ChatterBlog

March 2010

ChatterLog

Creativity and the Arts

© Louisa J. Curtis

Greetings everyone, and welcome to the March ChatterBulletin! We have moved from the sign of Aquarius into Pisces, and although later this month we’ll move into Aries and the first day of Spring – it is still feeling a lot like Winter and many of us have seen a whole lot of snow this year. In fact, New York is in the middle of one of it’s largest snowstorms as I am writing this, and I took the above photo the following day. Snow is of course, frozen water – remember those beautiful images of the snowflakes in our last bulletin - and Pisces is a water sign, so combine water with a cold winter, and what do you have? Snow, sleet and ice!

Water is connected with your imagination and your emotions and so this month I decided to talk about Creativity and the Arts. In order to be a great artist, one must use the imagination and express a variety of emotions in order to move your audience in some way – whether it is through art, dance, music, theater, film, photography or literature. Some famous creative Pisces for example, are musicians George Harrison, Nat King Cole & Johnny Cash, dancers Nijinsky & Rudolph Nureyev who were both Pisces as were actors Michael Caine, Sidney Poitier & Bruce Willis, along with actresses Glenn Close, Vanessa Williams & Elizabeth Taylor, and directors Ron Howard & Spike Lee. The list goes on…

And for those of you who have been watching the Winter Olympics in Vancouver, who could not be inspired by the story of the Canadian Figure Skater, Joannie Rochette, whose mother died two days before she was due to perform her short program. Not only did this young woman find the courage and strength to perform, she went on to win the Olympic bronze medal, capturing our hearts and inspiring everyone in the process. She took all of her emotions and channeled that raw energy along with her years of discipline and training and she skated her heart out.

It was a year ago now that my own mother passed away and she was a great lover of the creative arts, as am I. As a young child I was, shall we say, quite active and my mother could see the hungry performer in me from an early age. So she took me to the local dancing instructor, who watched me at the back of the room figuring out how to point my toes along with the other little girls, and she took me on at aged three and a half – a lot earlier than she usually would (and probably out of pity for my poor mother!) This same teacher, also taught my sister the piano, so while I learned how to “dance” the polka, she was learning how to play it!

Click here to read the full article in my Blog!

So now, as a special treat for you all, here is a photo that my sister and I found when we were clearing out our mother’s house last year of myself and my three dance classmates, all dressed up in our Welsh folk costumes! Can you tell which one is me? And I dedicate this bulletin in loving memory of my mother and my dance teacher, Miss Soanes.

On another note: A dear friend sent me this video last week, and although our last month’s bulletin was all about “Love” - I thought it was so cool, I wanted to share it with you all anyway. So in keeping with our theme of Creativity and the Arts…”All you need is Love!”

Also- Birthday greetings to all of you Pisces this month, and in particular to my old pal in Charleston, SC, who was born on St. Patrick’s Day and was therefore named surprise, surprise - Patrick!

St. Patrick is perhaps the most well-known of all the patron saints in Ireland and what was once a serious religious holiday of abstinence is now a public holiday of massive alcohol-consumption! Green ribbons and shamrocks were originally worn to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day as early as the 17th century, and he was said to have used the three-leaved clover to explain the concept of the Holy Trinity. Nowadays, not only does everyone wear “the green” to celebrate the Irish on St. Patrick’s Day, in Chicago, they actually dyed the river green and last year, the White House fountain! The holiday is widely celebrated by both Irish and non-Irish alike, with parades not only in Ireland, but all over North America.

ChatterClients of the Month

Continuing on with the theme of Creativity and the Arts I decided to feature photographers who capture images of dancers and musicians this month.

Sarah Small

First up is Sarah Small who has a unique and quirky style that pushes the envelope and definitely provokes a response from the viewer.

Jan Vogler © Sarah Small

http://www.sarahsmall.com

David Bergman

Then we have David Bergman, who aside from his wonderful music photography and video work is also responsible for the infamous Obama inauguration “Gigapan”. David is currently finishing up his new website, so stay tuned (no pun intended) to see the transformation in the weeks to come.

Armor for Sleep © David Bergman

http://www.DavidBergman.net & http://www.TourPhotographer.com

Angel Burns

Next up is Angel Burns, whom I met at a portfolio review for APA in Los Angeles. Angel not only makes beautiful images of dancers, but she is also aptly named judging by the immediate connection we felt with one another. For me, she truly is an “angel.”

© Angel Burns

http://www.angelburns.com

Kevin Tachman

Kevin Tachman is a client who loves to shoot both fashion and music. This image of the “Yeah’s Yeah Yeah’s” was a final in the most recent Billboard music contest.

Yeah Yeah Yeah’s © Kevin Tachman

http://www.kevintachman.com

Laura Crosta

Laura Crosta has a bold and strong style that is etched with her sense of humor, whether she is shooting stills or video.

Ghostland Observatory © Laura Crosta

http://www.lauracrosta.com

Ahron R. Foster

I met Ahron R. Foster at Photo Plus Expo last year and reviewed his portfolio at the A.S.M.P booth.

Allison Barber © Ahron R. Foster

http://www.ahronfoster.com

Brian Jahn

Brian Jahn has spent a large amount of time on his personal project documenting the musicians of Jamaica, more of which can be seen on his blog.

Lee Perry © Brian Jahn

http://www.brianjahn.com & http://blessingsallover.wordpress.com/

ChatterNews

2010 PDN World In Focus Announces Winners

© Ashok Sinha

Congratulations to my client, Ashok Sinha, who was featured in the Winners Gallery of the 2010 PDN World In Focus Contest. To view more of Ashok’s portfolio please visit: http://www.ashoksinha.com/

Neutral Mask Workshop in NY

Dody DiSanto will be teaching a workshop the weekend of March 13th & 14th, 2010 at Chelsea Studios - 151 West 26th Street, New York, NY.

For information and to register for this workshop please visit: http://www.thisisthecenter.com/cmt.html

ChatterTip of the Month

Creative Tips

© Louisa J. Curtis

As I was pondering some “tips” for the March bulletin, I thought I would switch it up and give some creative tips this month. Some of you may be familiar with a book called “The Artist’s Way” by Julia Cameron. She suggests many useful exercises to unleash and regularly access your inner creativity, one of which is the “morning pages.” When you first wake up, you sit and write 3 full pages of whatever is in your head and you do that every single morning. It helps to unload all of the excess baggage we carry around in our heads. Don’t edit or think about it, simply write down whatever comes into your mind. It might be a dream or a shopping list - it doesn’t matter. Julia also suggests going on “artist dates.” You’d be surprised how, as artists, we forget to do the things we like. It might mean going to a thrift store and buying some cool prop, or to a museum to see an exhibition, or simply take a walk and see what you see. There is an extensive list of suggestions on her Blog - http://theartistswayblog.wordpress.com/artists-date-ideas/

Another great idea is to always have a “personal project” on the go. For photographers, I always encourage them to shoot personal work, because without that, they are not feeding their souls. And if they are not feeding their souls, then the work will suffer. A personal project can often lead us in a direction that we had not previously anticipated. Many successful commercial shooters are always honing their craft and topping up the creative juices by continuing to work on their personal projects. I grew up in a generation that made arts & crafts with paper and glue and I loved making collages and hand-made cards. But today, we have a generation that has grown up with video games and computers. Is staring at a screen all day creative?

When starting a personal project, perhaps start with something that is close to home, or easily accessible. A portrait study of a local seniors’ bowling group, for example, is a lot more doable than a portrait series of say South American basket-weavers! When I took a photography class some years ago, we had to compile a photo essay by going back to the same subject several weeks in a row and shooting new images each time. I chose my veterinarian Dr. Julie Butler, and our subsequent journey together was both hilarious and educational. I enjoyed the challenge tremendously and went up to Harlem each Saturday to photograph whatever happened that day. From there, she invited me to visit and photograph the Church ladies across the street, as well as her home, her family and even the kids’ violin recital. Although my end product consisted of 20 images of her solely at work, those extra sessions with her helped the project enormously and cemented our friendship. The image above was the title image from my photo essay.

ChatterRecipe of the Month

French Onion Soup

© Kurt Wilson

http://www.kurtwilsonphotography.com/

Here’s a classic seasonal soup recipe that is easy and will warm you through nicely on a cold winter’s day. I took this particular version from a favorite old cookery book of mine - Reader’s Digest’s The Cookery Year - in which the recipes are made from ingredients based on whatever is in season each month. This recipe serves 4 people.

1 - 1 ½ lbs nice large Onions

2 - 3 tablespoons Butter (unsalted)

2 pints Stock (chicken, beef or vegetable)

½ teaspoon Salt

1 oz Flour

Water

4 thick slices French Bread (preferably stale)

4 oz Cheese (grated & preferably Gruyere)

Pepper

Melt the Butter in a large saucepan and add the peeled and thinly sliced Onions. Cover and cook over low heat for about 15 minutes, then remove the cover and cook until they are golden brown, stirring occasionally. Be careful not to over-caramelize them, because if you burn them it will make the soup taste bitter, but you need them browned to give the soup its color. Stir in the Stock and Salt, and add Pepper to taste. Cover again and simmer for about 30 minutes. In a small bowl, mix the Flour with about ¼ cup Water until thoroughly blended. Add this mixture to the soup and stir until it comes back up to the boil. Simmer for a few minutes until the soup has thickened, then remove from heat.

You can finish the soup in a couple of ways. This recipe suggests buttering both sides of the Bread with some Butter, then cover one side with grated Cheese and bake on a baking sheet in a 350 degree oven until crisp. Serve the soup nice and hot in individual bowls and place a slice of the cheesy bread in each bowl. However, when I worked in a French restaurant years ago, we kept it simple by pressing a good handful of the grated cheese on to one side of each slice of bread, then we carefully put one in each soup bowl and placed them under the grill to melt the cheese until golden brown. Fresh bread tends to sink, so this is why it is better to use stale bread! Garnish with a little chopped Parsley.

And now for this month’s events:

Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010 - 1:30pm

“Let’s Talk Marketing” Presented by Louisa J. Curtis

@ University of the Arts

Philadelphia, PA

Louisa will be giving a presentation to the photography students @ UArts Philadelphia on Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010 and will be reviewing professional portfolios on Saturday, March 6th, 2010 at the SPE Conference. See the event listing below for more details.

Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010 - 6:30pm

ASPP/NY Presents: The Art of Making & Using Video

@ Laura Parsons Pratt Conference Center

281 Park Avenue South @ 22nd Street

New York, NY

347-229-1384

Cost: $10 for Members; $25 Non-members; $5 Students

From the evite:

“Wednesday March 3rd, ASPP/NY Chapter presents two perspectives on the art of motion: A shooter and a producer will each show us several motion projects and talk us through their inception, the content research, shooting, editing and assembling the pieces in FinalCutPro, transcoding and uploading.”

For more information and to register please visit: http://www.aspp.com/index.php/chapters/new-york

Thursday, March 4th, 2010 - 7:00pm

For those of you on the west coast:

Aperture: Zwelethu Mthethwa - Lecture

@ Hammer Museum

10899 Wilshire Blvd

Los Angeles, CA 90024

310-443-7000

Admission is FREE & tickets are available one hour prior to start time at the Billy Wilder Theater Box Office. Limit one ticket per person. Parking is available under the museum for $3 after 6:00pm.

For more information please visit: http://hammer.ucla.edu/calendar/detail/type/program/id/435

Thursday, March 4th, 2010 - 6:00pm - 10:00pm

ASMPNY: Photographers Helping Haiti Fundraiser -

Curated by Elizabeth Avedon

Photos on display through Sunday, March 7th, 2010, 6:00pm

@ The Dylan Hotel

52 East 41st Street

New York, NY

Tickets at the door: Opening Night Preview- $20; General Admission- $10; Students and Seniors- $5

More than 100 prints donated by ASMP members will be on sale for $100 each at a booth donated by the Verge Art Fair and 100% of all sales go directly to DWB.

Take home some great art and support Doctors Without Borders!

Work available from John Dolan, Aaron Lee Fineman, Deborah Gilbert, Robert Hooman, Michelle Kawka, Salem Krieger, Stephen Mallon, Cynthia Matthews, Philip Mauro, Margaret McCarthy, Viviane Moos, Clayton Price, Susan May Tell, Gilberto Tadday, and more!

For more information please visit: http://www.vergeartfair.com/Verge_NYC_Exhibitors_Announce.html

For more information about Doctors Without Borders Haiti relief efforts please visit: http://www.dwb.org/news/allcontent.cfm?id=208

Thursday, March 4th - Sunday, March 7th, 2010

47th Society for Photographic Education - National Conference

@ Marriott Hotel, Downtown

Philadelphia, PA

For more information and to view the schedule of events please visit: http://www.spenational.org/conference/conf2010/

Monday, March 8th - Wednesday March 9th, 2010

Miami Ad School and 4A’s Presents: Digital Reboot

@ Miami Ad School

10 Jay Street, Suite 807

DUMBO Brooklyn, NY

786-533-1352

Registration required.

From the invite:

“Digital Reboot is a comprehensive overview on the present state of the interactive advertising industry, and a solid glimpse into the emerging technologies that will shape tomorrow’s marketplace.

Who should attend:

The course is geared to advertising agency staff and client-side marketing staff with 8 years or more experience in traditional marketing and advertising. Because this is an interactive workshop the course is limited to 25 people.”

For more information please visit: http://www.miamiadschool.com/advertising-programs/advertising-workshops?ref=blog

Saturday, March 13th, 2010

Jack Reznicki and and Ed Greenberg’s

“Talking Till We’re Blue in the Face” - Workshop

@ Jack’s Studio

31 West 27th Street, 10th Floor

New York, NY

Cost: $299 for an all day workshop

From the evite:

“This intense workshop will cover all aspects of copyright, how to register your work, proper model releases, writing a license, producing an invoice with the correct terms and conditions, and many other topics about which we are asked at our seminars and classes.  Our emphasis will be on the things you have to know to survive and thrive in today’s competitive world. This Workshop will have limited seating and thus each attendee will have his/her questions answered.”

For more information please visit: http://thecopyrightzone.com/ and to register for the workshop visit: http://www.prestoregister.com/cgi-bin/order.pl?ref=gurujackrez&fm=1

Monday, March 15th, 2010

Registration Eligibility for ASPP/PACA Reinvention Weekend

Although the ASPP/PACA Reinvention Weekend is happening next month April 15th-18th, 2010, I thought we’d give a quick mention to remind all of you if you register (or are already registered) for the conference by Monday, March 15th, 2010, you will be eligible for a drawing for a complimentary 12-month membership with ASPP (or an extension of your existing membership)!

Details for this event will be revealed in next month’s ChatterBulletin. In the meantime, you can view the complete session schedule on the ASPP website at: http://www.aspp.com/index.php/reinvention-conference/sessions

Wednesday, March 17th, 2010 - 6:30pm - 9pm

RED Demo Presentation for Agents + Print Producers Forums

(This evening is for Agents + Producers Only)

@ Industrial Color

32 Avenue of the Americas, 22nd Floor

New York, NY

Allegra Wilde along with Dana Schenendorf is hosting an evening demo of the RED camera and basic video editing especially for The Art + Photo Agents Forum and the Print Producers Forum.

In addition to the demo, the event will include a discussion of industry trends regarding video in photography, an overview of video workflow, pre and post-production considerations and a Q + A.

RSVP: aw@allegrawilde.com and dana@impactdigital.com

Wednesday, March 17th, 2010 - 7:00pm

NY Monthly Photo Salon

@ SoHo Photo Gallery

15 White Street

New York, NY

Cost: $10 at the door

For more information or questions please contact Rich Pomerantz at rich@richpomerantz.com, Emmanuel Faure at emmanuel@emmanuelfaure.com or Bill Westheimer at bill@billwest.com.

Wednesday, March 24th, 2010 - 6:30pm

ASMPNY & Beth Taubner from Mercury Lab Presents: How Does a Photographer Become a Brand?

@ SoHo Photo

15 White Street

New York, NY

Learning from the Big Guys - How does a photographer become a brand?

From the ASMPNY newsletter:

“Brands are about the marriage of fact and narrative. It’s important to convey what you do and how you do it so that potential clients can easily understand what differentiates you from the competition. We will analyze major brands and well-known photographers artists who use themselves as they basis of a brand in order to see how they do it. This talk is about sharpening your perception skills, so that you can talk articulately about your own  — and your client’s — brand. You will come away thinking like a brand strategist, and with some practical tools to use in looking at your own brand.”

For more information please visit: http://www.asmpny.org/#upcoming_events

Sunday, March 28th, 2010 - 2:30pm -10pm &

Wednesday, April 7th, 2010 - 6pm - 8:30pm

Seeing New York in a Different Light:

Night and Low Light Photography Workshop with Jill Waterman

@ Adorama

42 West 18th Street, 5th Floor

New York, NY

Cost: $185 Must register by Sunday, March 21st, 2010!

http://nightphotographybook.com/

My good friend, Jill Waterman, will be teaching a workshop on night photography at Adorama. Jill is a photographer, editor, author and educator based in New York City. She works for PDN Custom Media and Events as editor of the ASMP Bulletin, PDNedu, as well as numerous education and events projects.

For more information and to register please visit: http://www.adorama.com/catalog.tpl?op=WS_JillWaterman_032810

For a full list of workshops at Adorama please visit: http://www.adorama.com/catalog.tpl?op=WS_List

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Creativity and the Arts

© Louisa J. Curtis

Greetings everyone, and welcome to the March ChatterBulletin! We have moved from the sign of Aquarius into Pisces, and although later this month we’ll move into Aries and the first day of Spring – it is still feeling a lot like Winter and many of us have seen a whole lot of snow this year. In fact, New York is in the middle of one of it’s largest snowstorms as I am writing this, and I took the photo above the following day. Snow is of course, frozen water – remember those beautiful images of the snowflakes in our last bulletin - and Pisces is a water sign, so combine water with a cold winter, and what do you have? Snow, sleet and ice!

Water is connected with your imagination and your emotions and so this month I decided to talk about Creativity and the Arts. In order to be a great artist, one must use the imagination and express a variety of emotions in order to move your audience in some way – whether it is through art, dance, music, theater, film, photography or literature. Some famous creative Pisces for example are musicians George Harrison, Nat King Cole & Johnny Cash, dancers Nijinsky & Rudolph Nureyev who were both Pisces as were actors Michael Caine, Sidney Poitier & Bruce Willis, along with actresses Glenn Close, Vanessa Williams & Elizabeth Taylor, and directors Ron Howard & Spike Lee. The list goes on…

And for those of you who have been watching the Winter Olympics in Vancouver, who could not be inspired by the story of the Canadian Figure Skater, Joannie Rochette, whose mother died two days before she was due to perform her short program. Not only did this young woman find the courage and strength to perform, she went on to win the Olympic bronze medal, capturing our hearts and inspiring everyone in the process. She took all of her emotions and channeled that raw energy along with her years of discipline and training and she skated her heart out.

It was a year ago now that my own mother passed away and she was a great lover of the creative arts, as am I. As a young child I was, shall we say, quite active and my mother could see the hungry performer in me from an early age. So she took me to the local dancing instructor, who watched me at the back of the room figuring out how to point my toes along with the other little girls, and she took me on at aged three and a half – a lot earlier than she usually would (and probably out of pity for my poor mother!) This same teacher, also taught my sister the piano, so while I learned how to “dance” the polka, she was learning how to play it!

Marie Soanes was a striking and elegant woman, always impeccably dressed without a hair out of place, and a strict but caring teacher. She stood a full six feet tall, and in those days, because professional dancers had to be a certain height, she was much too tall to ever dance as a prima ballerina. Thus she was relegated to the worthy world of teaching dance and piano in a small countryside town resulting in a somewhat sad spinsterhood that also required her to take care of her elderly mother. She was our teacher for many years until we were both teenagers and she instilled in me a great foundation that included not only an appreciation for good posture and clean beautiful body lines, but also for physical discipline, dedication to one’s art and striving for excellence. To this day, dance has remained one of my passions and is something that always, not sometimes, always makes me feel better. We should all dance a little more, myself included.

It is interesting to note that Pisces is also the sign of compassion and suffering and I often think of how this beautiful woman’s potential was stifled and how she must have suffered on the inside. One day, I came home from school and was sitting eating my tea when a story came up on the local news channel and there, on the TV screen was a photo of my dance teacher. I was about 13 or 14 years old at the time and I watched and listened in horror as the television proceeded to tell me that my beloved teacher had been found floating in the local river. It was believed that she had got off the bus, as usual, but then her mind must have snapped and she simply walked into the water meadows, across the fields and into the river and drowned.

Losing someone as important as Miss Soanes was a defining moment in my young life and my first real experience with death and attending someone’s funeral. Almost a year ago, my sister and I put together our own mother’s funeral and now I reflect on how important both of these women were to me growing up, what with the many hours of classes, rehearsals and subsequent performances. My mother and I also enjoyed watching all of the dance shows on the TV, from “Come Dancing” in the early days when we would have a good giggle about all of their elaborate and over-the-top costumes with hundreds of sequins all hand-sewn on by the dancer’s mother, to more recent years and “Strictly Come Dancing,” which is the English equivalent to our show in America, “Dancing with the Stars.”

So now, as a special treat for you all, here is a photo that my sister and I found when we were clearing out our mother’s house last year of myself and my three dance classmates, all dressed up in our Welsh folk costumes! Can you tell which one is me?

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February 2010

Greetings everyone, and welcome to the February ChatterBulletin!

As we move out of the sign of Capricorn, we now find ourselves in Aquarius. This sign is often mistakenly thought of as a water sign, because the symbol clearly resembles the waves of the ocean, and the word for water “aqua” is in his name! However, Aquarius is in fact, an air sign, he is the “water bearer,” a “spiritual aqueduct” and the “captain of the ship” who brings the spiritual waters from the heavens down to us mortals here on earth. So Happy Birthday to all of you Aquarians out there, in particular to my Aunt who will be 79, and to my Father who turns 85 this month!

ChatterLog
Love

We know this month is Valentine’s Day, so not surprisingly our theme for this bulletin is “Love.” But how many of you know the history behind Valentine’s Day? In most countries, February 14^th is the day on which lovers traditionally express their love for one another by exchanging cards, flowers and confectionery. The Holiday is named after two (of many) early Christian martyrs named Valentine, and became associated with “romantic love” only during the “Middle Ages” and the time of Geoffrey Chaucer and “courtly love.” Prior to that, I somehow doubt that the Christian martyrs were thinking a whole lot about sending romantic cards and consuming chocolate hearts, whilst they were being persecuted by the Romans! So how did we get from those violent acts of discrimination to the Holiday that we now associate with Romance? Well, well, well, the first letters of the word “romance” are also in the word “Romans” - so how blatant a connection could that be, however unlikely and discordant?

Growing up in England, it was customary for us to send our Valentine cards signed anonymously so that when you opened it, there was a sense of mystery as to who might be your “secret admirer” and you had to decipher the handwriting in order to figure out just who that might be? And there was none of this sending Valentine’s day cards to your Mum, or “To Billy, love Grandma”… no, this was strictly for the people you had a “serious thing” for. Mind you, it did put a lot of pressure on you at school depending on how many cards you received. And, as in my case, this wasn’t too many, seeing as I went to an all-girls school!

So “courtly love” and chivalry were introduced in medieval times to certain French royal households such as Aquitaine, Burgundy & Provence. This “courtly love” was generally “secret” - hence the tradition of not signing your Valentines - and took place between members of the nobility, not husband and wife! As time went on and as with all Holidays, it eventually became “commercialized” and accessible to everyone! Let’s face it, the greetings cards, chocolate and flower industries all thrive with increased business at this time of year!

Traditions will also vary from country to country, such as for example - in South Korea, women give chocolate to men on February 14^th, and men give non-chocolate candy to women on March 14^th (White Day). On April 14^th (Black Day), those who did not receive anything on the 14th of February or March go to a Chinese restaurant to eat black noodles and “mourn” their single life! Yikes! During the Victorian era, elaborate Valentine’s Day cards such as these ones below were popular, typically featuring the romantic symbols of heart-shapes, doves and cupids that we associate with Valentine’s Day.

So before we get to the Clients of the Month, a couple of thoughts about “Love” and what that means. It is an interesting word as it can be used in so many situations, ranging from affection to adoration, from erotica to romance, or from enthusiasm to compassion - each time meaning something quite different. “I love chocolate cake” is not the same kind of love as “I love my Mum” is not the same as “I love the way you kiss” is not the same as “I love to travel”… and on and on… But without “Love” we have nothing. “Love” does conquer all, no matter how hard it may be for us to feel “loving” towards each other, towards all human beings, towards our activities and our work, each and every day, because we are never going to “like” everyone or everything. None of us is perfect, and we live in an imperfect world, but if we at least attempt to come from a place of “Love,” with everything that we do, and towards everyone around us, then perhaps we have a chance of achieving better cooperation with one another, increased success in our lives and peace around the world.

ChatterClients of the Month
Continuing on with the theme of “Love” I realized that this month would be the perfect time for us to showcase a genre of photography that we have not yet given you, and that is Wedding Photography. I have a lot of respect for Wedding shooters, they carry a huge responsibility to capture precious imagery that will last for generations - and with no opportunity to go back and re-shoot!

Emilie Sommer
First up is Emilie Sommer, whose company emilie inc. is based in the Portland, Maine area. I love her beautiful and bold style. Emilie is also married to “J” Sandifer, the Wedding Marketing & Development Manager at liveBooks. “J” also has a great Blog on the wedding industry.

http://www.emilieinc.com & http://jbrides.wordpress.com

Tracee Attlee
Then we have Tracee Attlee, a client from Alexandria, Virginia, who is an award-winning wedding & portrait photographer with a traditional and elegant style, and long-term clients such as the Boeing Company and the Rockefeller Family.

http://www.AttleePhotography.com

Lauren Grabelle
Followed by Lauren Grabelle, who when she is not taking portraits of dogs and their owners is photographing weddings with her same documentary, in-the-moment, realistic style that captures the flow of the festivities as it unfolds, just as with this precious image of a bride with her mother.

http://www.lgphoto.com & http://www.laurengrabelle.blogspot.com

Teri Bloom
Many wedding photographers still shoot in black & white for their brides as it brings such a timeless and classic feel to the imagery. This shot of Teri’s for example, could have been taken years ago, or just last weekend, because it expresses a universal and endearing emotional moment that we can all recognize.

Johnson Sarkissian
Robert Johnson and Katherine Sarkissian are a dynamic husband and wife team who were early Chatterbox clients. And when they are not shooting fashion & editorial work, they are capturing weddings with their same lively style! It was a hard choice as to which image to select, for all of these photographers, but this one stuck out because it was so elegant and beautiful, like an oil painting - a simple study of a bride’s dress…

http://www.johnsonsarkissian.com & http://www.intuimagery.com

Andrew Holbrooke
And then last but not least, I wanted to mention a new client of mine, Andrew Holbrooke. Andy is not a Wedding shooter, as you will see from his website, but while we were editing recently, I thought his image of this Vietnamese bride would be a fun one to include with this month’s theme.

Regina is a friend and neighbor of mine here in Greenwich Village, who amongst other things, tells stories for a living and this month she will be telling “Love Stories” at the following venues:

1) Tuesday, February 9th 6pm - 8pm
Regina is making an appearance at the Cornelia Street Cafe’s “Storytelling Evening”
The Cornelia Street Cafe, 29 Cornelia Street (between Bleecker St. & West 4th)
Cost: $7 (includes 1 free drink)

2) Friday, February 12th @ 8pm - 9pm
“Against All Odds: Love” - Regina’s 7th annual concert of Love Stories sponsored by NYUSteinhardt, Program in Educational Theater - NYU, 35 West 4th Street, Room 303
Cost: Adults $5, Free w/NYU Student ID

3) Saturday, February 13th @ 7:30pm
“Exploring the Riddle of Love” - and evening of exploration w/several performers in conjunction w/Parabola Magazine - The Orchard House Cafe, 1064 1st Avenue @ East 58th Street - http://www.orchardhousecafe.com - http://www.parabola.org

Michelle Kawka
Congratulations to my client Michelle, who not only has a show opening this month (see below in the Events section), but was also recently elected to the Board as the new VP of the ASMP NY Chapter.

Miami Ad School’s New York Home is the “Digital District” in DUMBO
From the blog: “Miami Ad School is establishing a new Base School location in New York. We chose DUMBO for–among other things–its status as an emerging center of digital media.”

To read more and for more information please visit: http://blog.miamiadschool.com/posts/dumbo-is-nyc-digital?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter

Wilson A. Bentley “Snowflake Bentley” Vintage Snowflake Photos for Sale in New York

Vermont farmer Wilson A. Bentley was known as Snowflake Bentley for his pioneering 19th-century photography of more than 5,000 jewel-like snowflakes — no two alike.

Bentley, also known as The Snowflake Man, was fascinated with snowflakes, and his observations and experimentation made him the first person to capture a single snowflake with a camera.

On Thursday, January 21st 2010, 26 of his images were for sale at the four-day American Antiques Show presented by the American Folk Art Museum in New York. Ten of the images are of snowflakes, which he called snow crystals, and priced at $4,800 each. The others show winter scenes.

For more information about Wilson “Snowflake Bentley” please visit: http://www.snowflakebentley.com/

ChatterTip of the Month
Some Tips About Eggs

Separating eggs - instead of cracking the egg and then passing the yolk from one half of the broken shell into the other while the white drips down into the bowl - let alone the risk of breaking the yolk in the process - here’s a cool tip on how to separate eggs for you - crack the entire egg into a small funnel - providing the egg is fresh the white will pass through the funnel, apparently, leaving the yolk behind. I can’t wait to check this one out myself!

Boiling eggs – I remember learning this tip from my mother, and that is to put a little of our old faithful friend, vinegar in the water when hard or soft boiling eggs, to stop them from cracking and the whites leaking out of the shells.

Fresh eggs - and here’s a way to tell if the eggs are fresh or not - fresh eggs have chalkier shells, whereas older eggs have shiny shells. And always use eggs at “room temperature” so if you keep them in your refrigerator make sure you take them out to warm up for a little while before you start to cook with them. The same also goes for cooking meat - if you put a piece of “cold meat” straight from the refrigerator into a hot pan, the meat will literally react and go “aaaggggggggh!” and consequently turn out a lot tougher than if you were to cook it from “room temperature” in which case, the meat is more relaxed when it goes into the pan and therefore turns out much more tender!

Beating eggs - when beating egg whites, again, make sure they are at room temperature and be certain there is no yolk in the whites and that the bowl and beaters are perfectly clean. On the other hand, when whipping cream, you want everything to be chilled. Adding a pinch of salt and a few drops of lemon juice will apparently keep the beaten egg whites firmer, longer.


ChatterRecipe of the Month
Beatty’s Chocolate Cake

© Renée Comet
http://www.cometphoto.com
Represented by:
http://www.TEAcreatives.com

Of course there are a million different recipes with chocolate that I could have featured this month, but I decided to go with one of Ina Garten’s recipes again. This is apparently one of “the best chocolate cakes, ever!” So let’s see!

Parchment Paper (for lining the pans)
Butter (for greasing the pans)
1 ¾ cups all-purpose Flour (plus a little more for the pans)
2 cups Sugar
¾ cup good Cocoa Powder
2 teaspoons Baking Soda
1 teaspoon Baking Powder
1 teaspoon Salt (preferably Kosher)
1 cup Buttermilk (shaken)
½ cup Vegetable Oil
2 Eggs (extra-large & room temperature)
1 teaspoon pure Vanilla Extract
1 cup Coffee (hot, strong & freshly-brewed)

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and prepare two 8 inch round cake pans (should also be at least 1 ½ inches deep) by first lining them with Parchment Paper, grease them with a little Butter and then shake some Flour into each tin, tapping it gently all around so the bottoms and sides are lightly covered before shaking the excess out. Sift the Flour, Sugar, Cocoa Powder, Baking Soda, Baking Powder and Salt into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment and mix on low speed until combined. If you do not have an electric mixer, then I am sure this recipe could be made successfully by using a large mixing bowl and some “elbow grease!” In another bowl, combine the Buttermilk, Vegetable Oil, Eggs and Vanilla Extract. With the mixer on low speed, slowly add the wet ingredients to the dry. If you are mixing by hand, then fold the wet ingredients into the dry without over-mixing. With mixer still on low, add the Coffee and stir just to combine, scraping the bottom of the bowl with a rubber spatula. Pour the batter into the prepared pans and bake for 35 to 40 minutes, until a cake tester comes out clean. A cake tester can simply be a toothpick or a thin wooden kebab skewer. Cool the cakes in the pans for 30 minutes before turning them out onto a cooling rack and cool completely before frosting.

Chocolate Frosting
You may have your own chocolate frosting recipe that you prefer, but here is the one recommended for this particular cake. Don’t make the frosting until the cakes have cooled completely, then place one cake (top side down) on a plate, spread approximately 1/3 of the frosting on that layer, then place the other cake (top side up) on top, and spread the remainder of the frosting on to the top and sides of the cake until it is completely covered.

6 ounces good-quality semi-sweet Chocolate (broken into pieces)
8 ounces (2 sticks) unsalted Butter (room temperature)
1 Egg (yolk only)
1 teaspoon pure Vanilla Extract
1 ¼ cups Confectioner’s Sugar (sifted)
1 tablespoon instant Coffee Powder (or brewed coffee)

Place the Chocolate in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water. Stir until it has just melted and then set aside until it has cooled to room temperature. In the bowl of an electric mixer (or again, in a large bowl if you are mixing by hand) fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the Butter on medium-high speed until light yellow and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the Egg Yolk and Vanilla Extract and continue beating for 3 minutes. Turn the mixer to low, gradually adding in the Confectioner’s Sugar, then beating at medium speed, scraping down the bowl as necessary, until smooth and creamy. Dissolve the Coffee Powder in 2 teaspoons of the hottest tap water. (If you don’t have any instant Coffee, then use a tablespoon of strong, fresh-brewed Coffee.) On low speed, add the melted Chocolate and Coffee to the frosting mixture and combine until blended. Don’t whip! Spread immediately on the cooled cakes.

And now for this month’s events:

Beginning Friday, January 29th, 2010 thru Sunday, May 9th, 2010
Current Exhibitions at the International Center of Photography

“Twilight Visions: Surrealism, Photography, and Paris”, “Miroslav Tichy”, “Alan B. Stone and the Senses of Place” and  “Atget Archivist of Paris”

For more information about these exhibitions please visit: http://www.icp.org/site/c.dnJGKJNsFqG/b.732135/k.D880/Museum.htm


Friday, February 5th, 2010 - 6:30 - 10pm
“Hearts O’Plenty” Group Exhibition Opening - Featuring Photography by my client Edward Badham
@ Daniel Day Gallery
3025 6th Ave S
Birmingham, AL 35223

To view more of Edward’s work please visit: http://www.edwardbadham.com

For more information about the gallery please visit: http://www.dreammeccastudio.com

Saturday, February 6th, 2010 - 3- 5pm
“People & Characters” Photographs by Michelle Kawka - Opening Reception - Exhibition up through the end of March
@ The Cave & The Creek
10-93 Jackson Avenue
Long Island City, NY

Thursday, February 11th, 2010 - 7pm
ASMP NY & Blake Discher Present: I Stink At Negotiating Seminar
@ Brentwood Campus of Suffolk Community College
Long Island, NY

Cost: Free for ASMP Leaders and the Student and Faculty of Suffolk Community College, $10 for other Students, $25 for ASMP Members, $50 for Non-members, $40 for Professional Association Members

Do you panic when you have to discuss money with a client? Do you talk too fast, ramble or sound indignant? Do you give in too fast to a lower price or broad licensing terms?
From the website:
“Join Blake Discher for his highly acclaimed lecture on how to win jobs. Blake will teach you the steps to become a top negotiator. This critical skill can change your business in the most profound way — more and better work! Blake will walk you through real world scenarios, show you how to listen and talk to prospects turning them into loyal clients.”

For more information and to register please visit: http://asmp.org/education/event/info?id=64

Wednesday, February 17th, 2010 - 7 - 9pm
NY Monthly Photo Salon
@ SoHo Photo Gallery
15 White Street
New York, NY

Cost: $10 at the door

Presenting the work of: Ben Baker, Gabe Kirchheimer, Pixy Liao, Gary Paige, Jay Maisel and Howard Schatz (subject to change).

For more information or questions please contact Rich Pomerantz at rich@richpomerantz.com, Emmanuel Faure at emmanuel@emmanuelfaure.com or Bill Westheimer at bill@billwest.com.

Thursday, February 18th, 2010 - 6:30pm
Menuez Archive Projects Launch Party
Boutique Stock Collection by Doug Menuez
@ 526 West 26th Street, No. 304
New York, NY

Tuesday, February 23rd, 2010 - 5:30 - 7:30pm
Adorama and PhotoShelter Present: Click, Tweet, Repeat: The Power of Social Networks & Blogs for Your Photography
@ The Adorama Building
42 West 18th Street, 5th Floor
New York, NY

Cost: Free, but RSVP is require via email to secure your spot!

RSVP by email to: seoevent@photoshelter.com. Please include your name and contact info in the body of the email.

For more information please visit: http://www.adorama.com/catalog.tpl?op=WS_GroverSanschagrin_022310

Adorama is also sponsoring PhotoShelter’s New FREE Guide: Social Media For Photographers.

To request the free guide please visit: http://www.photoshelter.com/mkt/research/social-media-for-photographers?utm_campaign=partners&utm_medium=link&utm_source=adoramaemail&utm_content=socialkit

Coming Saturday, March 27th, 2010 - 7 - 11pm
Slideluck Potshow in Collaboration with Ladies Lotto Present: Women’s Work
Los Angeles, CA

Submission deadline is Monday, February 15th, 2010!
Cost per submission is $15.

From the website:
“Slideluck Potshow is proud to announce Women’s Work, a collaboration with Ladies Lotto that will be taking place in Los Angeles on March 27th, during Women’s Awareness Month.  At this multimedia slideshow and potluck dinner, artists from around the world will present work that illuminates aspects of the contemporary female experience.

This will be our first issue-based event and will explore the current state of women’s lives - from the inspiring success stories to the profound adversities.  In doing so, our aim is to celebrate the positive developments and to create dialog and awareness about the issues women face globally.”

For more information and to submit your work please visit: http://network.slideluckpotshow.com/group/womenswork
For more information about Ladies Lotto please visit: http://ladieslotto.blogspot.com/

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

January 2010

Greetings everyone, and welcome to the first ChatterBulletin of 2010! Now although January 1^st begins what we all know as our Calendar Year, New Year, according to Nature actually begins with the Season of Spring, in the month of March, and not in the middle of Winter, and the month of January. When you think about it, it does makes sense, but we are all used to wishing everyone a “Happy New Year” when in fact, all of nature is resting and hibernating! So for the meantime, I wish you all a wonderful 2010!

And, I would also like to wish those of you that have a birthday this month a very “Happy Birthday” - but in particular, I want to send a special shout-out to my two “sisters” - Charlotte on January 16th and Victoria on January 21st!

ChatterLog

Structure

ChatterClients of the Month

Andrew Buchanan

I was in Seattle back in November of 2009 and following my panel event I met with some new clients, three of whom were all architectural shooters. So we are featuring them, as well as a couple more of my existing clients that shoot buildings, both inside and out. First up is Andrew Buchanan, “photographing the spaces where we live, work, and play.”

Then we have Otto Greule, whose passion for ancient and classical architecture melds with his images of new and modern structures.

And don’t think that all Architectural shooters are men, because Juliann Tallino can climb up those skyscrapers with the best of them!

Jim Tetro

I thought it would be nice to feature not only photographers who shoot the structures, the buildings, but also ones who photograph their contents, starting with Jim Tetro, a client from the Washington, D.C. area.

Michael Grimm

Followed by Michael Grimm, who photographs interiors and resort lifestyle.

George Ross

George Ross is another client who also photographs interiors and has a wonderful ability to enrich and enhance the “details.”

Lee Brauer

And last but not least we have Lee Brauer, based in Richmond, VA, “photographer of humongous man-made objects and the people that make or live in them.” Lee was one of Chatterbox’ very first clients and has one of the best senses of humor!

ChatterNews

Mark Segal & SkyPan International

First up in the news section this month, and continuing on with the Architectural theme, is another old friend and client of mine Mark Segal. We go back to when I worked at Archive Magazine (yikes!) Aside from his commercial photography and his panoramic work, Mark is also co-owner of a company called SkyPan International. With his partner Jeff Jones, they are able to shoot panoramic and “corridor” views in between skyscrapers using a remote control helicopter, that is small enough to fit in a golf case. When they first started the chopper was much larger and had to be shipped separately each time, but now the equipment is small enough for them to travel with it. Previously they were gas-powered, but now they have gone “green” using all electric power. I have seen them in action and it is quite amazing, as evidenced by this photo I took when they were shooting off a rooftop in the West Village a couple of years ago!

The panoramic image we are using is from a recent job they shot in New York. The building located on Madison Avenue and 59th Street has views of Central Park only at certain levels, and SkyPan needed to capture those views in a limited amount of time in order to avoid shadows from adjacent buildings, as well as the fact that in the case of this particular client, the legal arbitration required immediate imagery. The shoot involved a view corridor study featuring views in full 360 degree seamless high resolution panoramics. For more information on what they do and to see more fantastic visuals, please visit their website: http://www.segalphoto.com & http://www.skypanint.com.

Keeping the May River Wild

Greg Smith is a photographer I met at Photo Plus Expo in October 2009. Keeping the May River Wild is the culmination resulting in his 30 years of documenting the river and it’s inhabitants through both film and still photography. For more information about the project and to see more of Greg’s work please visit: http://www.imediasmith.com. Also read an interview with Greg Smith and the project in the “ASMP Best of 2009″ article at: http://asmp.org/articles/best-2009-gsmith.html

From the director’s statement:

“The biggest effort was in some ways the easiest: packing myself and my gear into a kayak, morning after morning, week after week, paddling into the marsh and seeing what I found. On the surface, I found mud, heat, cold, corrosive saltwater… But beneath… I learned more patience than rearing children taught me. I confirmed my fears for the river. And I learned I could produce compelling work with simple tools.”

ChatterTip of the Month

Cleaning Jewelry

ChatterRecipe of the Month

Shepherd’s Pie

Cook the potatoes in salted, boiling water until tender (about 10 - 15 minutes). While they are cooking, sauté the onion and garlic with a little olive oil in a large skillet or saucepan. Add in the carrot (and some Celery, if you like) and then the ground meat and cook until lightly brown. Season with salt & pepper, Worcestershire sauce and a spoonful of Mustard to give it a slight “bite.” Sprinkle in a little flour and cook for a minute or so until the fat and juices have absorbed the flour. Then add a little chicken stock (and a dash of Red Wine, if you like.) Let the gravy thicken and finally add in a good handful of frozen peas. You could also add some sliced Mushrooms. Pour the meat mixture (which should be nice and thick) into a deep ovenproof dish and leave to cool for a few minutes before adding the mashed potato - this helps to prevent the potato from sinking. While the meat mixture cools, drain the potatoes and put them back into the hot saucepan. Add a good amount of Butter, Salt & Pepper and a dash of either Milk or Cream. Mash the potatoes until smooth & creamy but not too loose. Cover the meat mixture with the mashed potatoes and bake in a hot oven (about 400 degrees) for about 20 - 30 minutes or until the top is golden brown. For a “Cumberland Pie,” add a layer of grated Cheese mixed with some Breadcrumbs on top of the mashed potato.
And now for this month’s events. Be sure to scroll all the way to the bottom as I will be speaking for ASMP Connecticut at the end of the month:

Thursday, January 7th, 2010 - 5:00pm - 7:30pm

A Climate For Life Photography Exhibition

@ Fifty Crows Gallery

49 Geary Street, Suite 225

San Francisco, CA

Featuring photographs from the International League of Conservation Photographers. http://ilcp.com/

From the invitation:

“The 35 large format color prints focus on the beauty of our planet, challenge us with issues associated with global warming, and provide us with ways to reduce the risks to human health, economic prosperity and the planet’s irreplaceable biological diversity.”

Saturday, January 9th, 2010 - 5:00 - 8:00pm

The Center for Photography at Woodstock Group Exhibition “Landscape Forever” Curated by Dion Ogus and a Solo Exhibition “Vanitas” Photographs by Justine Reyes - Opening Receptions

Exhibitions on display from January 9th through February 8th, 2010.

@ CPW

59 Tinker Street

Woodstock, NY 12498

CPW is also offering it’s third annual Regional Portfolio Review Event taking place on Saturday, February 20th, 2010. Deadline to register is Saturday, January 16th! For more information please visit: http://www.cpw.org/SpecialEvents/RegionalReview/2010/pages/reviews.html

For more information about the exhibitions as well as schedule of classes, workshops and seminars please visit: http://www.cpw.org.

For more information please visit: http://asmpne.org/

Thursday, January 14th - Sunday, January 17th, 2010

19th Annual Photo LA

@ Santa Monica Civic

1855 Main Street

Santa Monica, CA 90401-3209

310-458-8551

For more information please visit: http://www.photola.com/general-information.html

Friday, January 15th, 2010 - 6:00pm - 9:00pm

“Miracle on the Hudson” One Year Anniversary of Flight 1549 Photography Exhibition Opening Reception

Exhibition on display January 15th - 29th, 2010

@ Calumet

22 West 22nd Street, 2nd Floor

New York, NY

Featuring photos by Stephen Mallon!

Images have been featured on CBS, NBC, MSNBC, Vanity Fair, New York Magazine, The Daily News, Wired, Artworks, PDN photo of the day and more!

For more information please visit: http://www.stephenmallon.com/content.html?page=7

Wednesday, January 20th, 2010 - 7:00pm - 9:00pm

NY Monthly Photo Salon

@ SoHo Photo Gallery

15 White Street

New York, NY

Cost: $10 at the door

For more information or questions please contact Rich Pomerantz at rich@richpomerantz.com, Emmanuel Faure at emmanuel@emmanuelfaure.com or Bill Westheimer at bill@billwest.com.
Thursday, January 21st, 2010 - 7:00pm - 9:30pm

ASMP Philadelphia Presents: Focus Philadelphia 2010 Opening Reception

Exhibition on view from January 15th through February 5th, 2010

@ University of The Arts

Hamilton Hall

320 South Broad Street

Philadelphia, PA 19102

For the second year in a row Chatterbox Enterprises is donating a one hour consultation as one of the door prizes.

For more information please visit: http://www.asmpphilly.com/

Also Thursday, January 21st, 2010 - 1:00pm - 6:00pm

Miami Ad School SF Winter Portfolio Review

@ Miami Ad School

415 Jackson Street (between Montgomery and Sansome)

San Francisco, CA 94111

Tuesday, January 26th, 2010 - 6:30 - 9:30pm

ASMP CT Presents: “Fruitful Marketing” with Louisa J. Curtis of Chatterbox Enterprises

@ Yale

Exact location TBD

Stay tuned to the ASMP Connecticut website.

Come hear creative consultant Louisa Curtis of Chatterbox Enterprises whet your appetite with ideas for more “Fruitful Marketing.” With so much to choose from and a variety of mouth-watering recipes – what works best from today’s menu? Some methods of promotion may still be essential and effective, others maybe not so much. There is a time and place for it all. The trick is to figure out what works best for you at this moment and be willing to change if necessary. Which options make the most sense and how can you help make your business more productive and abundant in today’s marketplace?

For more information please visit: http://www.ctasmp.org/events/83

Wednesday, January 27th, 2010 - 6:00pm

“A Positive Journey - Living Life With HIV” - Photo Stories by Clients of the HOPE Center of St. John’s Riverside Hospital

Photography Exhibition Opening Reception

Exhibition on display January 27th through February 3rd 2010

@ Yonkers Riverfront Library

One Larkin Center

Yonkers, NY

(across the street from the Metro North Station)

Project managed by one of my clients, Raeford Dwyer! http://www.raeforddwyer.com.

Posted in Bulletin, Events | No Comments »

December 2009

Greetings everyone and welcome to the December ChatterBulletin! As we head towards the end of 2009 let me begin by wishing each and every one of you safe, happy and healthy holidays and a prosperous, positive and successful 2010.
With love,
Louisa

ChatterLog
Fine Art

This month we are featuring photographers who have Fine Art either as their primary focus or as an additional income stream for their photography business. These days, many people are looking for added income, so licensing images either as fine art or as stock can potentially bring you in some extra money. But what makes an image “fine art” – who’s to say?

Historically Fine Art photography began with Pictorialism where photographers attempted to imitate painting styles. In America however, photographers such as Edward Weston and Ansel Adams, reacted and rebelled against that notion and formed Group f/64 who advocated more “straight” photography that did not simply imitate something else. It wasn’t until the twentieth century that both fine art and documentary photography became accepted by the art and gallery worlds.

Click here to see the full article in my Blog.

ChatterClients of the Month
Debbie Miracolo
Debbie Miracolo, whose “teen portrait project” we told you about in the Summer bulletin, will have selected images in a group show called “The Sweet Escape” which opens at the Morean Arts Center in St. Petersburg, Florida this coming January.
For more information about the upcoming exhibition please visit: http://www.moreanartscenter.org/exhibitions/future_exhibits/main.htm

Barry Steven Greff
Then we have Barry Steven Greff, whose series “Flow” will be featured in the forthcoming 2009 Silvershotz International Journal of Fine Art Photography, Portfolio Edition - http://www.silvershotz.com/
Some of these images are also currently on display at the Mason Murer Fine Art Gallery in Atlanta through the end of the year - http://www.masonmurer.com/

Steve Brickles
Next we have Steve Brickles who decided to stop and photograph these “Brilliant Trees” that he spotted when driving to a meeting in Oxford, England, earlier this year. These images will now be part of a group show at MV Labs in New York opening in March of next year. So you never know, if you see it, take those few minutes to stop and capture the image that stopped you in the first place.

Gordon Watkinson
And then we have Gordon Watkinson, whose initial book project “BAUHAUS TWENTY-21: An Ongoing Legacy” has turned into a much larger endeavor. Not only has the book been published in three languages (so far) there is also now a traveling exhibition, which is currently in Europe, as well as workshops with the photographer. His is a great example of how the seed of an idea can grow and blossom into an entire project - http://fotosynthesis.com/

ChatterNews

Here is a great idea for a holiday gift! Check out my client Joe Josephs’ beautiful Central Park 2010 Calendar which now available online at –
http://www.centralpark.com/store/2010-central-park-calendar.html

Chelsea Brewer

ChatterTip of the Month
Storage and Cleaning of Fresh Vegetables & Herbs

Did you know that radishes & turnips stay fresh and crisp if you store them in a bowl of cold water (tops removed) in the refrigerator? Certain vegetables however, should not be refrigerated, such as potatoes, onions & squash. They are best stored in a cool, dark area and some people even recommend storing potatoes in a brown paper bag with an apple. Remember we put an apple in a brown paper bag to speed up ripening fruit, yet with potatoes, it apparently prevents spoilage.

Whenever you wash fresh vegetables, such as spinach, cabbage or leeks, first soak them in a sink of salted cold water. The salt will draw out any lingering bugs, earth or sand particles. Larger leaf varieties like lettuce & spinach, or for example green vegetables such as broccoli, beans & snow peas are best if washed first, then patted dry and stored in a plastic bag with a damp paper towel.

One of the best ways to store celery & asparagus and in particular fresh herbs such as basil, cilantro & parsley is to put them in a glass of water, like a bunch of flowers. Cut the stems first and use a tall glass only half-filled with water so that just the stems are submerged. You can also place a plastic bag over the herbal bouquet to prevent wilting.

And a wilted lettuce will apparently revive itself if you soak it in iced water for a few minutes - well who wouldn’t be revived after that?

ChatterRecipe of the Month
Roasted Butternut Squash Soup

3 – 4 lbs Butternut Squash (peeled & seeded)
2 yellow Onions
2 Apples (preferably McIntosh) (peeled & cored)
3 tablespoons Olive Oil
Salt & Pepper
2 – 4 cups Chicken Stock (preferably home-made)
½ teaspoon Curry Powder

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Cut the squash, onions & apples into approximately one-inch cubes. Place them on one (or two) sheet pan(s), toss with olive oil, salt & pepper and roast until very tender for about 35 – 45 minutes, tossing occasionally. When the vegetables are done, you can either puree them in the food processor, or pass through a medium-blade food mill. Add some of the warm chicken stock to help puree the mixture. Place pureed vegetables and apples into a large pot and add enough chicken stock to make a thick consistency. Add the curry powder and season with some more salt & pepper to taste. Suggested garnishes: Freshly grated Apple, or some chopped Scallions. Other suggestions are diced Bananas, flaked & toasted Coconut, roasted & salted Cashews.

And now for this month’s events:

Saturday, December 5th, 2009 - 7:00pm - 9:00pm
Art At Bay - Inaugural Show & Reception
Group Show Featuring work by friend and artist Florence Poulain
@ Art At Bay, a cooperative gallery of the Staten Island Creative Community
70 Bay Street (1 block south of S.I. Ferry Terminal)
New York, NY

Gallery Hours for December: Friday’s 6:00pm - 9:00pm; Saturdays and Sundays noon - 6:00pm

Tuesday, December 8th, 2009 - 6:30pm - 9:30pm
ASPP NY Chapter 2009 Holiday Party & The Jane Kinne Picture Professional of the Year Award Presentation to Danita Delimont
@ Danal Restaurant
59 Fifth Avenue (one door south of 13th Street)
New York, NY

Cost: Free for members; $30 in advance for non-members / $60 at the door

For more information please visit: http://www.aspp.com/index.php/chapters/new-york/128-aspp-ny-chapter-holiday-party-a-picture-professional-of-the-year-award-presentation

Wednesday, December 9th, 2009 - 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Paolo Ventura “Winter Stories” Exhibition Reception
Exhibition on display Thursday, December 10th, 2009 thru Saturday, January 23rd, 2010.
@ Hasted Hunt Kraeutler
537 West 24th Street
New York, NY

Thursday, December 10th, 2009 - 6:30pm
ASMP NY Presents: A Talk by Photographer Greg Miller
@ School of Visual Arts, Amphitheater
209 East 23rd Street
New York, NY

Cost: FREE

Friday, December 11th, 2009 - 7:00pm - 11:00pm
ASMPNY 2009 Annual Holiday Party & NY Cares Coat Drive
@ Studio 385
385 Broadway, Suite 3F (between White and Walker Streets)
New York, NY

Cost: Free for ASMP members; $20 for non-members; $5 for students; FREE for all of those who bring a coat!

All coats will be donated to NY Cares. For information about this organization please visit: http://www.newyorkcares.org/

Space is limited! To RSVP please visit: https://asmp.org/education/event/register?venue_id=275

Wednesday, December 16th, 2009 - 7:00pm - 9:00pm
NY Monthly Photo Salon
@ SoHo Photo Gallery
15 White Street
New York, NY

Cost: $10 at the door

For more information or questions please contact Rich Pomerantz at rich@richpomerantz.com, Emmanuel Faure at emmanuel@emmanuelfaure.com or Bill Westheimer at bill@billwest.com.

As there are fewer photography events at this time of year I thought I’d give you some fun, interesting and free stuff to see in New York:

The Staten Island Ferry

http://www.siferry.com/
The Staten Island Ferry is run by the City of New York for one pragmatic reason: To transport Staten Islanders to and from Manhattan. Yet, the 5 mile, 25 minute ride also provides a majestic view of New York Harbor and a no-hassle, even romantic, boat ride, for free! One guidebook calls it “One of the world’s greatest (and shortest) water voyages.” The ferry departs from the Battery Park Terminal located in lower Manhattan and operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with the majority of departures between 6am and midnight.

National Museum of the American Indian

http://www.nmai.si.edu/
The National Museum of the American Indian is the 16th museum of the Smithsonian Institution. It is the first national museum dedicated to the preservation, study, and exhibition of the life, languages, literature, history, and arts of Native Americans. The George Gustav Heye Center is located at the historic Alexander Hamilton U.S. Custom House, One Bowling Green, adjacent to the Northeast corner of Battery Park, not far from the Staten Island Ferry, and is open daily from 10am to 5pm, and until 8pm on Thursdays.

The High Line

http://www.thehighline.org/
The High Line was built in the 1930s, as part of a massive public-private infrastructure project called the West Side Improvement. It lifted freight traffic 30 feet in the air, removing dangerous trains from the streets of Manhattan’s largest industrial district. No trains have run on the High Line since 1980. Friends of the High Line, a community-based non-profit group, formed in 1999 when the historic structure was under threat of demolition. The group works in partnership with the City of New York to preserve and maintain the structure as an elevated public park. The park is located on Manhattan’s West Side, currently running from Gansevoort in the meatpacking district to 20th Street and is open from 7am to 10pm daily.

The Forbes Galleries

http://www.forbesgalleries.com/
The Forbes Galleries are a unique treasure trove of collectibles tucked within the lobby of the Forbes Magazine’s headquarters in New York City. Admission is always free to this interesting museum featuring such items as toy soldiers, toy boats, Monopoly games and more. The galleries are located in the heart of Greenwich Village at 
62 Fifth Avenue and 12th Street and are open free to the public from 10am to 4pm on Tuesdays through Saturdays.

This useful link not only gives you details on everyday free deals and discounted admission at New York City museums and attractions but it also lists deals for each day of the week.
http://gonyc.about.com/cs/museums/a/museumdeals.htm

And this link gives you a list of all the Free Tickets for TV Shows taped in New York, such as David Letterman, Rachel Ray and Who Wants to be a Millionaire.
http://www.nytix.com/Links/TV/index.html

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Fine Art

This month we are featuring photographers who have Fine Art either as their primary focus or as an additional income stream for their photography business. These days, many people are looking for added income, so licensing images either as fine art or as stock can potentially bring you in some extra money. But what makes an image “fine art” – who’s to say?

Historically Fine Art photography began with Pictorialism where photographers attempted to imitate painting styles. In America however, photographers such as Edward Weston and Ansel Adams, reacted and rebelled against that notion and formed Group f/64 who advocated more “straight” photography that did not simply imitate something else. It wasn’t until the twentieth century that both fine art and documentary photography became accepted by the art and gallery worlds.

Interestingly, some years ago I took a photography course at FIT and part of the syllabus required that we write a paper on a particular photographer (which we selected from a hat.) I was assigned Robert Mapplethorpe and as I read, researched and I wrote, I found not only his story to be extremely engaging, but also the evolvement of photography into becoming a valued item. It was Robert Mapplethorpe who persuaded his lover and renowned art curator, Sam Wagstaff to start collecting photography, and as a very influential man amongst the rich and elite both he and Mapplethorpe began a revolutionary trend when previously photography had not exactly been considered “fine” let alone as “collectable” art.

Wikipedia tells us that “fine art photography” refers to photographs that are created to fulfill the creative vision of the artist. But then, in a way, aren’t all photographs? Apparently not, according to them, and I quote, “Fine art photography stands in contrast to photojournalism and commercial photography. Photojournalism provides visual support for stories, mainly in the print media. Commercial photography’s main focus is to sell a product or service.” Well yes, photojournalists certainly do “document” events and record our history, but it is their creativity and sensitivity to their subject that allows only them to capture those particular and evocative moments.

And yes, commercial photography is generally used to “sell’ something but we have seen for a while now an increase in “photo documentary” images being used for “commercial advertising” purposes. I recall for example, after Hurricane Katrina there were several documentary photographers who were awarded commercial campaigns based on their gritty, photojournalistic work. And look how “documentary-style” wedding photography has completely revolutionized that whole sector of our industry!

So we see the lines have become more blurred than ever. It is perfectly possible for “commercial” photographers to cross over into the “fine art” world, by publishing books, selling prints and participating in gallery shows. You don’t have to be only one type of photographer - you can have your finger in more than one pie, providing your message is clear. One of my clients decided to detach his “fine art” work from his more commercial “stock photography” and created two separate entities with two different websites. Others of you may choose to have licensing and fine art print information available on your commercial sites. No matter what you photograph or where your images end up - in a magazine, a gallery, a book, a billboard, remember it is all “fine” based on your acquired technique and it is all “art” based on your inherent creativity.

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November 2009

Greetings everyone and welcome to the November Chatterbulletin! During the month of November, we celebrate the Thanksgiving Holiday, so I decided to make this month’s theme “being thankful.”

ChatterLog
Being Thankful

ChatterNews:
Photographer Bob Carey
I originally met Bob at a dinner party a few years ago, and I immediately became a big fan of his work. He subsequently showed some of his photography at the monthly Photo Salon and we have stayed in touch ever since. Here are a couple of recent updates from him, which I thought I would share with you.

New York based photographer Bob Carey video of a recent shoot for his long-term personal project “Ballerina”:
http://www.onetruemedia.com/shared?p=9ba0efed9aa2d8be2c6274&skin_id=601&utm_source=otm&utm_medium=text_url

Bob Carey has also photographed illustrations for a children’s book that has just been published by HarperCollins Children entitled “500 Cats.”
The book was just featured on the Today Show: http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/26184891/vp/33548577#33548577

For more information about the HarperCollin’s Children’s book please visit: http://www.harpercollinschildrens.com/Kids/BookDetail.aspx?isbn13=9780061799099

To view more of Bob Carey’s work please visit: http://www.bobcarey.com

Bruce Byers
Bruce Byers is another photographer that I have known for a while now and he sent me this tidbit about his wife’s project that I thought I would share with you. Jeanne Byers and her business partner Rochelle Klein make the NEW YORK TIMES on Friday, October 30th with a piece about their new business making chic yet functional scratching posts for Cats.

To view the article please visit: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/29/garden/29pets.html?_r=1&emc=eta1
For more information to the scratch posts please visit: http://www.thecompanyofpets.com/

ChatterTip of the Month
Removing Stains - in particular Red Wine

So with all of this festive eating and drinking, you know that at some point, someone is going to spill some red wine. Here are a couple of interesting remedies. If you spill red wine on your clothes, immediately pour on some white wine (love it!) - leave for about a minute and then rinse in cold water. Apparently, the white wine neutralizes the red wine. Do not rub the stain - you will spread it!

Now, if you don’t have any white wine handy, we turn once more to our good old faithful friend - vinegar. I would go for the clear white vinegar, rather than apple cider vinegar for this one. Some other options are club soda, salt or soda crystals, which when poured or sprinkled onto the stain will absorb and lift the red wine out of the cloth. Again blot, don’t rub!

The sooner one acts with a red wine stain, the better, but should you have a red wine stain that has already dried, and if the fabric will stand up to it, dip the “spotted’ material in boiling milk and then rinse well in cold water.

ChatterRecipe of the Month
Brussels Sprouts with Bacon-Horseradish Cream

I can hear some of you groaning at the thought of Brussels sprouts, but cooked properly, they are delicious! I found this recipe on the ACE Fitness website and then debuted it last year for Thanksgiving. It dresses them up so they are simply irresistible. So much so, I wished I had made more.

1 1/2 lbs Brussels sprouts (trimmed & halved)
4 strips Bacon (crisp-cooked & finely chopped)
1/4 cup Sour Cream
2 teaspoons Horseradish
Salt & Pepper

Steam the trimmed and halved Brussels sprouts for about 6 to 8 minutes – do not overcook! They should still be a little crunchy. In a bowl, mix the sour cream, horseradish and chopped bacon together. Add the Brussels sprouts and toss so they are coated with the sauce. Season to taste and that’s it!

And now for this month’s events:

Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009 - 6:30pm - 9:00pm
APA Seattle/NorthWest Presents: SuperSites - Successful Self-Promotion for the Digital Age
Panel Discussion Moderated by Louisa J. Curtis
@ Demaray Hall @ Seattle Pacific University Campus
209 West Bertona Street
Seattle, WA 98119

Cost: APA Members & Students: $5; Other Photographer organization members: $10; Non-Members: $15

You must register for this event!

Gain valuable insights from creative professionals that will help you to refine your site to increase the quality and quantity of work you attract in the coming year. This panel of photo buyers will discuss what makes a successful website that clients will want to bookmark and return to regularly. The panelists will share their self-promotional do’s and don’ts, and weigh in on new and buzzworthy ways to “sell” yourself, such as having your own blog or using social networking sites. The discussion will culminate with a “live critique” using willing audience members’ websites – this is your chance to get candid, constructive feedback on your own site!

Panel line-up to include (subject to change):

Steve Cullen - Creative Director/Design Director @ Creature LLC, Seattle
Michael Elliott - Interactive Design Commander @ RocketDog Communications, Seattle
Ray Page - Interactive Creative Director @ DDB, Seattle
Demetre Arges - Creative Director @ BKWLD, Seattle
Greg Lutze - Freelance Art Director & Photographer, Seattle

Sponsored by Agency Access, Blink Bid and liveBooks!

For more information and to register please visit: http://apanw.org/

Louisa will also be staying in Seattle on Wednesday, November 4th and Thursday, November 5th for consultations. Information on how to reserve a spot can also be found at the APA website.

Thursday, November 5th, 2009 - 6:00 - 8:00pm
Umbrage Editions Presents Dreamboats Collective Opening Reception with the Artists
Exhibition runs November 5th Through December 22nd

Join Umbrage Editions for Dumbo’s First Thursday Gallery Walk for it’s presentation of work by the Dreamboat Collective, a new agency specializing in fine art and editorial from four young photographers - Adam Golfer, Joe Leavenworth, TJ Proechel and Daniel Shea - who founded and direct the collective collaboratively.

Thursday, November 5th, 2009 - 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Recessive Traits: In the Absence of the Dominant Element Opening Reception - A group show curated by Natalie Chan including work from a young photographer I know, Gabriela Herman
Exhibition on display from November 2nd through November 30th.
@ Broadway Gallery NYC
473 Broadway, 7th Floor
New York, NY
212-274-8993

This image is from Gabi’s website:

To view more of Gabi’s work please visit: http://www.gabrielaherman.com/

For more information please visit: http://www.broadwaygallerynyc.com/. Check out the Upcoming Exhibitions.
For more information about the participating artists please visit: http://recessivetraits.wordpress.com/

Thursday, November 5th, 2009 - 5:00pm
Manhattan Theatre Source Presents: The 5th of November Fundraising Gala
@ Washington Square Park
177 MacDougal Street (between West 8th and Waverly)
West 4th Street subway stop
New York, NY

Cost: $10 and up. Tickets purchased at the location.

Guy Fawkes Day
Most of you are familiar with Halloween, which is celebrated on October 31st – but many of you are perhaps not as familiar with another holiday, which we celebrate on November 5th in England – and that is “Guy Fawkes Day.” Guy Fawkes was famous for his gunpowder plot to blow up the Houses of Parliament back in 1605! He almost succeeded as well, but was arrested at the last minute and promptly executed. “Bonfire Night” is a commemoration of the plot. Traditionally everyone made an “effigy” of him (sort of like a scarecrow) and in the old days, the children would wheel their “guy” around to each house asking for “a penny for the guy.” Those pennies were then used to buy fireworks that were let off later that night as the effigies were all burned on bonfires. Growing up, I remember more “Bonfire night” parties than I do Halloween, and when I was at college our town took this whole thing very seriously. The general public would build a massive bonfire on the common and after a huge parade of massive “guys” that took up entire floats, they would all be burned together and the town would celebrate with a big fireworks display.

For more information on the history of Guy Fawkes please visit:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guy_Fawkes

Or, check out the fundraising gala at The Manhattan Theatre Source on Thursday!

From the flyer:
“Entertainments to include the Gunpowder Plot Trail, live music, cabaret, visual arts, film, fine food and wine, an English Parlor, a tombola and performance of the award-winning Reckoning of Kit and Little Boots & Brit Bits 6 preview.”

For more information please visit: http://www.theatresource.org/index.htm

Thursday, November 12th, 2009 - 7:00pm - 11:00pm
American Photography 25 & American Illustration 28 - The Party
@ Angel Orensanz Foundation
172 Norfolk Street (off E. Houston)
New York, NY

Cost: $50 per person, $25 for students and FREE for AP25 and AI28 selected winners.
Must RSVP!

Come celebrate the most recent publication by American Photography 25 and American Illustration 28.

For more information and to RSVP please visit: http://www.ai-ap.com/pubparty/page2.html

Friday, November 13th, 2009 - 7:00pm
NY Slideluck Potshow XIV
@ The Aperture Foundation
547 W. 27th Street, 4th Floor
New York, NY

Cost: $10, RSVP required due to limited space! Ticket must be purchased.

For more information and to purchase ticket please visit: http://network.slideluckpotshow.com/events/slideluck-potshow-xiv-in-nyc

Image submission deadline has been extended to Wednesday, November 4th, 2009!
For more information about submissions please view the guidelines at: http://network.slideluckpotshow.com/group/slpsnyc

For more information on the Aperture Foundation please visit: http://www.aperture.org/

Saturday, November 14th, 2009
New Koren Reyes Photography Studio Opening in Greenwich, CT
@ 85 Greenwich Avenue
Greenwich, CT

For more information and to view Koren’s work please visit: http://www.maternitybykoren.com/ and http://facesinphotos.com/fine-art/jfr_index.html

Monday, November 16th, 2009 - 7:00pm
ASMPNY Presents: Mary Virginia Swanson Lecture and Food Drive
@ Studio 385
385 Broadway (Between White and Walker Streets)
New York, NY

Cost: ASMP Members: FREE but are encouraged to bring a food donation, Non-Members: $20 or $15 with food donation, Students with I.D.: $5 or free with food donation.

The food will be delivered to one of the needy food pantries in NYC. Please bring non-perishable food!

From the website:
“In this lecture, marketing consultant/educator Mary Virginia Swanson provides an overview of the fine art market for photographers.

Updated frequently, this lecture is a must for all photographers considering exploring the fine art market and provides current insights on marketing and details of upcoming deadlines and events.”

For more information and to register please visit: http://www.asmpny.org/

Wednesday, November 18th, 2009 - 7:00pm
NY Monthly Photo Salon
@ SoHo Photo Gallery
15 White Street
New York, NY

Cost: $10 at the door

For more information or questions please contact Rich Pomerantz at rich@richpomerantz.com, Emmanuel Faure at emmanuel@emmanuelfaure.com or Bill Westheimer at bill@billwest.com.

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October 2009

So why talk about success? What does success mean exactly? Success will mean different things for different people. In the money-driven world we live in today success is largely judged as financial. But for a photographer, success could mean finally finishing up that new website, or winning an award in a national contest, or maybe you just secured a big ad campaign? Perhaps you just licensed your first stock image or participated in a fine art gallery show. Whatever your definition of success may be and wherever you are in your career - there is a common thread that binds all of these success stories together. That thread is made from a positive attitude, hard work and commitment and this month’s clients all reflect these attributes in some way or another.

The dictionary definition of the word success is “outcome” or “result” - we may not always reach the outcome we desire, but if we do not put our best efforts forward, then success is going to be even harder or perhaps impossible to attain. These are all photographers who have stayed the course, and found a way to continue expressing their photographic passion, even when the going was tough. All of them have spent the time and money required to market them selves consistently so that they have seen tangible results and their efforts rewarded. It is also interesting to note that these are all photographers who have stayed in touch with me and continued to ask for help, if and when they needed it. It is important to remember that you do not have to, nor can you, do it all by yourself. So remember to ask for help.

First up is Chris Crisman, whose “rocket boy” image is featured on this year’s cover of the Photo Plus Expo Seminar Program. Chris’ business continues to grow steadily and his assignments have evolved from music and editorial to also include major advertising assignments as well. Next we have Stephen Flint, who like Chris, is starting to see the “fruits of his marketing labors” after revamping his website and promoting regularly to his targeted mailing lists. And then we have Michelle Kawka, who has been continuing to grow ever since we met. She started by working for the local newspaper and has built her image library while developing her craft. Her recent success story was receiving placement in the ASMP Annual Best of Issue for her project “ThisIsOurQueens.com” which consists of a series of 200 portraits of people who live, work or are from the borough of Queens.

It is stories like these, no matter how big or small, that are rewarding and have me gushing like a proud parent. I feel good in the knowledge that I have helped them on their journey somehow. And most of all, it is a testament to their having a good mind-set, with an ongoing determination and strong work ethic. Speaking of which, I really must get to that filing…

Speaking of Success, Congrats to one of my newer clients, Lauren Grabelle!
The American Kennel Club (AKC) has featured her on the cover of it’s latest publication and has included a six page article on her and professional dog photography.

To view more of Lauren’s work please visit: http://www.lgphoto.com/
To view Lauren’s blog please visit: http://laurengrabelle.blogspot.com/

ChatterClients of the Month

Chris Crisman

http://www.crismanphoto.com/


Stephen Flint

http://www.stephenflint.com/

Michelle Kawka

http://www.michellekawka.com/

ChatterTip of the Month
Ripening Fruit - Especially Bananas

Photo by Alfredo Gugig http://www.alfredogugig.com/

Seeing as this month’s ChatterRecipe calls for “ripe” bananas, let’s talk about ripening fruit. Bananas generally stay fresher for longer when keep separately, but if you want to ripen them quicker (or any fruit for that matter) - place them in the fruit bowl amongst the other fruit (in particular apples). Alternatively, you can also ripen bananas by placing them in a closed paper bag. Add an apple to the bag and the fruit will ripen even faster. Apples give off ethylene gas, which causes fruit to ripen. Again, this works with many fruit such as pears, mangoes and even avocados. Placing a toy gorilla next to the bananas does not affect the ripening process.

Nowadays, there is a tendency to return from the supermarket and just put everything in the refrigerator. However, many fruits are better and should not be refrigerated. For instance, tomatoes (yes, technically the tomato is a fruit) should never be refrigerated. My mother would always have a bowl of fresh tomatoes on the kitchen counter at varying stages of “ripeness.” If you compare the taste of a “fresh” tomato to a “refrigerated” one, the difference is evident. There are mixed opinions as to whether or not you should refrigerate bananas, but if you do, they suggest you wrap them individually in plastic wrap and keep them in the vegetable drawer or at the bottom of the refrigerator and ensure they are not stored with other fruits.

Another way to store bananas if you can’t eat them as fast as they ripen is to peel them when they are still fresh and store them in plastic bags or containers in the freezer, either whole, in pieces or mashed. That way they can be added to smoothies or used for baking any time. If you cut bananas to use fresh, squeeze some lemon juice over them to prevent them from turning brown. When I was a kid, one of my favorite sandwiches was made with mashed banana, a dash of lemon juice and a touch of sugar. And while living in Paris, my staple sandwich was comprised of peanut butter, sliced banana, a drizzle of honey with a sprinkle of ground cinnamon. Yum.

ChatterRecipe of the Month
California Banana Cake

This is another recipe that someone gave to me years ago and is a tried and trusted faithful. FYI - bananas that are turning or are already completely bruised and brown are great for this recipe. In fact, any time you want to cook with bananas or plantains, the riper they are the better because they are much sweeter! So if you have some bananas lingering in the fruit bowl that you just know you are not going to eat, then this is a tasty way to use them up!

1 stick or 4oz of Butter (room temperature)
2 Eggs (beaten)
1 cup of ripe, mashed Bananas (usually about 3 bananas)
1 1/2 tablespoons Lime Juice (or lemon)
1 1/3 cups of Flour (all-purpose)
1 cup Sugar
1 teaspoon Baking Soda
½ teaspoon Salt

Beat the butter until creamy - then blend in the mashed bananas, eggs and juice. I also like to add a little Vanilla Essence to the wet ingredients as well. Sift the flour through a sieve - then measure out 1 1/3 cups again. Sift once more with the rest of the dry ingredients. If you prefer to substitute Honey instead of sugar, add it with the wet ingredients, but you won’t need as much as a cup! Now fold in the dry ingredients to the wet mixture. Be careful not to over-mix! I also like to add about a cup of Raisins, or you could add some chopped Nuts, even some tiny Chocolate Chips. Turn the mixture into a lightly greased and floured 9” tin - a loaf tin is perfect for this recipe - and bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes. Test with a toothpick to make sure it is done. Leave to stand and cool before turning out.

And now for this month’s events:

Saturday, October 3rd, 2009 & Sunday, October 4th, 2009 - 12:00pm - 6:00pm
The 3rd Annual Westbeth Music Festival
@ Westbeth Courtyard
155 Bank Street (@ Bethune Street between Washington and the West Side Hwy)
New York, NY

Jazz, Classical, Soul, World, Folk featuring.. Bobby Harden, Val Ghent, Chris Hunter, David del Tredici, Madeline Yayodele Nelson, Eve Zanni, Richard Hundley and more!

Wednesday, October 7th, 2009 - 6:00pm - 9:30pm
ASMP Annual Photography Portfolio Review - ASMP Members Only
@ Tribeca Skyline Studios
205 Hudson Street, Penthouse
New York, NY

Cost: Free for Members

If you are a member of ASMP and would like to attend the Review please visit: https://asmp.org/education/event/register?venue_id=237

Thursday, October 8th 2009 - Opening Reception 6:00pm - 8:00pm
“Gone to the Dogs” Group Show Including Work by my Client Lauren Grabelle
Exhibition Runs Through Saturday, November 7th, 2009
@ Denise Bibro Fine Art Gallery
Denise Bibro Fine Art
529 West 20th Street 4W
New York, NY

For more information on the gallery show please visit: http://www.denisebibrofineart.com/


Thursday, October 8th - Sunday, October 11th, 2009
NY Food & Wine Festival

Photo’s by Adriana Mullen http://www.adrianamullenphotography.com/

For more information please visit: http://www.nycwineandfoodfestival.com/2009/

Thursday, October 8th, 2009 - Opening & Book Signing - 4:00pm - 8:00pm
“Three” & “Curse of the Black Gold” Photographs by Ed Kashi
@ Fifty Crows Gallery
49 Geary Street, Suite 225
San Francisco, CA

From the invitation:
“THREE is a series of triptychs that explore the relationship between individual photographs, rather than relying on the isolated image.”

From the invitation:
“CURSE OF THE BLACK GOLD is Kashi’s graphic exposé on the effects of 50 years of oil in the Niger Delta.”

To view more of Ed Kashi’s work please visit: http://www.edkashi.com/
For more information about the exhibition please visit: http://www.fiftycrows.org

SuperSites Webinar with liveBooks
Final date TBD later in October

To view the updated schedule on the liveBooks Events Calendar please visit: http://www.livebooks.com/community/events/index.php?filter=webinars

Wednesday, October 14th, 2009 - 12:00pm - 8:00pm
Picturehouse New York 2009 - Event for Picture Buyers Not Photographers
@ Metropolitan Pavillion
125 West 18th Street (between Sixth and Seventh Avenues)
New York, NY

Cost: Free to Picture Buyers, as long as you register!

About Picturehouse, from the website:
“Picturehouse is all about connecting stock media suppliers with buyers.
We run annual trade events in New York and Chicago, attended by hundreds of professional stock media buyers. Our events give stock media agencies a unique opportunity to gain new business and build loyalty from existing clients. Entry is free and restricted to professional stock media buyers and researchers. As an added incentive for buyers to come along we choose inspiring venues and provide free quality food and beverages throughout the day.
We also manage an international online directory of stock media suppliers. To add an entry is free, and we offer low cost subscription options to enhance the value of your listing.”

For more information and to register please visit: http://www.picturehouse-us.com/event.php?city=newyork

Wednesday, October 14th, 2009 - 6:00pm - 12:00am
First Annual MAD Paperball - Congrats to Tasja Keetman!
@ Museum of Arts and Design
2 Columbus Circle
New York, NY

Cost: Must purchase tickets!

While enjoying her NEA residency at the Women’s Studio Workshop in upstate New York, Tasja Keetman, an artist friend of mine, produced an art piece that will be auctioned off at the New York Museum of Arts and Design’s First Annual “MAD Paperball.”

This is an art, fashion, design and dining gala benefit celebrating MAD’s one year anniversary!

For more information and to purchase tickets please visit: https://thestore.madmuseum.org/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=TMOADOS&Category_Code=PAPER_BALL

For more information about the Women’s Studio Workshop please visit: http://www.wsworkshop.org/

Friday, October 16th, 2009 - 6:00pm - 9:00pm

“Behind Photographs - Archiving Photographic Legends” - Tim Mantoani - Opening Reception

Exhibition will run from Friday, October 16th - Friday, October 30th, 2009

Official Event of Lucie Week

Saturday, October 17th, 2009 - 7:00pm - 10:00pm
International Photography Awards “Best of Show”
@ Splashlight Studios, SOHO
One Hudson Square
75 Varick Street, Third Floor
New York, NY

Cost: Free with RSVP

RSVP here: bestofshow@photoawards.com

For more information please visit: http://photoawards.com/en/invites/BOS2009.php

Monday, October 19th, 2009
The Lucie Awards
@ Lincoln Center
New York, NY

From the website:
“The 7th Annual Lucie Awards celebrates Master Photographers, announces the 2009 IPA Competition Winners and the Lucie Awards Support Categories. Presented by The Lucie Foundation with the generous support of AtEdge, Blurb, Duggal, Hance Partners, Lacie, Splashlight Studios and Photo District News.”

For more information and to purchase tickets please visit: http://www.lucieawards.com/index.php

Wednesday, October 21st, 2009 - 12:30pm - 2:00pm
Allegra Wilde’s artandphotoagents Forum Lunch Meeting - This Event is for Photo Agents Only & Not Photographers
@ Tribeca Skyline Studios
205 Hudson Street, Penthouse
New York, NY

Wednesday, October 21st, 2009 - 1:00pm - 6:00pm
Miami Ad School Portfolio Review in New York
@ Laura Parsons Pratt Conference Center
At the Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies
281 Park Avenue South
New York, NY

For more information please visit: http://www.miamiadschool.com

Wednesday, October 21st, 2009 - 6:00pm - 9:00pm
“Windows” Photographs by Ted Kawalerski Opening & Artist Reception
Exhibition will run from October 19th - October 29th, 2009
@ Calumet
22 West 22nd Street
New York, NY

http://www.tedkawalerski.com/

Wednesday, October 21st, 2009 - 6:15pm
The Business of Microstock Panel Discussion
@ The New Yorker Hotel
481 Eighth Avenue
New York, NY

Cost: $75

Register here: http://www.mediabistro.com/courses/cache/crs4856.asp

From the website:
“While the panel is designed to give traditional stock photographers and business owners insight into how to make money in the microstock market, it will obviously have a lot of relevance to existing microstock photographers and related businesses.”

For more information please visit: http://www.microstockdiaries.com/the-business-of-microstock-panel-discussion.html

Wednesday, October 21st, 2009 - 7:00pm
NY Monthly Photo Salon
@ SoHo Photo Gallery
15 White Street
New York, NY

For more information or questions please contact Rich Pomerantz at rich@richpomerantz.com, Emmanuel Faure at emmanuel@emmanuelfaure.com or Bill Westheimer at bill@billwest.com.

Wednesday, October 21st, 2009 - 7:00pm - 11:00pm
Resource Magazine Warm-Up Party - Invitation Only
@ Tribeca Skyline Studios, Suite 1201
205 Hudson Street, Penthouse
New York, NY

Come celebrate Resource Magazine’s fall issue release and to view the “10 BEST 10″ photography contest show!

For information about Tribeca Skyline Studios please visit: http://www.tribecaskylinestudios.com/

Thursday, October 22nd - Saturday, October 24th, 2009
NYC photoWorks Portfolio Review
@ Sandbox Studio
250 Hudson Street, 22th Floor
New York, NY

For more information please visit: http://www.nycphotoworks.com/index.html
To register please visit: http://www.nycphotoworks.com/port_rev/port_rev_frames.html

Thursday, October 22nd - Saturday, October 24th, 2009
Photo Plus Expo
@ The Javit’s Center
New York, NY

For more information on the expo please visit: http://www.photoplusexpo.com

ASMP Portfolio Reviews @ Photo Plus Expo
Louisa will be reviewing portfolio’s at the ASMP booth on Thursday, October 22nd and Saturday, October 24th, 2009! Click here to sign up for a FREE review: http://asmp.org/content/free-consultations-photoplus-expo

Thursday, October 22nd, 2009 - 9:00pm - 1:00am
PDN Party - The Bash - Must Purchase Ticket! Cost $25
@ The Hammerstein Ballroom
Manhattan Center, New York, NY

Cost: $25 if you purchase your ticket in advance, $35 if paid at the door

Open bar for the first hour only!

For more information and to purchase your ticket please visit: http://www.photoplusexpo.com/ppe/5300/attendee/special-events.jsp

Friday, October 23rd, 2009 - 1:15pm - 3:15pm
SuperSites at PhotoPlus Expo! Session Number: FB6
Moderated by Louisa J. Curtis
@ The Javit’s Center
New York, NY

For more information and to view calender of events please visit: http://www.photoplusexpo.com/ppe/5300/conference/conference-schedule.jsp

Friday, October 23rd, 2009 - 1:30pm
APA and Agency Access Present: The Photographer’s Survival Guide for Today’s Market
@ Studio 225/ Baglio Photo Studio
225 West 28th Street
New York, NY

Cost: APA Members and Students: $55, Non-member: $65
Additional $5 if paid at door.

From the website:
“Today’s photography assignment world is changing dramatically. With so much world devastation, economy worries, stock vs. assignment, etc…how is a photographer to keep up?
We are presenting a solution: “the photographer’s survival guide (for today’s market)”. This 2 hour program is for all levels of photographers - those who are just starting and those who have been in the business for years and want to take it to the next level.”

For more information and to register please visit: http://www.apany.org.

Friday, October 23rd, 2009 - 6:00pm - 8:00pm
ASMP Annual Member Meeting
@ The Javit’s Center
New York, NY

Cost: FREE to all members.

From the website:
“There will be presentations by ASMP President Richard Kelly and Executive Director Eugene Mopsik, and a keynote address, “Leveraging Social Media for Your Business,” by member and social media authority Jack Hollingsworth.”

For more information please visit: http://asmp.org/articles/annual-member-meeting.html

Thursday, October 29th, 2009 - 6:00pm - 8:00pm
PhotoShelter Presents: Analyze This! Google Analytics for Photography Websites
@ Adorama
42 West 18th Street, 5th Floor
New York, NY

Cost: FREE!

Space is limited and you must register! To register please send RSVP email to seoevent@photoshelter.com. Please include your name and contact info in the body of the email. All attendees will receive a coupon for $30 off an Annual PhotoShelter Standard Account!

From website:
“For photographers who are interested in learning more about using Google Analytics for Photography Websites, on Thursday October 29th, at the Workshops@Adorama, PhotoShelter CEO Allen Murabayashi will discuss the basics and more, for photographers who want to use Google Analytics to get more from their websites.”

Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009 - 6:00pm - 9:00pm
APA Seattle/NorthWest Presents: SuperSites - Successful Self-Promotion for the Digital Age
Panel Discussion Moderated by Louisa J. Curtis
@ Demaray Hall @ Seattle Pacific University Campus
209 West Bertona Street
Seattle, WA 98119

Gain valuable insights from creative professionals that will help you to refine your site to increase the quality and quantity of work you attract in the coming year. This panel of photo buyers will discuss what makes a successful website that clients will want to bookmark and return to regularly. The panelists will share their self-promotional do’s and don’ts, and weigh in on new and buzzworthy ways to “sell” yourself, such as having your own blog or using social networking sites. The discussion will culminate with a “live critique” using willing audience members’ websites – this is your chance to get candid, constructive feedback on your own site!

Panel line-up to include (subject to change):

Steve Cullen - Creative Director/Design Director @ Creature LLC Advertising Agency in Seattle
Michael Elliott - Interactive Design Commander @ RocketDog Communications in Seattle
Kelly Page - Freelance Production Manager formerly w/DDB Seattle
Jon Lucich - Photographer & Sales Executive @ liveBooks

Sponsored by Agency Access, Blink Bid and liveBooks!

Full details will be up on the website very soon! For more information please visit: http://apanw.org/

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

September 2009

Greetings everyone and welcome to the September Chatterbulletin!  Even though Labor Day falls late this year, we still have plenty going on for you this month, so be sure to scroll all the way down so as not to miss anything! In keeping with the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week at Bryant Park this month, our theme is “Fashion” and we are featuring a group of my clients who all shoot fashion and beauty. They are Karine Basilio, Steve Brickles, Jeffrey Gamble, Johnson Sarkissian and Patrick D. Wade. And watch out for our new bulletin features, such as the ChatterRecipes and the ChatterLog.

ChatterLog
Louisa & Louisa - A Swimming Story

Photo © Stephen Flint

After a predictably quiet summer, everyone was returning to work and the kids were back at school. I spent a large portion of August (less so in July, basically due to the rubbish weather) at my local New York City “free” outdoor swimming pool. “Free” is good, especially when you are broke, and boy oh boy, did that water feel fantastic! I find swimming to not only be great physical exercise, but also a very mentally therapeutic and emotionally calming activity. I’ve always enjoyed swimming but I’m not a huge fan of the beaches around the New York area. I’d rather be in the Caribbean (who wouldn’t?) but that wasn’t an option, and the hurricanes had been producing such big waves and rip tides that you couldn’t really swim in the ocean, even if you wanted to. So it was the Tony Dapolito Recreation Center for me and I felt extremely grateful to have a swimming pool so close to where I live. Formerly the Carmine Recreation Center, it was renamed after Tony Dapolito, “The Mayor of Greenwich Village” whose family had started the famous Italian bakery Vesuvio’s on Prince Street.

Click here to see the full article in my Blog.

Now, if you are in the New York area and you haven’t already seen the Richard Avedon exhibition at ICP - Avedon Fashion 1944-2000 - then you have until September 20th. A truly wonderful collection with many of his iconic images - not to be missed! But while you are there, be sure to check out the accompanying Paris Fashion 1945 exhibit in the café area on the lower level. Following World War II, in an attempt to revive the battered French couture industry, designers made miniature outfits for small, wire-frame dolls and created an exhibition entitled “Theatre de la Mode,” with over 230 of them displayed in stage-like sets. It was a huge success and traveled the globe until the return of the fashion industry, at which point the dolls disappeared. Years later, they re-surfaced and were returned to Paris, where they were restored and photographed by David Seidner - sadly there is only one of the original dolls along with the photographs in this exhibit - truly adorable though!

Karine Basilio

http://www.karinebasilio.com/

Steve Brickles

http://www.stevebrickles.com/

Jeffrey Gamble

http://www.jeffreygamble.com

Johnson Sarkissian

http://www.johnsonsarkissian.com/

Patrick D. Wade

http://www.patrickdwade.com/

ChatterTip of the Month
Natural Remedies for Indoor Pests!

In the last bulletin we gave you some remedies for insect bites and sunburn. So now, as the Summer ends and Fall approaches, we are moving our lives back indoors again – along with some unwanted room-mates! Here are some natural remedies for a few of them…

Cockroaches – place dried bay leaves all around the baseboard, cracks and corners of the room, kitchen cupboards, stove etc. You’d be amazed at how such a nice-smelling and affordable herb can be such an effective deterrent. Another interesting mixture is to take 1 cup of Plaster of Paris, 2 cups of oatmeal and a quarter of a cup of sugar. Mix well together and place around the edges of the floor, especially in dark corners and chinks.

Mice – if you don’t have a cat, then you may well have a mouse problem – like I do! Take some cotton wool balls and sprinkle a few drops of Oil of Peppermint on them. Place the cotton balls in all the corners and possible cracks wherever the mice might squeeze through.

Moths – to protect your Winter sweaters, fill a little muslin bag with cedar wood shavings. Allspice and thyme are also said to work well and smell a lot nicer than those camphor moth balls!

ChatterRecipe of the Month
We are now in the month of September, and the Astrological sign of Virgo, representing health, harvest and vegetarians – so let’s start with this one:

Photo by Kurt Wilson http://www.kurtwilsonphotography.com

Homemade Hummus
Have you noticed how much they are charging these days for a little container of Hummus from the grocery store? Save yourself some money and make your own!
This is an easy-peasy recipe that can be thrown together quickly and served with drinks or a nice cold beer! And, as it is Vegetarian, everyone can enjoy it. You can vary the ingredients to suit your taste preferences.

1 can (14 – 16oz) of Chick Peas (garbanzos) – rinsed and drained
About a third to a half cup of fresh-squeezed Lemon Juice
2 small cloves Garlic – minced
About a quarter cup of Tahini (sesame paste)
A quarter cup of Water
About a teaspoon of Olive Oil
A half-teaspoon (or more to taste) of ground Cumin
Salt, Pepper & Cayenne

Blend all the ingredients together in a food processor or blender.
Season to taste and add a half-cup of chopped Parsley.
Serve with warm slices of Pita Bread (crackers or corn chips) and slices of assorted raw Vegetables. A bowl of good Olives goes wonderfully alongside this as well.

Events for September:

Wednesday, September 9th, 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Familiar Strangers - Photographs by Josephine Dvorken
@ Umbrella Arts
317 East 9th Street (between 1st and 2nd Avenue)
New York, NY

For more information about the gallery please visit: http://www.umbrellaarts.com/

To view more work from the artist please visit: http://www.josephinedvorken.com/

Thursday, September 10th, 2009 - 7:00pm
ICP “Avedon and Fashion” Lecture
@ HBO Auditorium
1100 Sixth Avenue at 42nd Street, 15th Floor
New York, NY

Cost: $5

From ICP website:
“An evening dialogue devoted to the changing paradigm of fashion.”

For more information,to view ticket options and purchase tickets please visit: http://shopping.icp.org/store/product.html?product_id=32210

Thursday, September 10th - Thursday, September 17th, 2009
New York’s Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Spring 2010 Collections

For more information please visit: http://mbfashionweek.com/newyork/

Friday, September 11th - Sunday, September 13th, 2009
NYC photoWorks Workshops
@ Sandbox Studio
250 Hudson Street, 11th Floor
New York, NY

From the NYC photoWorks website:
“3 days, 15 workshops to choose from: 2 days of 3-hour workshops, plus a day of shooting “on assignment” throughout New York City with a leading photographer. Small classes for 1-on-1 interaction.”

For classes, schedules and to register for workshops, please visit: http://www.nycphotoworks.com/index.html
&
http://www.nycphotoworks.com/workshops/workshops_main.html.

Saturday, September 12th, 2009 - 7:00pm - 11:00pm
“Speculum” An Exhibition of Students Work from Miami Ad School
@ 4141 NE 2nd Avenue, Suite 203D
Miami, FL

Wednesday, September 16th, 2009 - 7:00pm - 8:00pm
NY Monthly Photo Salon
@ SoHo Photo Gallery
15 White Street
New York, NY

Presenting the work of:  David Field, Flora Hanitijo, Sarah Small (one of my Chatterbox clients!), Jay Maisel and Howard Schatz (subject to change).

Fore more information or questions please contact Rich Pomerantz at rich@richpomerantz.com, Emmanuel Faure at emmanuel@emmanuelfaure.com or Bill Westheimer at bill@billwest.com.

Monday, September 21st - Friday, September 25th, 2009
Advertising Week in NYC

From the Advertising Week website:
“Advertising Week is North America’s premier gathering of cutting edge communications leaders. The Week is a hybrid of thought leadership and special event programming, uniting clients, creatives, media and inspiring figures like Lorne Michaels, Ludacris, Jon Bon Jovi, Jimmy Wales, Dr. Jeffrey Sachs, Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Donny Deutsch, Lewis Black, Chaka Khan, Bob Greenberg, Emeril, Jimmy Fallon, Ziggy Marley . . . and many more.”

“Advertising Week’s mission is to galvanize the industry by creating an entertaining, enlightening and engaging platform for disparate parts of the business. Along the way, The Week is a tangible force – moving key industry goals around talent and diversity forward via GenerationNext, Advertising Futures and a broad partnership with Virtual Enterprise.”

For more information, registration, locations and events please visit: http://www.advertisingweek.com/index.php
& http://www.advertisingweek.com/events.php

Tuesday, September 22nd, 2009 - 6:30pm - 9:00pm
“The Art of the Deal: Pricing, Negotiating and Licensing”
An Evening With John Harrington
@ Adorama Building
42 West 18th Street, 5th Floor
New York, NY

Cost: $25

Registration deadline for this Seminar is Monday, September 21st, 2009.

From Adorama website:
“Join John Harrington, author of the best-selling ‘Best Business Practices for Photographers’, for an insightful and solutions-oriented presentation on how to generate more revenue from the assignments, through pricing examples and discussion, negotiation strategies, and demystifying licensing of your work.
Unlock the mysteries surrounding how to price your work, and learn ways to negotiate from a position of strength.”

For more information and to register please visit: http://www.adorama.com/catalog.tpl?op=WS_JohnHarrington_092209

Wednesday, September 23rd, 2009 - 6:30pm
ASPP NY Presents: Nancy Wolff - “The Future of Copyright”
@ Laura Parsons Pratt Conference Center
281 Park Avenue South at 22nd Street
New York, NY
347-229-1384

Cost:
$10 for members
$20 for non-members
$5 for students with ID
Free to new members joining at the door

Space is limited! RSVP by Monday, September 21st, 2009.

From ASPP NY Evite:
“Nancy E. Wolff, internationally recognized digital media and intellectual property attorney (partner at Cowan, DeBaets, Abraham & Shepard, LLP), will bring us up to date on the legal issues and market forces surrounding the Orphan Works Bill, the Google Books Settlement and it’s opponents, the movement to make everything free and other timely issues.”

To view event information and to RSVP please visit: http://www.evite.com/pages/invite/viewInvite.jsp?inviteId=ZBLQWGRSKFWJSZNIITJD&li=iq&src=email&trk=aei6

For more information please email asppny@gmail.com.

Tuesday, September 29th, 2009 - 6:30pm - 9:00pm
The Business of Photography: A Panel Discussion With Top Industry Photographers’ Agents
Moderated by Louisa J. Curtis of Chatterbox Enterprises
@ Adorama Building
42 West 18th Street, 5th Floor
New York, NY

Cost: $25

Registration deadline for this Workshop is Thursday, September 24th, 2009.

Panel to include (may be subject to change):
Neil Binkley - Wonderful Machine
Patrick Casey - Marge Casey & Associates
David Laidler - Aurora Select
Frank Meo - Meorepresents
Laura Reid - Redux Pictures
Tricia Scott - MergeLeft Reps

From Adorama website:
“Louisa Curtis (Chatterbox Enterprises) presents a diverse panel of top artist representatives to share their insights on today’s photo industry from the agent’s perspective. Our panelists cover a cross-section of different approaches to representation; from a niche agency specializing in photojournalists, to a long-established, high-end advertising stable of talent, to a boutique web-based collective and a renowned photo agency that spans not just the country but also the globe, covering commercial and editorial photography as well as stock.”

For more information and to register for this event please visit: http://www.adorama.com/catalog.tpl?op=WS_LCurtis_092909

For a full list of all seminars and workshops at Adorama please visit: http://www.adorama.com/catalog.tpl?op=WS_List

Posted in Bulletin, Events | No Comments »

Louisa & Louisa - A Swimming Story

After a predictably quiet summer, everyone was returning to work and the kids were back at school. I spent a large portion of August (less so in July, basically due to the rubbish weather) at my local New York City “free” outdoor swimming pool. “Free” is good, especially when you are broke, and boy oh boy, did that water feel fantastic! I find swimming to not only be great physical exercise, but also a very mentally therapeutic and emotionally calming activity. I’ve always enjoyed swimming but I’m not a huge fan of the beaches around the New York area. I’d rather be in the Caribbean (who wouldn’t?) but that wasn’t an option, and the hurricanes had been producing such big waves and rip tides that you couldn’t really swim in the ocean, even if you wanted to. So it was the Tony Dapolito Recreation Center for me and I felt extremely grateful to have a swimming pool so close to where I live. Formerly the Carmine Recreation Center, it was renamed after Tony Dapolito, “The Mayor of Greenwich Village” whose family had started the famous Italian bakery Vesuvio’s on Prince Street.

I began the summer by thinking that I would go to the “adult lap swims” as I had done in previous years, but they were either at 7:00am in the morning (not exactly my time of day!) or 7:00pm in the evening. Well, it was already getting kind of grey and gloomy by that time of night so I was not feeling particularly enthusiastic about going regularly. Then, one evening, one of the ladies told me to check out the very beginning of a daytime “general session” before it got too busy. My previous experience of a “general” session had been super-crowded and totally off-putting, to say the least, so it had not even occurred to me to go in the middle of the day. Well, thankfully I took this lady’s advice and I started going at noon, during the week. Most days, I was able to get in a good half hour to an hour’s swim before all of the kids arrived. It felt really marvelous, and the sun was shining at that time of day! I even went when they opened on the weekend days as well. In fact, I barely missed a day! Some days it got very crowded very fast, and that was not as much fun, but you had to appreciate that everyone wanted to enjoy the refreshing water when it was hot and steamy in the city.

At a certain point during some of the sessions the lifeguards would open up the deep end of the pool where there was a diving board. I watched as a succession of kids and adults, one after the other, lined up to jump, dive, or “honey-pot” as hard as they could off the board and into the pool. Some were little kids, who were scared at first but then plucking up more courage with each turn they took. Others were hilarious show-off’s who were simply reveling in entertaining their buddies or impressing their girlfriends. There were a few occasions when the lifeguard had to dive off the chair and help someone to the side of the pool. The ‘jumping off of the board’ part may have been fun, but not being able to actually swim properly made it a little dangerous, to say the least.

Finally, I decided it was time for me to jump off the board, which I did. A few days later, I found myself instructing my inner self that I could not leave the pool until I had done a proper dive off the board. “But, it’s been years since I did that!” I said to myself. “Tough, you’re going to do it, so get on with it.” And I did! I finally plucked up the courage and I produced a half-good dive. And by the time I had done a few more over the next few days, I was feeling pretty good and even picking up a compliment here and there. So now I have a city tan, I turned fifty-five years old and I dived off the board at the local pool!

One day, as I was watching everyone going off the board, there was a young Asian boy, very muscular and obviously very fit, and yet, he was a terrible swimmer! He wanted so badly to get it, but his coordination was really off and he had difficulty with his timing and his strokes. So, on this particular afternoon, he sees everyone heading to the deep end and with a big silly grin on his face, he joins the queue. He attempts a dive, which quickly turned into a belly flop and down he went. He surfaced with arms flailing and within seconds not one, but two lifeguards were in the water helping him to the side.  Guess he won’t be attempting that again any time soon?

Towards the end of August I realized that I was turning into my mother, as I was now becoming a regular at the pool, and the locals were starting to say hello and even ask my name. My mother, although scared of deep water, loved to swim and was a regular for many years at her local pool, where she would swim during her lunch-hour. Her swimming pals were a particular set of friends that she only saw there, but they became very dear to her, nonetheless. By the time we got to the end of the month, all of the summer camps had finished and the crowds disappeared. So during the first week of September, although the temperature had dropped down to the seventies, we still had one more week of swimming and it felt like my own private pool, with hardly anyone there at all. Bliss!

One day, I saw one of the “regulars” who I had seen all month but never really spoken with. She wore a yellow and white striped bikini and had an enormous pregnant belly. We had all been observing her over the weeks, thinking that she must be about to the drop the baby any day now. I hadn’t seen her in a while but on the last Friday, there she was. The pool was very quiet and I said hello for the first time. We started talking and I told her how we all thought she must have had the baby by now. “Twins!” she said proudly patting her giant bulge, “I’m having twins.” “Well, that definitely explains the size of you,” I said. She was not due, in fact for a few more weeks. So we chatted and had a lovely conversation. She was from Australia, and myself from England. And then I finally said, “My name is Louisa, by the way.” And she replied, “That’s my name too. I’m Louisa.” We even spelt it the same way. It was so unexpected and yet strangely comforting because I had been feeling very sensitive about missing my Mum and somehow this little coincidental encounter with a very expectant mother-to-be felt quite precious. But then, there’s no such thing as a coincidence, is there?

Posted in Articles, Uncategorized | 2 Comments »

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