March 2005

Not just for toning anymore

The American Society of Media Photographers (ASMP) has teamed up with Adobe Systems Inc. (who brought you that handy-dandy little program, Photoshop) to create the "Adobe Photographers Directory". Those looking to hire photographers with "experience and competence" will have to look no further than Adobe's creative suite products for a list of candidates, broken down by location and specialty. And of course, "ASMP’s General members will be the charter photographers listed in this directory."

30 March 2005 by G.J. McCarthy

More winners

NPPA has released a full list of winners for The Best of Photojournalism 2005. Among the winners are APADers Scott Strazzante, Michael Laughlin, Lisa Krantz, Elaine Skylar, Armando Solares and Eric Schmadel (hope I didn't forget anyone!). Congrats to they and everyone else who placed this year.

26 March 2005 by G.J. McCarthy

In the Beginning

Sebastião Salgado's Migrations, or Exodus, as he prefers to call it, was a seven year project that took him to several contents as he photographed migrants fleeing ethnic and religious conflict and genocidal regimes. After witnessing so much suffering from behind his camera, he began to question his faith in humanity. Desparate to find something that would restore that faith, he has just begun work on what he's calling "Genesis." Some are saying it may be the last of his great photographic projects. And in it, he is seeking out places that are still as pristine as they were in primeval times, places that provide hope.

20 March 2005 by Melissa Lyttle

From their own mouths

Have questions about why judges from the 62nd annual POYi picked certain winners for certain categories? Audio snippets of their comments can now be heard on the contest's website for Newspaper and Magazine Photographers of the Year. Interesting stuff.

19 March 2005 by G.J. McCarthy

Lots to Look At

If you need a distraction from work today -- the winner's galleries are up for POY.

18 March 2005 by Melissa Lyttle

Greetings from Florida!

"Generations of Floridians have admired his portraits of bridges and beaches, pelicans and laughing gulls, manatees and alligators. His sunsets cause hearts to go pitty-pat." Tom Brown is probably the most published Florida photographer you've never heard of -- and generations of tourists have admired his work on postcard racks throughout the state. While it was once the calling card for the slightly mythical Florida of tourists' dreams. Now the digital age is eroding an industry and the career of a postcard virtuoso.

18 March 2005 by Melissa Lyttle

He has seen hell... and lived to tell about it

"I truly believed, deeply and passionately believed, that there existed a series of photographs, or a single photograph, that could end war. I wanted to find that one photo."

For anyone interested in covering international conflicts, this interview with Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer David Leeson is a must-read.

17 March 2005 by Melissa Lyttle

Winnner's are Up

The winner's list is online now for the 62nd annual POYi contest.

"Marcus Bleasdale, a photographer represented by the London-based Independent Photographers Group, won first place Magazine Photographer of the Year and Michael Macor, a San Francisco Chronicle staff photographer, was named Newspaper Photographer of the Year. Seamus Murphy of London won the World Understanding Award for his 10-year essay on the changes in the Afghan political scene and the 2004 elections. Judges' Special Recognition was given to Francine Orr of the Los Angeles Times and Janet Jarman, represented by Corbis. Carolyn Drake was named the Community Awareness Award winner for her work with the New York community of The Lubavitch, an ultra-orthodox Jewish group."

Congrats to all the winners.

14 March 2005 by Melissa Lyttle

Unphotographable

"This is a picture I did not take of a schoolgirl in blue plastic flip-flops, who ran past me on her way to school as I descended from the village of Asheta Maryam, Ethiopia, down a steep pitched trail of loose scree on which I dangerously slid every other step in my high-tech running shoes, eating her dust."

Unphotographable: "a text account of pictures missed" is to photography what the fish that was THIS BIG is to fishing. They both make for great stories with descriptive narratives, about something that wasn't.

10 March 2005 by Melissa Lyttle

AK47

AK47's new issue offers up some Snapshots of The Adventures of Guille and Beli who discover Dancers, Black Holes & Other Inconsistencies, while proving that One Man`s Waste is Another Man`s Want.

6 March 2005 by Melissa Lyttle

controversy behind curtains

"Anybody who knows the (Stewart) story and is familiar with Martha's current situation would know this particular picture was a "photo illustration," said Lynn Staley, Newsweek's assistant managing editor, defending their recent cover photo of Martha Stewart.

""The piece that we commissioned was intended to show Martha as she would be [when she emerges from jail in a few days], not necessarily as she is."

Now, am I the only one out there who thinks that the majority of Americans don't know the difference between a photograph and a photo illustration -- even when it's clearly labeled as such on a page of contents?? I also tend to believe that something blends the line between what's real and what isn't has no business masquerading as editorial content.

So, a big thanks to Newsweek for further helping to degrade the view of photojournalism in the public's eye. I aprreciate you making the jobs of those of us trying to tell the truth that much harder.

5 March 2005 by Melissa Lyttle

50 nifty...

50 States 50 Photographers

4 March 2005 by Melissa Lyttle

A storm is coming

Brian Storm is launching a new multimedia production studio entitled Mediastorm. The studio's goal is "to usher in the next generation of multimedia storytelling." With help from the likes of David Elliot Cohen, Rick Smolan, Robert Browman, among others I am sure it will be something great.

"Voices, MediaStorm’s flagship publication, will launch in the fall of 2005 as an eclectic showcase for multimedia storytellers - photographers, writers, radio reporters, and filmmakers - to connect with educated readers thirsty for well-produced, inspiring narratives. Our goal is to create epic productions, rich with detail, and timeless in their relevance. "

They are currently calling for submission, but hurry because the deadline is March 31.

3 March 2005 by Josh Ritchie

VII, a seminar

Would you like to spend two days with some of the most talented photojournalists in the world? Saturday and Sunday, April 16th and 17th, 2005 the photographers of VII: Alexandra Boulat, Ron Haviv, Lauren Greenfield, Gary Knight, Antonin Kratochvil, Joachim Ladefoged, Christopher Morris, James Nachtwey and John Stanmeyer will all be in one place at the same time.

The inaugural VII photo seminar will be in Boston and registration only costs $25 -- featuring presentations of work by all nine VII photographers, a panel discussion addressing current issues in photojournalism, screening of the film "War Photographer" and expert guest lecturers.

1 March 2005 by Melissa Lyttle