I was very excited to see some of my black and white images featured in an online photography magazine called The Velvet Cell. The publication is designed and produced by Eanna Freeney, a talented photographer based in London, who already has two photography exhibitions under his belt. The current issue is the third issue featuring international photographers Michael Delaney, Annette Pehrsson, Tim Bow and Debbie O’Donnell.

Eanna’s photography and design portfolio, along with Issues One and Two of The Velvet Cell can be found at www.thevelvetcell.com

That is the question posed by Tim Mantoani in the Photoshelter webinar “Focus on Your Passion: Finding Yourself in Photography”. During the video interview, Tim discusses his passion for photography and shares how shooting personal work has helped create his unique brand. His “Behind Photographs” project is a collection of images utilizing a 20″x24″ polaroid camera of venerable photographers who have captured some of the most iconic images of our time. To date, Tim has shot over 100 photographers, including Mary Ellen Mark, Jim Marshall , Nick Ut and Harry Benson.

Tim’s touching story of his battle with cancer and the effect on his attitude towards life and photography, exemplifies one of his quotes in the presentation – “find a way to make your glass half full”.

Focus On Your Passion: Finding Yourself in Your Photography from PhotoShelter.com on Vimeo.

I’ve been living in New York close on 15 years now, and I still love the snow. Fortunately, I don’t have to dig out a car or shovel a driveway, so my experience is that of pure pleasure and fun. There is something about the sound of snow crunching under my feet, and the tingle of the snowflakes brushing my face. Central Park and slopes around the city are abuzz with the laughter of children and swoosh of sleds. Ballfields buried under heavy snow become galleries for a myriad of snowmen. Snow brings a brief respite to the gloom of winter.

There are many amazing photographs capturing the beauty and ethereal feel of a blanket of pure white snow. Lisa M. Robinson’s ‘Snowbound’ images, featured on MediaStorm are simply stunning. The images were shot over a period of five winters from New York to Colorado.

Photographer: Lisa Robinson
Producer: Eric Maierson
Graphics: Jacky Myint
Executive Producer: Brian Storm

I’m in the process of sorting through my photographs and deciding which ones will make the cut for a print book. Boxes of images, some containing the occasional shoot that was a complete disaster…..clearly, a classic case of Murphy’s Law. (Those photographs will remain at the bottom of the box, never again to see the light of day). And then there are the shoots that effortlessly flow…..a creative collaboration at its best, when the stars and moon align. One such shoot for me was for the brilliant Australian hair stylist (and entrepreneur) Cleve McMillan . It was a day of inspiration, fun and a shared creative vision that perfectly flowed (well almost…..there was a minor disruption when a light fixture mysteriously fell off the wall). The location was a gorgeous home of an interior designer, filled with a treasure trove of stunning artwork, sculptures and antique furniture all bathed in a beautiful natural light. Combined with the talents of the model: Geraldine, make-up: Linda Jefferyes, stylist: Aly May, and hair: Cleve McMillan…..what more could one ask for. The photographs we produced are some of my all time favorites and will forever be preserved in both memory and print. More images from the shoot can be viewed in the fashion portfolio.

Yesterday I attended the ASMP ‘Copyright and the New Economy: Issues & Trends Facing Visual Artists’ seminar in New York. The event was part of ASMP’s initiative to encourage photographers to register their work, and explored the issues, challenges and trends associated with copyright. One thing was very clear. What constitutes copyright, specifically ”fair use”, is a complex, baffling issue, and the copyright law is in desperate need of a major overhaul to protect the use of photography in the digital age. Copyright tutorials and steps for registering works is available on the ASMP website.

The highlight of the day for me was a presentation by Brian Storm, president of MediaStorm regarding Storytelling in the Digital Age. MediaStorm is a multimedia publication that utilizes still photography, video, audio and animation to “publish diverse narratives that speak to the heart of the human condition”. MediaStorm uses all aspects of social media as a highly effective marketing tool, encouraging viewers to share videos by readily providing links and codes to embed in blogs and websites. One of the many powerful stories on the site is ‘Driftless: Stories From Iowa’ by photographer Danny Wilcox Frazier, documenting the struggles, isolation and tension of a group of people living in rural Iowa. I encourage you to check out the many amazing stories showcased on MediaStorm.

I haven’t as yet ventured into the world of video, however this beautiful short film by cinematographer Shane Hurlbut (cinematographer of Terminator Salvation) has inspired me to want to jump in and explore the possibilities. The main character, William Turner is a janitor whose seemingly mundane life is revealed through flashbacks in the last three minutes of his life. The film was shot with a Canon 5D Mark 11 utilizing the new Canon 5D firmware that enables 24 fps recording and an assortment of Canon L lenses. You can read more about the making of the film on Shane’s blog .

Director: Po Chan
Cinematographer and Executive Producer: Shane Hurlbut, ASC
Producer: Greg Haggart
Editor: Vashi Nedomansky

“The Last 3 Minutes” From Shane Hurlbut, ASC from Shane Hurlbut, ASC on Vimeo.

I came across the TED video of ‘Adora Svitak: What adults can learn from kids’ on John Paul Caponigro’s blog. (If you haven’t already, John Paul’s website is a great site to bookmark, full of lessons on technique and creativity ranging from color management, workflow, printing and writing to name a few. I attended one of his seminars on Photoshop Color Strategies at the PDN Photo Expo last October, and John Paul is an expert on color, and not just in a technical sense. As a photographer I prefer shooting black and white, but left the seminar with a new understanding and appreciation of color.)
I’ve often thought that children are our richest resource. Not in a monetary sense but in the way they enrich our lives. Despite the occasional frustrations of the tantrums, teenage years and defiance in trying to establish their identity and independence, children bring much joy, laughter and often wisdom into our lives. As parents/guardians, our love, guidance, nurturing of their creativity and encouragement of their dreams, is vital in helping children discover their potential and shine in their own unique way. In the words of Adora Svitak “It is imperative to create opportunities for children, so we can grow up and blow you away”.

The history of Valentine’s Day is shrouded in mystery. Yet every February, in most Western countries, cards, flowers and chocolates are exchanged between lovers all in the name of the mysterious St. Valentine. Other countries around the world have their own unique customs and meaning of Valentine’s Day. In Finland for example, Valentine’s Day is called Ystävänpäivä which translates into “Friend’s day”. The day is more about remembering all your friends, not only your loved ones. In Guatemala it is known as the “Día del Cariño”, “Day of the Affection” and in the Philippines, Valentine’s Day is called “Araw ng mga Puso” or “Hearts Day”. While the tradition and celebration of St. Valentine’s Day may vary around the world, the central theme is honoring friendship and love.

Love is another of life’s great mysteries. There are countless songs, books, poems and places that evoke the feeling and/or memory of romance and love. For me, one of those places is Paris. I took my daughter to Paris the year she turned sixteen and despite the cold and continual rain we both fell in love with the city and the joie de vivre of the people.
It is one of my dreams to one day pack my camera gear, move to Paris and capture the essence of Paris while sitting in a cafe perfecting my one and only phrase of French – café au lait s’il vous plaît.

To love, romance, friendship, and all the places and people in our heart………Happy Valentine’s Day.

I recently posted the photographs below to a group on Flickr; an image and video website used to share personal photographs. The following day I received an email informing me that I had been banned from the ………… group. No explanantion as to why, or the name of a contact if I chose to inquire, was provided in the email. I appreciate there are guidelines, but this felt somewhat drastic. Straight out of an episode of ‘Survivor’ [insert Jeff Proust's v/o here]. “The tribe has spoken……you have been banished from the group and must immediately return to your photostream“. What’s a girl to do? How does she console herself and gather the strength to carry the stigma of a lifetime Flickr group ban? With a couple of cherry pull-n-peel Twizzlers! My go to food whenever I’m faced with a crisis (or anytime with tea)!

So, here’s to not taking life, or ourselves too seriously.