“Act Here. Love Now. Tour” is coming to downtown Fort Walton Beach…

Tonight at 6pm at the Art Lair, Savannah Chastain will be sharing stories of her journey, excerpts from their book and exhibit some of the photography they captured along the way. There will also be books for sale =)

Hope to see you there!

www.actherelovenow.com

I am very excited to announce the guest speaker for our Photo Club meeting on Wednesday. Savannah Chastain, an artist who is part of a non-profit organization called Photogenx, which uses media (mainly photography) to bring awareness to social injustice issues around the globe. She and 10 other student photojournalists, just spent the past year traveling the world encountering situations of poverty, human-trafficking, misused refugees, and many other injustice issues.

Savannah says, “During our trip we realized that it was not so much the shock of injustice that we wanted to address, but instead the truth that daily actions of love and justice can make a change in the world. We have written a book, called ‘Act Here. Love Now,’ that is full of personal stories from people living in dire situations, to our own reflections on injustice. The book is full of photos and art, and our message is that you don’t have to take an epic trip around the globe to make a difference… you can start in your own neighborhood.”

Savannah will be sharing stories of her journey, excerpts from their book and exhibit some of the photography they captured along the way.

Check out more information and view their photography at:

www.actherelovenow.com

and

www.photogenx.net

This is an event you won’t want to miss! It is FREE and open to the public on Wednesday, Sept. 14th at 6pm in the Art Lair.

This social event is open to photographers on all levels from amateurs/hobbyists to professionals. Whether you use a high end DSLR or you like capturing the moment with your phone camera, the objective of this event is to bring together thousands of photographers of all levels around the world to take pictures, share and promote coexistence among those who agree with the same passion: Photography. There were over 1100 Photo Walks and over 33,000 photographers who participated around the world last year.

There are ONLY 50 spots available and you MUST register to participate. Participants have a chance to win some really awesome prizes too! This event is open to the public so spread the word to your photo-loving friends! Oh, and did I mention, it’s FREE?!!! So sign up today at:
www.tinyurl.com/fwbwalk

Meeting Location & Time:

Saturday, October 1, 2011 @ 9:00am – 11:00am
Location: Parking lot next to Cinema Plus (174 Miracle Strip Pkwy SE, Fort Walton Beach, FL)
After the walk, meet at: Fountain Square, downtown Fort Walton Beach

Click here to view the embedded video.

My good friend Marcus Ranum and friend of the NWFLAA (aka
the most epic interviewee in the history of everything) has posted a unique print on eBay.

Here is his description:

This is a one-of-a-kind collodion positive ambrotype print on black glass. The plate is signed on the back, on a paper label glued to the plate. It is not framed or matted. The plate has been finished with gum sandarac varnish. For more information on the Ambrotype process, see the wikipedia page on the topic: 
Here

The photo is entitled “Kinbaku Odalisque I” and features model Rayn. It was shot in Sept, 2010, using a wet-plate modified Cambo 8×10 camera. If you haven’t ever seen an ambrotype before, you’re in for a treat; the image is rendered in silver, which appears to float on the surface of the glass. It’s a unique-looking and very beautiful photographic process.

All work, from cutting the plate, to coating it, shooting it, developing it and varnishing it, as well as making the box, mounting the plate, assembling and finishing the box, was done by the artist.

Check it out. Support Marcus! He’s one of the very few living artists I personally consider to be absolutely brilliant.

Click here to view the embedded video.

The Afghan Girl by Steve McCurry

Probably one of the most recognized National Geographic Magazine covers is “The Afghan Girl” from 1985.  The photographer is Steve McCurry.  The film is Kodachrome.  Kodachrome was the favorite of many professionals (personally, I preferred Fujichrome back in the day), and so it was a sad day when Kodak decided to discontinue the film last year. Kodak gave the last roll of Kodachrome ever produced to Steve McCurry.  The images on this last roll are being kept secret for now.  National Geographic is planning the big reveal in an upcoming documentary.  Listen to the story 
here.

Steve McCurry by Ahmet Sel

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Joe McNally shooting a cover for National Geographic Magazine.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Michael Forsberg is a conservation photographer.  The video is a plug for his new book Great Plains Americas Lingering Wild, but that doesn’t make it any less powerful.  Without climbing up on my own soapbox, it’s nice to see that some of us do get it.  Check out Michael’s website
www.michaelforsberg.com.

“When I began as a photographer,
I was taking pictures mostly for myself.

When we had children my mindset
changed, and now I do the work mostly
for them. Because I don’t want my kids
or anyone else’s to grow up one day
and only be able to appreciate the
wonders of nature in a museum or
read about it in a book or see it in a zoo.

I feel we are blessed to be
stewards of this planet, but in many
cases we have forgotten that with this
privilege comes responsibility.

Photography can be a powerful
witness to our short-comings, but
also to show that beauty and hope still
exists in the natural world. It can
help communicate to people why
something matters.

Conservation photography is an active
and powerful tool to begin this process,
to start the conversation, to call for action.

Time is short.”

-Michael Forsberg