Month: July 2009

Photographers Are A Threat Apparently

Photo District News blog PDN Pulse has this report and link to the FOX video of  the U. S. Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano asking people to report suspicious photographers. Here’s part of  a quote from her : “One of the things that we ask people to do is when they see something unusual, if they see, for example, somebody continually taking photographs of …

Erica McDonald – Scribbling In The Dark

Last week I mentioned how amazing it’s become online with all the great sites and posting where you can read/listen and watch posting/stories/videos about photography and photographers. A former student, Byron Fry thoughtfully sent me this link of interviews and talks that is quite extensive. I’ve also taken a look at New York photographer Erica McDonald’s collection of her observations at photographer’s talks she’s attended. …

Time Pays $30 For Photo Today – Robert Frank Got $50 in 1947

There’s been a lot of talk in the online photo world the past week or so regarding the fact that a recent Time magazine cover consisted of a $30 iStock photo  (story here) and how it’s yet another indicator of the challenges of making a living in today’s media world. I was reminded of this story while rereading the 1984 Patricia Bosworth biography of Diane …

Learning Photography Online

Students often ask where they can go to add to their knowledge when classes are done and many online sites are obvious recomendations. The past few weeks I’ve had the opportunity to revisit some favourite sites as well as take a look at some new offerings. Lens Culture hosts a great site but I’ve never checked out their collection of audio interviews before. I really …

Rowan The Strange Cover

The cover for Julie Hearn’s book Rowan The Strange is a photo I took several years ago of my youngest son.  It’s always great to get an image published somewhere different and while I’ve had my own books published and have had a number of writer portraits used for book covers this is the first book cover from a photograph of mine. The image was …

Ninety year old photographers, Photo-Snobism and more

The New York Times has a feature on 92-year-old fashion photographer Lillian Bassman and an obituary for 98-year-old architectural photographer Julius Schulman. Spacing Toronto on taking photographs of events from the photographer’s balcony. A feature on Magnum’s Susan Meiselas at artdaily.org. Interesting piece from Thoughts of a Bohemian on photo-snobism. Dirck Halstead at the always interesting Digital Journalist revisiting the death of photojournalism An important …

Timothy Findley – Portrait with a wine glass

Sometimes you don’t need a face for a portrait. I had photographed the late Timothy Findley for my first book First Chapter and following that photo session he sat down for an interview and lunch with then Calgary Herald books editor, now best selling author in his own right, Ken McGoogan. I joined the pair and Findley’s partner Bill Whitehead and continued to take a …

Websites, Red Cross, Short Lists and other stories

Smashing magazine has a list of 35 great websites by photographers. Have a look and judge for yourself. The Times features a story on 150 years of photographs for the Red Cross. The shortlist for the 2009 Prix Pictet, the world’s photography award for environmental sustainability has been announced. Two canadaians made the list, Ed Burtynsky and Christopher Anderson. Brett Beadle update from Africa.

Photo Story Roundup

78 Photography Rules for Complete Idiots -funny St. Petersburg Times  photog Melissa Lyttle uses her  iPhone for Weekend Magazine feature. Sacramento photographer Doug Biggert has a local exhibit of his hitchiker photos. He’s exhibited and better known overseas than at home. The story here. Maisie Crow wins Ian Parry Scholarship. The Telegraph on the ongoing police vs photographer battle in Engalnd over who can photograph …