Next stop: The Newseum
The Newseum: Celebrating the First Amendment
The Newseum, an interactive museum of news and journalism in Washington D.C., is dedicated to educating the public about the value of a free press in a free society. The museum tells the stories of the world's significant events in unique and engaging ways. Located just off Pennsylvania Avenue near the U.S. Capitol, it occupies a high-profile spot in a high-profile city.
As part of our ongoing collaboration with the AmericanPoverty.org photojournalism exhibit, we produced several large (48”x72”) mounted prints for a reception at the Newseum later this week. The images needed to be substantial because the reception hall is spacious, and visual impact is crucial. This exhibit aims to create momentum for the AmericanPoverty.org campaign moving forward.
These images feature a beautiful platinum print finish. Platinum prints, sometimes called platinotypes, are one of the oldest photographic processing techniques, offering the greatest tonal range of any printing method using wet chemistry development. In the digital age, platinum prints are replicated on the computer, yet they do an excellent job of recreating the original look.
2010 promises to see an acceleration of activity with Catholic Charities and AmericanPoverty.org.
Why don't you take a picture? It will last longer.
Capturing Moments Before They Disappear
For the humor-deprived, the title might seem borderline inappropriate, but it's actually quite fitting.
Photographers have a duty to document the world as it is. Many iconic pieces of our existence are vanishing, and once they're gone, they're gone forever. A drive-in movie theater, for example, lasts only as long as the economics of local development allow. Once the land becomes more valuable for another purpose, adios drive-in movie theater.
Pay attention to everything and take nothing for granted. Don't tell yourself that you'll take a certain photo someday. Take it today.
AmericanPoverty.org
AmericanPoverty.org Exhibit Kicks Off at Catholic Charities USA Annual Conference
Last week, Catholic Charities USA kicked off their annual conference in Portland, Oregon, with the large format photojournalism exhibit produced by the In Our Own Backyard photojournalism team. Entitled AmericanPoverty.org, this exhibit aims to raise awareness of people living in poverty in the United States. Catholic Charities has set an ambitious goal to reduce poverty in the United States by 50 percent by the year 2020. They understand that the only way to meet such an aggressive goal is to set the bar very high.
In Our Own Backyard is a team of skilled and seasoned photojournalists who have witnessed firsthand the struggles of extreme poverty in the United States. This team includes talented photojournalists such as Steve Liss, Jon Lowenstein, Brenda Ann Kenneally, and Eli Reed. They have crisscrossed the United States, capturing exactly what it means to be poor.
It has been a delight to be involved in this project. The deadlines were tight, and God bless overnight delivery. There are at least six more cities that will be hosting this exhibit over the next year, so we look forward to future involvement. Learn more about this large format photojournalism project at AmericanPoverty.org.
Panorama-rama
The Beauty of Panorama Photography
This time of year creates beautiful opportunities for panorama photography. The light is becoming longer, and the trees are just beginning to turn color. The Mississippi River, in particular, is a good panorama subject in this area because there are plenty of river bluffs to capture the wide expanse of the river.
The photo above was captured at Buena Vista Park above Alma, Wisconsin. It is a spectacular overlook. The weather was borderline inclement, which creates wonderful atmospheres for the camera lens.
This is a 4:1 print. Large format printing is ideal for a very narrow print like this. To really appreciate a print like this, it requires some height to the image, which means it will grow very wide, very fast. A 12" high print becomes a 48" wide print. Add some mat (typically 3" all around) and some moulding, and the overall image is nearly 5 feet wide. This is a 'high drama' image that demands attention as soon as you walk into the room.
In Our Own Backyard follow-up
In Our Own Backyard: U.S. Poverty in the 21st Century Exhibit Update
A little over a month ago, a prototype of the 2009-2010 traveling exhibit 'In Our Own Backyard: U.S. Poverty in the 21st Century' was unveiled at the College of St. Catherine in St. Paul, Minnesota. This was an opportunity to gauge reactions and measure the effectiveness of the message. Think of it as a preseason event before the annual Catholic Charities USA convention in Portland in September 2009.
Things have not slowed down since then. Details have been fine-tuned, and the new website can be found here. The tentative schedule for the traveling exhibit is:
September 24-29, 2009: Portland, Oregon
October 29, 2009: Sacramento, CA
January 21, 2010: San Antonio, TX
February 24, 2010: Atlanta, GA
March 8, 2010: Albany, NY
March 25, 2010: Nashville, TN
April 22, 2010: Cleveland, OH
April 29, 2010: Chicago, IL
Who photographs the photographer?
A Paradox
In a village, there is a very special barber. He has a sign in his window that says, “I cut the hair of everyone in the village who does not cut his own hair.” The question becomes: who cuts the barber's hair?
For the past several mornings, I have been getting up at 5 am to try and take a specific photo at sunrise, which is around 5:45 am (are you impressed yet?). This time of year, the sun rises directly to the east of The Eisenhower Bridge over the Mississippi River. At sunrise, the barge traffic begins moving for the day, heading northbound for the Twin Cities.
For those keeping score, The Eisenhower Bridge was dedicated in 1960 and is 1,631 feet long (1/3 mile). It is 35 feet wide (two lanes) and is 65 feet over the river.
The shot I wanted didn't happen today because of low clouds on the horizon. The early barge traffic was already on the move when the sun started to peek out, so things did not coordinate this time.
The shot above is the only shot of merit that I took. Pretty, but not what I needed or wanted.
I went home and then got to work the same morning when my friend Tim emailed me the following photos and asked me if I knew who was on the bridge (look closely). The first photo was taken within a minute after mine, judging by how his sun seems ever so slightly higher (factoring in the difference in height) and the wake from the fishing boat. The second photo was a minute later (I keep a corner of my eye on those oncoming tractor-trailer mirrors).
Above two photos courtesy of Tim Alms,
Back to the barber; we don't know who cuts his hair. It is a self-contradiction.
Does the barber cut his own hair? No, because the barber cuts only the hair of those who don't cut their own hair.
Does the barber not cut his own hair? No, because then the barber would have to cut his own hair, as he cuts the hair of those who don't cut their own hair.
Using an even more complex explanation, the barber is trying to be a part of his own set, those who do not cut their own hair. But the set cannot include the barber because he is the set. This is the contradiction.
The Red Wing Framing Gallery Panel Print
Introducing the Red Wing Framing Gallery Panel Print
For years, people have been wondering, "if they can put a man on the moon, why can't they put a print on a panel?"
Well, wonder no more!
Introducing the Red Wing Framing Gallery Panel Print.
It's a Panel! It's a Print! It's a Panel Print!
Starting with any digital photo, this innovative product ends with a full-bleed, UV-protected, 1/4" thick hardboard panel print that is pool-table flat and incredibly rugged!
The Panel Print features a linen laminate finish and a 1" reverse frame mount. This mount lays flat against the wall, while the print itself is elevated, creating a modern 'drop-shadow' effect.
Available in any size or aspect ratio (perfect for panorama photographs), it has become particularly popular among photographers who appreciate its contemporary look. It's also ideal for commercial projects that are restricted from using glass or need to cover large wall surfaces, yet still want to project elegance and creativity.
Call the shop today at 1-651-385-0500 to create your own art from your own images!
Now, back to the regularly scheduled programming.