's okay, you can fix it after you've taken the image.

This is where the technology is headed. Could we see open-source cameras that cost far less and perform better and offer far more than anything Nikon or Canon has put out? It's very possible. Whether it's something for the industry to be concerned about or to welcome with open arms remains to be seen.

Here's the word from Stanford University:

Stanford Report, August 31, 2009
Open-source camera could revolutionize digital photography
BY DAVID ORENSTEIN

Stanford scientists' open-source camera could change photography by giving programmers anywhere the power to change camera features and create new possibilities.

Stanford photo scientists are out to reinvent digital photography with the introduction of an open-source digital camera, which will give programmers around the world the chance to create software that will teach cameras new tricks.

If the technology catches on, camera performance will be no longer be limited by the software that comes pre-installed by the manufacturer. Virtually all the features of the Stanford camera – focus, exposure, shutter speed, flash, etc. – are at the command of software that can be created by inspired programmers anywhere. “The premise of the project is to build a camera that is open source,” said computer science professor Marc Levoy.

Computer science graduate student Andrew Adams, who helped design the prototype of the Stanford camera (dubbed Frankencamera,) imagines a future where consumers download applications to their open-platform cameras the way Apple apps are downloaded to iPhones today. When the camera’s operating software is made available publicly, perhaps a year from now, users will be able to continuously improve it, along the open-source model of the Linux operating system for computers or the Mozilla Firefox web browser.

From there, the sky’s the limit. Programmers will have the freedom to experiment with new ways of tuning the camera’s response to light and motion, adding their own algorithms to process the raw images in innovative ways.

Levoy’s plan is to develop and manufacture the “Frankencamera” as a platform that will first be available at minimal cost to fellow computational photography researchers. In the young field of computational photography, which Levoy helped establish, researchers use optics benches, imaging chips, computers and software to develop techniques and algorithms to enhance and extend photography. This work, however, is bound to the lab. Frankencamera would give researchers the means to take their experiments into the studios, the landscapes, and the stadiums.

For example, among the most mature ideas in the field of computational photography is the idea of extending a camera’s “dynamic range,” or its ability to handle a wide range of lighting in a single frame. The process of high-dynamic-range imaging is to capture pictures of the same scene with different exposures and then to combine them into a composite image in which every pixel is optimally lit. Until now, this trick could be done only with images in computers. Levoy wants cameras to do this right at the scene, on demand. Although the algorithms are very well understood, no commercial cameras do this today. But Frankencamera does....[more]

Atlanta Celebrates Photography

"Atlanta Celebrates Photography" is very active this week and deserves a shout-out from NOPA. I posted all the links just as they sent them. By the way, there's a link to a "Frankencamera" video there as well -- a creation from MIT that deserves its own post on this blog, IMO. That's next.


It's the start of another great week of photography events all over the city and beyond! Gregory Crewdson will be speaking on Thursday at the Rialto as part of the ACP 11 Lecture Series.

"...Crewdson has published several books of his photographs including Hover with ArtSpace Books, Dream of Life with the University of Salamanca, Spain, and Twilight with Abram. Most recently, Hatje Cantz published a book of his work entitled Gregory Crewdson from 1985 to 2005. Crewdson is Senior Critic in Graduate Photography at the Yale University School of Art."

In addition to Mr. Crewdson's lecture, the My Atlanta Book Fair makes its debut on Saturday. ACP is still seeking photographers who have published a book of their own work for this event. Please call or email ACP if you would like to learn more. The SPE Conference takes place Thursday through Sunday. Please check out the calendar of this week's events below, and we hope to see you out and about!

This Week With ACP - 10/12/2009

Wed: Artist Lecture from Paul Hagedorn
Thu: ACP 11 Lecture Series Presents Gregory Crewdson
Thu: Opening Reception at Picaflor for Kate Crosby
Thu: Opening Reception at Besherat
Thu: Opening Reception at Thomas Deans for Frank Hunter
Thu: Gallery Walk at Terminus
Thu: Mary Stanley Studio Obsession at Atlanta Botanical Garden
Thu-Sun: SPE Conference
Fri: Opening Reception for Jerry Siegel at Barbara Archer Gallery
Fri: Opening Reception for Susan Rosmarin at The Seen Gallery
Fri: Opening Reception for Greenshot at The Stacks
Fri: Artist Lecture from Parish Kohanim, Steve McCurry
Fri: Artist Lecture from Corey Daniels
Fri: Artist Lecture from Susan Harbage Page
Fri: Opening Reception for Sally Heller at Whitespace
Fri: Opening Reception for Chinese Photography at Georgia Perimeter
Fri: Opening Reception for Zhou Ning at Georgia Perimeter
Sat: ACP 11 My Atlanta Photo Book Fair
Sat: Opening Reception for SPE Crossroads at MOCA GA
Sat: Opening Reception at Mable House Arts Center
Sat: Westside Arts District Art Walk
Sat: Opening Reception at Composition Gallery
Sat: SCAD-Atlanta Photo Exhibition at Atlantic Station
Sat: Artist Lecture with Madison Artist's Guild
Sat: Gallery Crawl and Collecting Photography w/ Susan Todd Raque
Sat: Opening Reception for Gary Gruby at Dogwood Gallery
Sat: Artist Lecture from Jerry Siegel at Barbara Archer Gallery
Sat: LRLL RLRR performance at Saltworks
Sat: Artist Lecture from Jim Alexander
Sat: Free Darkroom Workshop at Photography Center

Atlanta Celebrates Photography (ACP) supports Atlanta's emergence as an international center for photography. Through an annual, October festival and year-round programs, ACP seeks to nurture and support photographers, educate and engage collectors, promote diverse photography venues, and enrich Atlanta's cultural scene. For more information, please see acpinfo.org

Two calls from Center for Fine Art Photography

Two final call for entries for The Center for Fine Art Photography:

New Visions: deadline Oct 20, 2009 at Midnight PST. Submission at www.c4fap.org

Thinking outside the box, New Visions will feature work that will test the limits, expose new ideas, and engage the viewer with contemporary photography. Alternative process, digital and traditional photography.

The exhibition is open to photographers world wide, both amateur and professional. The Center for Fine Art Photography invites photographers working in all mediums, styles and schools of thought to participate in its exhibitions. Experimental and mixed techniques are welcome.

Juror: Michael Itkoff


Portfolio Showcase, Volume 4, Book and Online Exhibition: deadline October 27, 2009, all submissions at www.c4fap.org

Fifteen photographers will be chosen to display their twelve-image portfolio in The Center for Fine Art Photography’s Portfolio ShowCase Volume 4: Book and Online Exhibition.

Juror: Katherine Ware

For more information contact the Center at 970 224 1010 or at our website.

La. Artworks Career Workshops, Oct. 23-25

The Professional Career Workshop For Artists (PCWA) is a three-day event which allows artists to meet with arts professionals from Louisiana and around the country for career guidance. Get answers and advice from the experts, as well as the chance to have your portfolio or laptop presentation reviewed. The target audience for this weekend is mid-career and emerging artists. Only $5.00 per day!

Friday, October 23, 2009: 3:00pm—9:00pm
Saturday, October 24, 2009: 10:00am--6:00pm
Sunday, October 25, 2009: 10:00am—5:00pm
Here: 725 Howard Ave. NO La

Be there for ArtStar, a networking party and open studio tour of Louisiana ArtWorks for all workshop participants AND the General Public, Saturday night, October 24 from 8:00pm—11:00pm. FREE!!

Expanded One-on-One Portfolio Reviews—Three sessions, one each day of the weekend. Pre-registration is required to participate in Portfolio Reviews. Please call the Louisiana ArtWorks office to register beginning Monday, October 19 at 11am.

Panelists include: Karen Atkinson, CalArts; Sean Elwood, Creative Capital; Gregory Volk, Art In America; Arthur Roger, Arthur Roger Gallery; Caitlin Strokosch, Alliance of Artists Communities; Herb Tam, Exit Art; Mark Dennis, Artist; Peter Frank, Riverside Art Museum; Ann Russo, Louisiana Division of the Arts; Tony Fitzpatrick, Artist; Joe Amrhein, Pierogi; and many others.

Workshop Topics include: Residencies for Artists; Managing an International Career; What is Current; Strengthening Your Portfolio; Established Artists Without Art School Degrees; Pricing Art; Time Management; Career Planning; Artists Contracts.

Advance Registration is required for Portfolio Reviews ONLY. Registration begins Monday, October 19th at 11am on a first come/first served basis. To register call 504-571-7373

To arrange an interview or photo shoot, please call Karen Louise Crain at 504-571-7373, or 504-723-6593, email her at klcrain@louisianaartworks.org.

14th Annual PCNW members juried exhibition

The Photographic Center Northwest invites you to participate in our 14th Annual Members' Juried Exhibition December 1- January 15, 2009.

You must be a current member or become a member of PCNW to participate (memberships are annual). First, second, and third prize winners will take home $175, $135 & $100 respectively. The awards will be presented at the artists' reception on Friday, December 4, 6-8 p.m. The competition is open to all photographic processes, all themes and photographers. The entry fee is $5 per jpeg. You may submit up to ten images total. You may not submit work that has been shown in past PCNW Members' Exhibitions. Entry fees are non-refundable. All entries must be received in an envelope by Friday, October 16th, 8 p.m. Selected artists will be notified by phone. A list of the selected artists will be posted at www.pcnw.org.

Note again that you have to be a member to participate. The min. is $20 for an "access" membership.

Ann Schwab's "PURE" exhibition online

CoLAB Projects invites all to view Ann Schwab's solo exhibition 'PURE' online. The exhibit runs until Oct. 31 at Beca Gallery.

"This current body of work - PURE - focuses on the regenerative, curative power of the natural world," says Schwab. "The exaltation of the humble, the reverence of the beauty and singularity of form and the evocation elicited by a site or entity are presented as a balm for healing from injury.

"My photographic work depicts different steps in the process of coping with physical and emotional trauma, the physical wounds often acting as metaphors for emotional ones. Depiction of uncomfortable, disquieting acts, evidence of the sources of strength within and the course of healing provide trauma and healing as the point and counter point in the stages of affliction and recovery." [more]

The exhibition in its entirety may be viewed online. A forthcoming companion exhibition book with an introduction essay by noted art critic D. Eric Bookhardt will be released on October 15, 2009.

Southern Photographers '09 extension

Due to scheduling conflicts with ACP events, we have received requests to extend the submission deadline for Southern Photographers '09. Our juror Lisa Hostetler has agreed to permit the extension date to be changed to 4:00 PM - Sat., Oct. 10. Consequently, the notification date of accepted entries has been rolled forward to Oct. 20.

Other than the extension and notification date changes, all other rules and requirements listed in the Entry Form remain in effect.

NOCCA's “On the Edge” gallery series

The NOCCA Institute is proud to announce the 2009 Visiting Artist I Exhibition, featuring works by Thomas Mann, Wallace Merritt, Gary Oaks & David Sullivan.

The opening reception for this show will be Thursday, October 8, 2009, from 6pm to 8pm, and the exhibition continues through November 27, 2009. Admission is free.

This exhibition -- the first in the 2009-10 "On the Edge" gallery series -- features two- and three-dimensional work in a variety of media by Thomas Mann, Wallace Merritt, Gary Oaks, and David Sullivan. Both the exhibition and the opening reception will take place in the Ken Kirschman Artspace on NOCCA’s campus at 2800 Chartres Street in New Orleans.

Gallery hours at NOCCA are Mondays through Fridays, 12pm to 6 pm, and Saturdays, 12pm to 3 pm.

Jonathan Traviesa @ the Front Gallery

Jonathan Traviesa invites all to join him at the Front Gallery, Oct. 10, 6-9pm, for his book signing and Portraits exhibition. He's offering the book at the "special economic meltdown price" of $20.

Art Egg for rent

NOPA member Dave Rodrigue notifies us that the Art Egg Building is hosting an open house this Sunday, Oct. 11, starting at 4pm. There's a darkroom and the building at 1001 South Broad Street is available as rental space. Email them for info.

Six Shooters - a moderated panel discussion

Wednesday, Oct 7, 2009
6-8pm
New Orleans Museum of Art

Free and open to the public

Six photographers from various disciplines will answer questions from moderator Tony Lewis, Louisiana State Museum's Curator of Visual Arts, about their creative processes, inspirations and intentions concerning their work. The six genres represented will be Fine Art, Documentary, Commercial, Editorial, Educational, and Photojournalism. Featuring: Jonathan Traviesa, Greg Miles, Victoria Ryan, Josephine Sacabo, Charlie Varley and Eugenia Uhl.

Shots magazine: 2009 portfolio issue submissions

SHOTS Magazine announces an international call for photographic work to be considered for publication in the ANNUAL PORTFOLIO ISSUE (Issue no. 106, Winter 2009). Subject matter is open. Please visit the SHOTS website for complete details and guidelines. Selected photographers will be interviewed and have their work featured on at least four pages in this issue.

An established independent photography journal in its 23rd year of publication, SHOTS Magazine reaches an international audience of photographers, collectors, galleries, museums, educators and other fine art photography enthusiasts. Don't miss this chance to have your work seen!

Online submissions are being accepted until November 2, 2009.

Caliente: Jose Torres Tama at NOPA gallery

Caliente: Jose Torres Tama at the New Orleans Photo Alliance from owen murphy on Vimeo.

This video was recorded at the Caliente exhibit opening at the NOPA Gallery, Aug. 6. It's a performance by the juror, José Torres-Tama. Footage by Owen Murphy.

The Spirit World: Juror's Choice Awards, Best in Show; winners announced

Ivy by Lori Vrba

For this award, the juror, Russell Joslin, chose photographers who he felt presented the strongest body of work, and ultimately, whose images he connected with the most. Joslin feels these winners were the most effective in conveying their ideas/vision consistently throughout the images they submitted.

Each winner receives a monetary prize from the New Orleans Photo Alliance.

First: Lori Vrba $250
Second: Cole Thompson $150
Third: Michael Donnor $100

The exhibit is on display at the NOPA Gallery October 1st- November 22nd. Gallery hours: Friday 3-6, Saturday and Sunday 12-4

INTERVIEW WITH ZACK SMITH

How do you describe your photographic style? I like to describe my style more or less as engaging environmental portraiture. Engaging in the idea that most often the portraits I do, they are looking at the lens. I want a powerful interaction between the end result viewer and subject. Yet as I include the environment around my subject and treat it as another subject, I am completing another triad of creative expression. The more popular being: the Photographer, the Subject, the Viewer. When I become the photographer and the viewer during my capture process and allow my subject to interact with the environment around us, then we have elevated the photographic process. 

When and how did you start your career as a professional photographer? I started my career about 6 years ago. I had been moonlighting for 2 years as a freelance photographer during my tenure as a full time employee at Lakeside Camera. Working non-stop days and nights for those years allowed for a final break with them around the end of 2003. I've been working for myself and handling a large workload of clients on many creative levels.        
Do you have a photographic hero or anyone who inspires you to make great photos? I pull inspiration from many different sources and people, depending on my situation. But most of all I would say Herman Leonard. I worked closely with Herman for a few years as his shooting and lighting assistant when he was living in New Orleans, and what I learned then, and continue to learn now, has inspired me in all aspects of my image making. From portrait lighting and the technical side of photography, to the delicate balance and relationship between photographer and model, Herman is by far the best and I was lucky to have worked with him.   
Besides your career as a photographer, you also teach photography, run a gallery and play music...what do you do in your spare time, if there is any? There really is not a lot of spare time in my life. I've tried to make time for things like relationships, vacations and such, but I try to fit them in when I can. Some with decent results, and some with the jury still out. I realized years ago that I had an uncanny energy to just keep going and doing, no matter what it was. I decided that the best thing for my life (and health) was to point it in the direction of the things that gave me the most joy: people, photography, music and sharing knowledge.  

Any advice you would share with student or beginning photographers? Most people have questions with the technical side of photography at first, and then when they figure out that this camera is just a box with buttons...they are lost again. People then look for creativity in themselves and can't find it...but I always remind them to shoot what you love, shoot what you know, and the creativity will follow.      What are you currently working on? Any upcoming shows, projects or news? I recently put up a new show of portraits at my gallery, and am working on shooting some new ones at this year's Voodoo Fest. I will probably compile a hard cover book of the portrait setups I've done over the years, there's some good ones.

I have also recently installed a collection of 20 large framed images in the newly opened Falstaff Residences in the old Falstaff Brewery. For a few months after the storm I had a key and would spelunk with my Hasselblad in and around the brew tanks and sketchy hallways. I ended up printing 10 images from this series with 10 of my favorite New Orleans images to complete the collection.      Another recent project...I photographed over 200 faces at a local rock show, with a light box I made from an old sign I found at the Green Project. I will be debuting the project, "Faces of Rock" at the Indie Rock Festival in November. These faces will be projected large scale at each venue, and each face will morph into the other on a repeat slide show type of thing. I am interested in exploring different facets of the music cultures of the city, but going against the way I normally photograph people: in this case, filling the frame with their faces and lighting it with the most unique light I can find, or create.      
Anything else we should know? I hope to photograph you soon!

Image titles in order of appearance:
Walter "Wolfman" Washington, Voodoo Fest, 2008, archival pigment print, ed. of 25
Carrollton Palm, 2006, New Orleans
Jazz Fest 2006, Indians
Clint Maedgen, Lake Pontchartrain, 2009, archival pigment print, ed.of 50

Ogden presents photos by Stanley Staniski

The Ogden Museum's photo exhibit, Stanley Staniski: On the Road with Benny Andrews, opens during Art for Art's Sake, 6-9pm, Oct. 3, in the museum's Stephen Goldring Hall.

Robert Hannant photos @ Guthrie Gallery

Check out Robert Hannant's Recent Photos exhibit, at Guthrie Contemporary Gallery [map] during Art for Art's sake tonight, 6-8 pm.

Spirit World reception shots

George Long's photos from the opening reception of Spirit World are online.

Michael P. Smith Fund Update

NOPA has received 40 applications for the 2009 Michael P. Smith Fund grant for documentary photography.
A three-person preliminary jury will be meeting in October to select up to 10 finalists, to be announced in late October. A selection of images from the finalists' portfolios will be published on the NOPA website.
The preliminary jury members are Roy Flukinger, Chandra McCormick and Kevin Miller.

ROY FLUKINGER, the Research Curator of Photography at the Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center at The University of Texas at Austin. He has published and lectured extensively in the fields of contemporary photography and the history of art and photography. To date he has produced or participated in nearly eighty exhibitions, including ''A Lewis Carroll Centenary'' and ''Visiones de Tejanos/Visions of Texans'', as well as such traveling shows as ''Eve Arnold: In Retrospect'' and ''The Formative Decades: Photography in Great Britain, 1839-1920''. Among his later publications are: ''Windows of Light'' and ''Photography: The First 150 Years.''

CHANDRA McCORMICK is a documentary photographer who chronicles the sociocultural aspects of human life. Born in New Orleans (1957), her career background includes photography, activism and history, which has given her a unique capability to focus on a range of subjects not commonly covered by other documentary photographers. McCormick is renowned for capturing many different aspects of New Orleans culture, as well as the lifestyles of her fellow New Orleanians. In addition to documenting the city's social and cultural history, McCormick has studied and documented religious ceremonies of the Spiritual Churches. She has also focused on African American laborers, such as sugarcane scrappers and sweet potato workers of rural Louisiana. She has produced an extensive body of work on Angola Prison, focusing on its incarcerated men and the impact of the prison system on their families; the work was featured in Aperture (Feb.2006).

KEVIN MILLER is the Director and Senior Curator of the Southeast Museum of Photography in Daytona, FL, on the campus of Dayton State College. It opened in 1992, and moved to a new facility (the Mori Hosseini Center) in 2007.The museum's permanent collection has "more than 3,500 photographs and includes work by William Klein, Sally Mann, Harry Callahan, Gordon Parks, Alfred Stieglitz, Edward Steichen, Paul Strand, Aaron Siskind and Robert Rauschenberg." It holds approximately 20 exhibitions per year.


JEFF L. ROSENHEIM, Curator in the Dept. of Photographs at The Metropolitan Museum of Art (NYC) will be the inaugural juror of the Michael P. Smith Fund for Documentary Photography (MPS Fund). The grant recipient will be announced during PhotoNOLA 09.

For more information contact Lori Waselchuk at MPSFund@neworleansphotoalliance.org