FOTO+ART PROJX // ORANGE ALLOY

Inspiration

2012-01-11T17:39:00.000-05:00

"Obstacles are those frightful hings you see when you take your eyes off your goals." Sydney Smith

Inspiration

2012-01-04T17:37:00.000-05:00

"You must have long term goals to keep you from being frustrated by short term failures." Unknown

As we begin 2012, what goals have you set for yourself? Remember to break them down into actionable steps.

Inspiration

2011-12-28T17:36:00.000-05:00

"The important thing is not to stop questioning." Albert Einstein

F Stop Magazine New Call for Entries

2011-12-21T20:39:00.003-05:00

F Stop Magazine ISSUE #51: The Portrait - February/March 2012

What makes a portrait a portrait? How is it different from a snapshot, still life or a landscape? Do we learn who a person is from a portrait or do we learn more about the photographer? The portrait is the subject of issue #51.

Submit up to 12 images following the guidelines. Images must be received by January 15.
Issue #51 will have an expected publication date of February 1, 2012. Only one submission per person for an issue.

Inspiration

2011-12-21T17:35:00.001-05:00

"An artist cannot fail, it is a success to be one." Charles Horton Cooley

Advice from Seth Godin

2011-12-21T10:24:00.000-05:00

Well rounded (and the other)

Well rounded is like a resilient ball, rolling about, likely to be pleasing to most, and built to last.

The opposite?

Sharp.

Sharp is often what we want. We don't want a surgeon or an accountant or even a tour guide to be well rounded. We have a lot of choices, and it's unlikely we're looking for a utility player.

Well rounded gives you plenty of opportunities to shore up mediocrity with multiple options. Sharp is more frightening, because it's this or nothing.

Either can work, but it's very difficult to be both.

Competitions, Calls for Entry

2011-12-19T12:13:00.005-05:00

Shots Magazine: Spring Issue 2012
Theme: Earth, Fire, Water, Air/Wind
Deadline: 2/1/2012
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Sony World Photo Organization
Theme: Moving Image
Deadline: 1/4/2012
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FMOPA Photography Competition
Theme: Digital
Deadline: 12/31/11
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International Art Expo
Theme: Hidden & Forbidden Identities
Deadline: 01/09/12
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The Center for Fine Art Photography
Theme: Black & White
Deadline: 01/25/12
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Jennifer Schwartz Gallery
Theme: Lust
Deadline: 01/16/12

The Elevator Pitch According to Seth Godin

2011-12-19T12:10:00.002-05:00

"The purpose of an elevator pitch isn't to close the sale.

The goal isn't even to give a short, accurate, Wikipedia-standard description of you or your project.

And the idea of using vacuous, vague words to craft a bland mission statement is dumb.

No, the purpose of an elevator pitch is to describe a situation or solution so compelling that the person you're with wants to hear more even after the elevator ride is over." Seth Godin

click here for more from Seth Godin

Inspiration

2011-12-14T17:33:00.000-05:00

"Never be afraid to ask questions, especially of yourself. Discovery is the mission of life." Brian Kates

Inspiration

2011-12-07T17:30:00.000-05:00

"Throughout the centuries there were men who took first steps, down new roads, armed with nothing but their own vision." Ayn Rand

Inspiration

2011-11-30T17:29:00.000-05:00

"A philosophy of life: I'm an adventurer, looking for treasure." Paulo Coelho

Inspiration

2011-11-23T17:26:00.000-05:00

"The master of the art of living makes little distinction between his work and his play, his labor and his leisure, his mind and his body, his education and recreation, his love and his religion. He hardly knows which is which; he simply pursues his vision of excellence in whatever he does, leaving others to decide whether he is working or playing. To him he is always doing both." Buddha

How are you pursuing your vision of excellence?

Inspiration

2011-11-16T17:23:00.000-05:00

"A leader will find it difficult to articulate a coherent vision unless it expresses his core values, his basic identity. One must first embark on the formidable journey of self-discovery in order to create a vision with authentic soul." Mihaly Csikszentmihaly

How is your vision connected to your core values?

Inspiration

2011-11-09T17:21:00.000-05:00

"Vision without a task is only a dream. A task with out vision is but drudgery. But vision with a task is a dream fulfilled." Anonymous

What is your vision and what is the next step you need to take to fulfill it?

Happy creating!

Inspiration

2011-11-02T17:19:00.001-04:00

"My last word is that it all depends on what you visualize." Ansel Adams

What's on your creative mind?

John Baldessari - LACMA

2011-10-31T19:34:00.004-04:00

As I was finally downloading images from my cellphone I came upon a John Baldessari at LACMA pic that I love:
TIPS FOR ARTISTS WHO WANT TO SELL...

"I guess a lot of it's just lashing out, because I didn't know how to be an artist, and all this time spent alone in the dark in these studios and importing my culture and constant questions. I'd say, 'Well, why is this art? Why isn't that art?'" John Baldessari

Inspirations - Feed Your Head

2011-10-28T18:14:00.000-04:00

Along with the informative posts on TED, another great source of inspiration is PopTech.

Their tag line is "We're a global community of innovators, working together to expand the edge of change". Wikipedia states: PopTech is a nonprofit open innovation laboratory and network of thought leaders who are dedicated to finding, incubating and accelerating ideas, people and projects that change the world. PopTech consists of a global community of cutting-edge leaders, thinkers, and doers from many different disciplines, who come together to explore the social impact of new technologies, the forces of change shaping the future, and new approaches to solving the world’s most significant challenges.”

Short, quick videos that inform and inspire.

Competitions, Calls for Entry

2011-10-27T20:37:00.002-04:00

Center for Photography

Theme: Home

An individual's connection to Home is highly personal; nonetheless, the concept of Home is shared among all people. Understanding how others define Home strengthens our human connections. Home: Universal. Ubiquitous. Unique.

Entries due: November 16, 2011

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The 2011 PORTFOLIO ISSUE

Submit a cohesive series or a selection of your best images. Photographers selected for inclusion will be interviewed for publication and featured on at least 4 pages in this annual edition of SHOTS.

* CLICK HERE FOR GUIDELINES *

All submissions must be received by November 1, 2011

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AF ANNOUNCES NEW PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION SERIES

THE ARTISTS FORUM (AF) invites all emerging and established artists to participate in its second annual photography competition: THE ARTISTS FORUM INTERNATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION (AF-IPC2)

AF-IPC2 THEME: “PASSION”

LOG ON TO ENTER: www.theartistsforum.org/forms/afipc2entry.pdf

or www.theartistsforum.org/forms/afipc2entry.doc

CONTEST DEADLINE: JANUARY 31, 2012

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OPEN CALL FOR GALLERY EXHIBITIONS!

SUBMIT 3 IMAGES FOR $20 OR 5 IMAGES FOR $30
25 CATEGORIES - 25 WINNERS

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CALL FOR ENTRIES:
2012 CCNY Darkroom Residency Program
Application Deadline: December 1, 2011
CCNY invites emerging photographers living in New York City to apply for the 2012 Darkroom Residency Program.
The CCNY Darkroom Residency offers local photographers much-needed workspace in New York City as well as access to the CCNY community and programs.

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Deadline for Submissions: January 7th 2012.
Juror: Jennifer Blessing, Curator of Photography Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum

The Viridian Artist's Gallery is pleased to announce an open call for applications to their 2nd Annual National - International Juried Photography Exhibition.

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Sony World Photography Awards 2012 - Open Competition Entry Close: 1/4/2012
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ONWARD Compé is Project Basho's annual international photography competition for emerging photographers.
Deadline 11/28/11
Download ONWARD Compé '12 Guidelines
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2011 "Abandoned" Photo Contest Sponsored by Profotio

Profotio announces our current call for entry "Abandoned".
Entry Deadline: November 18, 201
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Call for Entries: SuperMassiveBlackHole "Alternative Vision"
DEADLINE: November 30, 2011 For more info: www.supermassiveblackholemag.com/
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Method Art Gallery
Call for Entries “Searching for the Perfect Storm”
Deadline for applicants is November 24th, 2011.

Insight from Seth Godin

2011-10-27T19:48:00.000-04:00

Skinnier

"So many things that would have been money losers then can be profitable today.

When you run your own concert, selling tickets online and renting the theatre out yourself, you might be able to keep 85 cents of every dollar your audience spends on a ticket. In the current system, by the time the box office, Ticketmaster, the stagehands, the promoters and everyone else takes a cut, you might end up with literally nothing.

Or consider a hardcover book that costs $20. By the time the bookstore keeps half, the publisher keeps a share for the risk she takes, and don't forget shipping and returns... there might only be $2 left for the author. With an ebook, the author might keep as much as $14 a copy... More if he hosts the store and sells it as a PDF.

A hairdresser with direct relationships with customers can give up the storefront location and make more money by charging less and cutting the hair in her home.

A newspaper can happily support a few reporters and an ad guy if it gives up the paper, the offices and the rest of the trappings.

Too often, we look at the new thing and demand to know how it supports the old thing. Perhaps, though, the question is, how does the new thing allow us to think skinnier."

Inspiration for Motion

2011-10-27T18:03:00.000-04:00

Check out DEVOUR, a great source of inspiration for those of you wanting to shoot motion.

Inspiration

2011-10-26T17:17:00.001-04:00

"The visionary is the one who brings his or her voice into the world and who refuses to edit, rehearse, perform or hide. It is the visionary who knows that the power of creativity is aligned with authenticity." Angeles Arrien

How are you visionary?

Citizen Journalism

2011-10-26T07:54:00.000-04:00

Two new sources for citizen journalism:

Tackable: Share and explore live photos and media around the world.

Tackable is a live media map of the world. Shoot live photos and video with the Tackable iPhone app, and post them on a live, public map of the world. Spin the globe and zoom into any neighborhood, to see the live media being created there right now.

Maybe you want to see something specific. Create a media assignment, and drop it on the map. People near the assignment will send you media directly.

Scoopshot: is a mobile platform enabling global crowdsourced photojournalism. The app lets photographers choose what to charge for their pictures, create professional portfolios, and receive global coverage.

From Seth Godin

2011-10-25T19:44:00.001-04:00

Yelling and whispering

Have you ever encountered a really stressed, undertrained gate agent at an airport? She starts yelling into the microphone, strangling her words and insisting, demanding and EMPHASIZING just how urgent it is that David Johnson come to the gate immediately...

It doesn't work, because we shut her out. Like a toddler ignoring his ever more insistent parent, it's so easy to turn off the yelling. Just as we ignore the all caps emails, the flashing banner ad and the sirens in New York.

As a marketer, you resort to yelling more often than you should. There's an alternative...

Whispering piques our interest and demands our attention. Yelling, on the other hand, is a waste of time, regardless of how urgent the issue is.

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How are you whispering your vision...

Inspiration

2011-10-20T17:31:00.000-04:00

"Customer expereince is the new advertising department." Max Kalehoff

Inspiration

2011-10-19T18:11:00.000-04:00

"When all your decisions are based on economics, you end up with a sameness of vision. You're not taking the risks, you're not exploiting the passions of your creators. You're manufacturing product for a huge vending machine." Steven Bocho

This quote hangs in my office, and has since I was a filmmaker. I ask myself, and now you, what are you manufacturing? Hopefully not art for a vending machine.

Been Away... New Creative Energy

2011-10-19T17:14:00.002-04:00

I've been remiss in posting... took August off to recharge and found myself thoroughly immersed in a challenging project - and I love challenges!

The Academy of Art University has asked me to write the curriculum for a course on Sales and Marketing for Photographers. This daunting, invigorating task has lit new creative energy for me which I will be sharing the fruits of very soon.

London Intl Creative Competition

2011-07-29T15:59:00.001-04:00

Final deadline 8/1
More Info

CENTER - Opportunities

2011-07-29T15:56:00.001-04:00

UPCOMING OPPORTUNITIES

SANTA FE WORKSHOPS // CALL FOR ENTRIES

Jurors include Kathy Ryan, Director of Photography, New York Times Magazine; Scott Thode, Editor-in-Chief, VII Magazine; Katherine Ware, Curator of Photography, New Mexico Museum of Art and more. Early submission discount $30 for 3 photos if you apply by July 24, 2011.

Deadline: September 21, 2011

Learn more

PDN - The Scene - Call for Entry

2011-07-29T15:52:00.001-04:00

Event and Nightlife Photo Contest
Deadline: 8/1
More Info

Center for Photography - Call for Entry Portfolio Showcase

2011-07-29T15:50:00.000-04:00

PORTFOLIO SHOWCASE VOLUME 5

ENTRIES DUE SEPTEMBER 14, 2011

ONLINE EXHIBITION NOVEMBER 30, 2011

BOOK RELEASE AND RECEPTION JANUARY 2012

THEME There is no theme for this exhibition. The images will be evaluated as a cohesive body of work, rather than individual images. Fifteen photographers will be chosen to display their twelve-image portfolios in the Center's Portfolio ShowCase Volume 5 book and online exhibition.

JUROR CHRIS PICHLER

is the founder and publisher of Nazraeli Press. Based in Portland, Oregon, Nazraeli Press publishes books specializing in contemporary photography.

MORE INFO

Center for Photography - Call for Entry

2011-07-29T15:47:00.002-04:00

DREAMS
ENTRIES DUE AUGUST 9th, 2011
EXHIBITION DECEMBER 2, 2011 - JANUARY 7, 2012
THEME: Dreams are a creation of images, ideas, sensations and emotions that occur in our conscious and subconscious mind. They can be the manifestation of our aspirations, goals and fears both realistic and fantastic.
JUROR ALINE SMITHSON
Aline Smithson has been the Gallery Editor for Light Leaks Magazine, writes and edits the blog, Lenscratch, and has curated exhibitions for many galleries and online magazines. Smithson is a national reviewer of photography and is a contributing writer of Diffusion, Too Much Chocolate, Lucida, and F Stop Magazine. MORE INFO

F Stop Magazine New Call for Entries

2011-07-29T15:44:00.001-04:00

ISSUE #49: Portfolio Issue - October/November 2011

Issue #49 is a Portfolio Issue.
Submit a complete body of work (12-20 images) along with your artist statement following the guidelines below.
Images must be received by September 15, 2011. Issue #49 will have an expected publication date of October 1, 2010. Only one submission per person for an issue.

When is it Due? Seth Godin

2011-07-27T16:16:00.000-04:00

When is it due?

"Here's the schedule. Follow it.

There's your in box. Empty it.

When something is imminent, speed up. When you're off the deadline machine, take a breath and poke around a bit, explore, relax.

Nonsense.

The goal isn't to do work and hand it in just before it's due. The goal is to do the work as beautifully as you can, faster than anyone else, so you can do more work.

If it takes a deadline to get you off your butt and to push past the resistance, then move the deadlines forward.

You don't work on an assembly line any more. You work in project world, and more projects mean more chances to screw up, to learn, to make a reputation and to have more impact.

When it's you against the boss, the goal is to do less work.

When it's you against the project, the goal is to do more work." SETH GODIN

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This post made me think that we are all editors now. We have to decide what to post next, what to create next, what to share with our audience next, what to launch next... Follow your voice and vision and share it - make it a valid, interesting communication with your audience. Frame your marketing as artists in support of your vision. The goal is to communicate, and say what you mean.

Happy Creating!

The Grateful Dead - Seth Godin

2011-07-26T16:06:00.000-04:00

The Grateful Dead and the Top 40

"I wonder if Jerry ever got jealous of acts that were able to put songs on the radio. (The Dead had exactly one hit record...)

I hope not. Jerry was in a different business. Sure, he played music. Elton John also plays music. But they were in different businesses, performing for different audiences, generating revenue in different ways, creating different sorts of art.

In a world filled with metrics and bestseller lists, it's easy to decide that everyone is your competitor and easier still to worry about your rank. Worry all you want, but if it gets in the way of your art or starts changing your mission, it's probably a mistake.

It used to be that the non-customers, passers-by and quiet critics of your venture were totally invisible to you. They drove by, or muttered under their breath or simply went to someone else. Now, all is visible. Just because you're vividly aware of your shortcomings in market share doesn't mean it's important.

The next time you have a choice between chasing the charts (whichever charts you keep track of) and doing the work your customers crave, do the work instead." SETH GODIN

Dangerous - Seth Godin

2011-07-25T15:54:00.003-04:00

The post below by Seth Godin resonated with me as we always aspire to great work. When Hannes and I consult with potential clients we try to deliver more than what's expected, we strive for excellence in every interaction. As a consultant I ask of my clients to deliver the same, to use every interaction to showcase your unique brand/vision. Seek out a small, tight "tribe" of potential clients, people creating work that is in line with your unique vision. Find a story you want to share, make imagery that resonates, and make stories that work. And then share, on a consistent basis, giving more to exceed their expectations.

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Dangerous (in a good way)

"A path on the way to building a reputation:

When someone asks you a question, they get an answer bigger than they ever expected.
When someone gives you a project, they get a plan scarier than they hoped for.
When you take on a project, you finish it.

If this is your reputation, what sort of projects and gigs will you find yourself getting? Not a good way to fit in, but an excellent way to be the one people seek out."

Marketing Tips from Seth Godin

2011-07-16T09:32:00.000-04:00

Unbetterable

The two best ways to break through a rut and to make an impact:

Find things that others have accepted as the status quo and make them significantly, noticably and remarkably better.
Find things that you're attached to that are slowing you down, realize that they are broken beyond repair and eliminate them. Toss them away and refuse to use them any longer.

When a not-so-good software tool or a habit or an agency or a policy has too much inertia to be fixed, when it's unbetterable, you're better off without it. Eliminating it will create a void, fertile territory for something much better to arrive.
Seth Godin

Marketing Tips from Seth Godin

2011-07-15T09:30:00.000-04:00

Give and get

The stability, power and longevity of a tribe is directly related to the way it is treated by its members.
When many of them seek to take, to enrich themselves and to find a loophole or advantage, the group is weakened.
Culture and management are not the same thing--when we strengthen our organization, when we encourage and respect our fellow employees, management follows. Group up, not top down.
Society and government are not the same thing either. The tribe we get is the tribe we build.
I don't think we can abdicate our responsibilities within a tribe to the leader.
The opportunity is simple: the more each individual gives, the more each of us end up getting.
Seth Godin

Marketing Tips from Seth Godin

2011-07-13T09:27:00.000-04:00

Time for a workflow audit

Go find a geek. Someone who understands gmail, Outlook, Excel and other basic tools.
Pay her to sit next to you for an hour and watch you work.
Then say, "tell me five ways I can save an hour a day."
Whatever you need to pay for this service, it will pay for itself in a week. Seth Godin

SHOTS Magazine

2011-07-11T21:22:00.000-04:00

SHOTSMagazine announces an international call for photographic work to be considered for publication in the Autumn 2011 issue (no. 113). The theme for this issue is SELF PORTRAITS. Please visit the SHOTS website for further information and guidelines.

Deadline 8/1/11

F Stop Magazine New Call for Entries

2011-07-11T21:18:00.000-04:00

Submit work to F-Stop Magazine's upcoming issues!

We are currently seeking submissions for the following issues:

ISSUE 48: Relations - August/September 2011 DEADLINE: July 15, 2011
ISSUE 49: Portfolio Issue - October/November 2011 DEADLINE: September 15, 2011

Fotofest 2012 Biennial - Meeting Place

2011-07-11T20:41:00.001-04:00

Welcome to the FotoFest 2012 Biennial Meeting Place Portfolio Review in Houston, Texas.

If you are curious as to why we call our portfolio review program "The Meeting Place", it's because the Meeting Place presents the opportunity for photographic artists to meet and show their work to top arts professionals from around the world. The event is literally a "meeting place" - a place where artists, arts professionals, collectors, and colleagues are able to network, collaborate, share ideas, and establish life-long connections.

Whether you are looking for practical results or feedback on a work in progress, the Meeting Place provides the opportunity to present your portfolio to a wide range of decision-makers who can help assist you in your future career development. This may mean an exhibition, purchase of your work, an arts residency, or the publication of your work in a magazine or book.

We invite some of the most important people in the field of photography from all over the world to come to Houston and review registered artists' portfolios. Reviewers include museum curators, gallery owners, directors of non-profit organizations, magazine editors, representatives of photography agencies, collectors and publishers. See the current list of confirmed 2012 reviewers here.

Early registration ends 7/14/11

London Intl Creative Competition

2011-07-11T20:37:00.001-04:00

LICC invites passionate visual artists, regardless of experience or nationality, to submit their innovative artwork for inclusion in the LICC competition. The artwork is juried by a board of internationally esteemed artists, writers, curators, gallery owners and other luminaries of the visual arts. The jury-selected Final Selection and Shortlist will be published in the LICC Annual Awards Book, on this website and will be announced to the creative arts and media outlets worldwide.

The 15 Final Selection winners will recieve the LICC trophy and their work will be presented at the LICC awards ceremony in London, one prize-winner will be chosen by the jury to receive the £2,000 cash prize.

Deadline: 8/1/11

Rejection

2011-06-12T13:47:00.002-04:00

Art is subjective... it's my partner's favorite statement about the business of art. What appeals to him, may not appeal to me and vice versa. Rejection is not about you.

Here's a recent post from Seth Godin:

How else are you supposed to take it?

"Don't take it personally."
This is tough advice. Am I supposed to take it like a chair? Sometimes it seems as though the only way to take it is personally. That customer who doesn't like your product (your best work) or that running buddy who doesn't want to run with you any longer...
Here's the thing: it's never personal. It's never about you. How could it be? That person doesn't truly know you, understand what you want or hear the voices in your head. All they know is themselves.
When someone moves on, when she walks away or even badmouths you or your work, it's not personal about you. It's personal about her. Her agenda, her decisions, her story.
Do your work, the best way you know how. Is there any other option?"

I agree with this philosophy wholeheartedly. We all have our own unique point of view, follow your passion!

Happy Creating!

Marketing Tips from Seth Godin

2011-06-09T13:39:00.000-04:00

Marketing to nobody

"Nobody wears a watch any more.

Nobody wears a tie either.

Nobody shops at a bookstore, at least nobody I know.

The market of nobody is big indeed. You can do really well selling to nobody if you do your homework. In fact, most companies selling to nobody outperform those that are trying to sell to everyone." Seth Godin

I support this point of view as I recommend that creators market their art to specific segments of the marketplace. Do the homework of creating a targeted marketing list - research your potentials client list, how does your art coincide with the work the agency, corporation or firm is creating?

It's a bad habit to market widely - like throwing spaghetti against the wall and seeing what sticks - you will end up alienating someone who doesn't relate to your art, and that mistake circulates quickly through the industry... ex: your a portrait photographer and you send to everybody on your list, even the firms that work with the car industry...

So even though it feels like more work to do the research for your marketing list - in the long run you will get better returns and feedback.

Happy Creating!

"8 Things You Can Learn About Success from Lady Gaga" from Fast Company

2011-05-29T17:45:00.000-04:00

Written for Fast Company is a great post/article that gently reminds us what is needed to be a successful artist. I'm a fan of Lady Gaga she's a great example of how personal vision, networking and marketing can manifest one's creative dreams.

Enjoy!

Business Ethics in Marketing

2011-05-18T12:28:00.000-04:00

It is often stated that there must be 7 imprints of a brand to have an impact on a consumer. Think about how you as a consumer purchase new products...

As business entrepreneurs we need to have 7 imprints or impressions with our end users before they become aware of our services and creativity.

There is no second chance to make a first impression! So do the research, the legwork, to craft a great targeted message. Value your potential clients, let them know that! Personalize a card, preferably a card with your imagery on the front - thank them for a meeting, conversation, etc. Remember that quality is tantamount as well as perceived value/usage. Consistency in delivering your art and message... And in a phone conversation adjust yourself to the personality of the recipient. Use social media to connect - facebook fan page, linked-in, etc. Create direct mail pieces that have impact to get you the face-to-face meeting.

Happy Creating!

Success Tips

2011-05-17T16:26:00.000-04:00

There are a few key things you can do to build your business:

Follow your Passion
Read, learn, explore all you can about your passion

Read the headlines, seek inspiration

Network - relationships are everything

Send an email or note everyday to one person who can hire you. Send them an inspiration, a follow-up, a link, or simply say Hi! Handwritten notes in this digital world are especially standouts!
Touch base with an old friend, associate or former client - ring the phone, even if you get voicemail it's still a personal touch.

Wake up early, seize the day - and don't procrastinate.

Share your art, vision and vitality!

Competitions, Calls for Entry

2011-05-11T21:16:00.000-04:00

The Center for Photography
Theme: Food
Juror: David Bram
Deadline: 5/17/2011

Theme: Art in Nature
Juror: Nick Brandt
Deadline: Early Submission: 5/25 Final Submission: 6/8
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PX3 Prix de la Photographie
Deadline: 5/15/2011
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Le Book Connections
New York
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The Art of Photography Show
Deadline: 5/17
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Photography Masters Cup
Deadline: 5/20

Photo Project - TED Prize Winner 2011

2011-05-11T20:25:00.000-04:00

INSIDE OUT
Wishes Big Enough to Change the World

Create a large-scale participatory art project that transforms messages of personal identity into pieces of artistic work. Everyone will be challenged to use black and white photographic portraits to discover, reveal and share the untold stories and images of people around the world. These digitally uploaded images will be made into posters and sent back to the project’s co-creators for them to exhibit in their own communities.

Follow the Blog

I encourage everyone to get involved, think out of the box and create projects that have impact.

Marketing Advice - Seth Godin

2011-05-11T11:15:00.001-04:00

Hungry or guarded

"The hungry person at the all you can eat buffet is happy to take one more item. She doesn't spend a lot of time comparing this to that, or saying 'no thank you' or avoiding certain items. If it's interesting, "sure I'll try a little bit. I can always come back."

The guarded person walking down the street avoids eye contact with the homeless person, doesn't answer a request from the petition-signer and certainly doesn't help a Boy Scout with that old lady.

And this is precisely the dichotomy every cause, every candidate and every marketer faces.

Either you're selling to people who are hungry for what you offer, who are open to hearing what you have to say, who are fans...

Or you're selling to people who are actively protecting themselves, guarding against interruption or a mistake or worse.

How can you possibly have a strategy about what you're going to do next until you determine which mindset you're marketing to?

Here's the key truth: in any given moment, in any given situation, a person is either hungry or guarded. You need to decide which sort of person you'll be telling your story to, because one approach won't work on the other type of person.

[PS the mindset can (and does) change as people go through their day. At the bookstore she might be hungry for a new idea, and just a few minutes later, at the bus stop, she wants to be alone...]"

Attitude

2011-05-09T13:12:00.000-04:00

"Your attitude is now what's on offer, it's what you sell. The emotional labor of engaging with work and increasing the energy in the room is precisely what you sell. So sell it." Seth Godin

I selected this quote as it resonated and reminded me that enthusiasm, joy and passion are contagious... it also demonstrates to the potential client that working with you will be a positive experience. So the next time you have a conf call, sales call, portfolio review or meeting - bring your A game!

Emphas.is

2011-05-04T10:16:00.002-04:00

Check this out: Emphas.is

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On Emphas.is you are the gatekeeper. Photojournalists pitch their projects directly to the public. You get to decide whether a story is worth doing.

By agreeing to back a story, for a minimum contribution of $10, you are making sure that the issues that you care about receive the in-depth coverage they deserve.
In return you are invited along on the journey.

Photojournalists on Emphas.is agree to enter into a direct dialogue with their backers, sharing their experiences and insights as the creative process unfolds.

There is no thrift store for Content

2011-05-04T10:11:00.000-04:00

As creators of "content" I thought you would find the following info posted on Seth Godin's blog interesting with respect to pricing of content...

Compared to perfect: the price/value mismatch in content

"How's the wine?"

You really can't answer that question out of context. Compared to what? Compared to a hundred dollar bottle? Not so good. Compared to any other $12 bottle... great!

"How was the hotel?"

"How's the service at the post office?"

In just about all the decisions we make, we consider the price. A shipper doesn't expect the same level of service quality from a first class letter delivery than it does from an overnight international courier service. Of course not.

And yet...

A quick analysis of the top 100 titles on Amazon (movies, books, music, doesn't matter what) shows zero correlation between the price and the reviews. (I didn't do the math, but you're welcome to... might be a good science fair entry). Try to imagine a similar disconnect if the subject was cars or clothing...

For any other good or service, the value of a free alternative that was any good would be infinite--free airplane tickets, free dinners at the cafe... When it comes to content, though, we rarely compare the experience with other content at a similar price. We compare it to perfect.

People walking out of the afternoon bargain matinee at the movies don't cut the film any slack because it was half price. Critics piling on to a music video on YouTube never mention the fact that HEY IT WAS FREE. There is no thrift store for content. Sure, we can get an old movie for ninety-nine cents, but if we hate it, it doesn't matter how cheap it was. If we're going to spend time, apparently, it better be perfect, the best there ever was, regardless of price.

This isn't true for cars, potato chips, air travel, worker's comp insurance...

Consider people walking out of a concert where tickets might be being scalped for as much as $1,000. That's $40 or more for each song played--are they considering the price when they're evaluating the experience? There's a lot of nuance here... I'm certainly not arguing that expensive is always better.

In fact, I do think it's probably true that a low price increases the negative feedback. That's because a low price exposes the work to individuals that might not be raving fans.

Free is a valid marketing strategy. In fact it's almost impossible for an idea to have mass impact without some sort of free (TV, radio, webpages, online videos... they're all free). At the same time, it's not clear to me that cheaper content outperforms expensive in many areas. As the marginal cost of delivering content drops to zero (all digital content meets this definition), I think there are valid marketing reasons to do the opposite of what economists expect.
Free gets you mass. Free, though, isn't always the price that will help you achieve your goals.
Price is often a signalling mechanism, and perhaps nowhere more than in the area of content. Free enables your idea to spread, price, on the other hand, signals individuals and often ends up putting your idea in the right place. Mass shouldn't always be the goal. Impact may matter more."

Competitions, Reviews and Contests - May 2011

2011-05-02T18:18:00.000-04:00

DAYLIGHT/CDS PHOTO AWARDS / Deadline Extended to May 15
Awards in Two Prize Categories: Project Prize and Work-in-Process Prize.

Guest jurors for the second annual Daylight/CDS Photo Awards are Anthony Bannon, director, George Eastman House; Darren Ching, owner, Klompching Gallery, and creative director, Photo District News; Stacey D. Clarkson, art director, Harper’s Magazine; Whitney Johnson, picture editor, The New Yorker; Joel Sternfield, photographer; and Sasha Wolf, owner, Sasha Wolf Gallery.

They are joined by Taj Forer and Michael Itkoff, editors, Daylight Magazine, and Alexa Dilworth, publishing director, and Courtney Reid-Eaton, exhibitions director, at the Center for Documentary Studies.
READ MORE

fotovisura PORTFOLIO CONSULTATIONS & REVIEWS/ May 7th & 8th
READ MORE

THE CENTER FOR FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY
FOOD: ENTRIES DUE MAY 17, 2011
EXHIBITION: SEPTEMBER 2 - OCTOBER 15, 2011
THEME Food, in its most basic purpose provides the fundamentals of existence. The act of eating, and what one eats, is based upon many societal implications including location, resources, and access. For centuries, food has helped distinguish cultures and on occasion, been the source of rituals. Photography has the ability to transform our vision of food graphically, politically, and culturally.
JUROR DAVID BRAM
David Bram is a fine art photographer and the editor, founder and curator of Fraction Magazine. Founded in 2008, Fraction Magazine is currently on its twenty-fifth issue and has shown portfolios from more than 150 photographers. David reviews nationally and was selected as the 2010 recipient of the Griffin Museum's Rising Star Award. MORE INFO

DREAMS
ENTRIES DUE AUGUST 9th, 2011
EXHIBITION DECEMBER 2, 2011 - JANUARY 7, 2012

THEME Dreams are a creation of images, ideas, sensations and emotions that occur in our conscious and subconscious mind. They can be the manifestation of our aspirations, goals and fears both realistic and fantastic.
JUROR ALINE SMITHSON
Aline Smithson has been the Gallery Editor for Light Leaks Magazine, writes and edits the blog, Lenscratch, and has curated exhibitions for many galleries and online magazines. Smithson is a national reviewer of photography and is a contributing writer of Diffusion, Too Much Chocolate, Lucida, and F Stop Magazine.
MORE INFO

PORTFOLIO SHOWCASE VOLUME 5: ENTRIES DUE SEPTEMBER 14, 2011
NOTICE OF ACCEPTANCE OCTOBER 14, 2011
ONLINE EXHIBITION NOVEMBER 30, 2011
BOOK RELEASE AND RECEPTION JANUARY 2012

THEME There is no theme for this exhibition. The images will be evaluated as a cohesive body of work, rather than individual images. Fifteen photographers will be chosen to display their twelve-image portfolios in the Center's Portfolio ShowCase Volume 5 book and online exhibition.

JUROR CHRIS PICHLER
is the founder and publisher of Nazraeli Press. Based in Portland, Oregon, Nazraeli Press publishes books specializing in contemporary photography. MORE INFO

The ART OF PHOTOGRAPHY SHOW is an international exhibition of photographic art which will take place August 13 through October 16, 2011 at the elegant Lyceum Theatre Gallery, located in the historic Gaslamp Quarter of downtown San Diego, California. This is the seventh year of this major photography competition and exhibition. Deadline: 5/17 MORE INFO

The Nudie Artist: Burlesque Revived

2011-03-11T15:11:00.002-05:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

“The Nudie Artist: Burlesque Revived” Opens March 31 at the Museum of SexNew exhibition celebrates the multi-faceted art of Neo-Burlesque

[March 9^th, 2011 - New York, NY] Seduction. Humor. Shock value. No performance art brings this trio together better than burlesque, a form of American folk art/theater intended to entertain, engage and arouse its audience. This sexy stage show, which has evolved tremendously in both form and intent throughout the centuries, is sometimes funny, occasionally grotesque and often titillating to watch. Beginning March 31, the Museum of Sex will showcase works from two contemporary artists along with historical items related to the art and performance of burlesque. The exhibit, entitled The Nudie Artist: Burlesque Revived, will feature select artifacts from the 1880s to the 1950s, modern works of art from burlesque photographer Leland Bobbé and artist Luma Rouge and footage from Behind the Burly Q, a film by Leslie Zemeckis.

While performers in the 1880s performed burlesque for economic reasons, modern performers embrace burlesque for its art form. In the mid 1990s, a revival of this performance art form took place in both New York and Los Angeles and slowly grew into a worldwide movement. “Contemporary burlesque performers draw upon the craft of their ancestors to create art that centers on the sexual body, using the removal of clothing to make social and political commentary, celebrate creative self-expression as well as promote a culture of female sexual empowerment and body appreciation,” explains Sarah Forbes, curator at the Museum of Sex. “This exciting synthesis of the nostalgia for the past combined with contemporary sensibilities has exploded into a new art form, captivating artists, designers, filmmakers, journalists, performers and audiences alike.”

The Nudie Artist: Burlesque Revived, will feature close to 100 artifacts and works of art. Highlights of the exhibit include: original photographic portraits by Leland Bobbé, illustrations by Luma Rouge, footage of burlesque performances, costumes worn by Dixie Evans and Blaze Starr and personal artifacts from Mara Gaye, born Marjorie Helen Ginsberg (1920-2005) a long-time professional showgirl, model, burlesque performer and dancer with the Radio City Rockettes (1939-1943).

Leland Bobbé

The power of burlesque is rooted in the charisma the performer exerts over the audience. On stage, the artist controls the illusion of what is and is not revealed. As artists, the burlesque community is quick to block general photography, which makes the attendance of a performance a one-of-a-kind event. Leland Bobbé, alongside his wife Robin Bobbé, worked collaboratively with burlesque performers to craft images which removed them from the stage and served to highlight the formalized essence of their character as individuals and as a persona. Bobbé’s photographs further present the spirit behind each performer and the individual approach taken in the art form of burlesque. Nudity is a secondary element to the art and the individual.

Part of his project included collecting quotes from the performers, as he realized the importance of having the performer’s voice come through his photographs. One of Bobbé’s subjects, Ms. Tickle, is quoted as saying, “Burlesque is about revealing something. It is not necessarily a body; we just use our body as a way to reveal something. We may be revealing something about how we feel about our place in society or how we see the world.”

The photographs on display during The Nudie Artist: Burlesque Revived at the Museum of Sex are from a larger series of images by Leland Bobbé. His photographs exhibit an honest grittiness, capturing a diverse array of body types portraying confidence and comfort in one’s own skin rather than an airbrushed representation of fantasy. With some of the images printed at a larger than life scale, the viewer can have a relationship with the portrait on a personal and direct level, mimicking the dynamic of the performance.

Luma Rouge

Inspired by the beauty, creativity and spectacle of New York’s burlesque community, Luma Rouge uses her background in dance and fashion, combined with her own creative instincts, to capture the movement and intensity of performers and their acts. Sketching at a wide spectrum of dance performances, Rouge’s fascination with dance is expressed in her artwork through the technical gestures of the body, the bravado of costuming, the use of props and the application of make-up. Burlesque offered the opportunity for Luma to create images of the human form in an environment where empowerment and adoration reign. A bit of sparkle from every burlesque performance Luma Rouge depicts is dotted across her works of art. The exhibit places her work in context, explaining her ingenuity in painting in dark settings and pulling in lyrics, jokes and banter from the performances, as well as audience commentary, bringing her art to life. One of Rouge’s subjects, Bastard Keith, once said, “Glitter is the STD of Burlesque—once you start, it never goes away.”

Behind the Burly Q: Leslie Zemeckis

Leslie Zemeckis, stage performer, film actress and filmmaker, spent years traveling around the country capturing the histories of the men and women of burlesque’s golden age, the 1930s to the 1950s. By making the film Behind the Burly Q, Zemeckis sought to learn more about the art form of burlesque and the individuals of a bygone era whose craft was undergoing a resurgence over the past few decades.

Behind the Burly Q is the result of Zemeckis’ extensive research and an array of interviews with musicians, authors, strippers, novelty acts, club owners, funny men and women which contribute to an intimate, first-hand look at the personalities of burlesque from this era. Well-known performers such as Tempest Storm, Blaze Starr and Dixie Evans, as well as lesser known performers whose stories had never before been captured, are highlighted in Behind the Burly Q. In one scene, Alan Alda vividly describes what it was like growing up in burlesque at the side of his father, the singer Robert Alda. The film spotlights Alda and several other relatives and family members of burlesque performers, who help to enliven the stories of this generation.

The Nudie Artist: Burlesque Revived allows visitors to peek inside the world of burlesque and see it from a personal angle. Inspiring artwork, personal photos and rare footage of the time, as well as costuming will be on display to provide a glimpse into the past life of an art form that is resurging in today’s modern world.

About The Museum of Sex

The Mission of the Museum of Sex is to preserve and present the history, evolution and cultural significance of human sexuality. In its exhibitions, programs and publications, the Museum of Sex is committed to opening discourse and exchange and to bringing to the public the best in current scholarship. The Museum’s permanent collection of over 15,000 artifacts is comprised of works of art, photography, clothing and costumes, technological inventions and historical ephemera. Additionally, the museum houses both a research library as well as an extensive multimedia library, which includes 8mm, Super 8mm, 16mm, BETA, VHS and DVDs. From fine art to historical ephemera to film, the Museum of Sex preserves an ever-growing collection of sexually related objects that would otherwise be destroyed and discarded due to their sexual content. In a city that never sleeps, the Museum of Sex is constantly evolving and has no plans to slow down. www.museumofsex.com

______________________________________________________________________

For high resolution images and press questions please contact:

Jim O’Shea

212-689-6337 ext. 105

joshea@museumofsex.com

For info on Leland Bobbe, print sales and press questions please contact:

Angela Krass 646 401 0172 oa.angela@gmail.com Hannes Tamme 646 401 0162 oa.hannes@gmail.com

F Stop magazine

2011-03-10T21:09:00.001-05:00

Submit work to F-Stop Magazine's upcoming issues!

We are currently seeking submissions for the following issues:

ISSUE #46: "All About ME " (Self Portraits) - April/May 2011 DEADLINE: March. 15, 2011
ISSUE #47: Open Theme - June/July 2011 DEADLINE: May. 15, 2011

For details: submission guidelines

31st Annual Spring Photography Contest

2011-03-09T20:59:00.000-05:00

Photographer's Forum and Sponsored by Sigma

Winning photos published in 11/2011 issue of Photographer's Forum Magazine and published in hardcoer book Best of Photography 2011.

Early Entry Deadline: 4/18/2011
Regular Entry Deadline: 5/16/2011

Check it out!