The Picture Hope assignment sends the two Shutter Sisters on a journey around the world where they consider the essence of hope and uncover stories of personal strength and collaborative courage from people (former modern day slaves, genocide survivors, refugees, young activists, old visionaries and new immigrants) who understand hope as an effective strategy for identifying, moving towards, and achieving what others might consider to be an impossible dream.

See some of the Shutter Sisters’ images and learn more about their adventures from the Name Your Dream Assignment here.

Links:

Name Your Dream Assignment Winners – The Shutter Sisters

Project Hope

Jen Lemen

Stephanie C. Roberts

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Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be a professional sports photojournalist?  To travel to sporting events around the country, documenting professional athletes at the top of their game?  Seeing one of your photos gracing the cover of a national sports magazine? 

Bob Rosato, Sports Illustrated staff photographer and Microsoft Icon of Imaging, does just that and you can get a fascinating, insider’s look at a month on the road with Bob as he raced across the country this past January covering college bowl games, NFL playoffs, and the NFC Championship game.  A photo gallery from Bob’s past month of work can be found here.

Where was Bob last weekend?  He’s was in Miami shooting his 22^nd straight Super Bowl.

Links:

Bob Rosato’s Road Trip Diary

Bob Rosato’s Road Trip Photos

Bob Rosato

Bob Rosato, Microsoft Icon of Imaging

Do you have a fantastic photograph that showcases conservation and the environment?  The call for entries for the 2010 International Conservation Photography Awards (ICP Awards) is now open through February 28, 2010. 

The ICP Awards is a premier world-wide photography event for both amateur and professional photographers focused on conservation and the environment. There are nine submission categories including Landscape, Wildlife, Flora, Underwater, Community at Risk, Natural Environment at Risk, Documenting a Conservation Project, Puget Sound at Risk, and Student.

Nature photographer and Microsoft Icon of Imaging, Art Wolfe, is one of the founding creators of the ICP Awards, which furthers his vision of using photography as a medium to raise awareness and encourage preservation of the environment.

Recognized photographs of this biennial juried photo competition have the opportunity to win cash, prizes, and have their images featured in an online exhibit, in a three-month gallery exhibit at the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture in Seattle, Washington, and in national photography publications.

Click on the links below to learn more about the ICP Awards and Art Wolfe.  Enter your photograph today!

Links:

ICP Awards

Art Wolfe

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//by Amy Sorokas

The media coverage of the tragedy in Haiti has brought forth a discussion about the graphic nature of the imagery that is being presented in the media. Deanne Fitzmaurice, Pulitzer Prize winning journalist and Icon of Imaging, discussed the topic with NPR correspondent, Lynn Neary and NPR multimedia producer, Keith Jenkins. The story can be found here.

The interview raises many points that are part of the debate around the graphic imagery – is the public being desensitized? are the journalists sensationalists? what are the responsibilities of the editor?

No matter where you fall in the debate, the interview should get you thinking about what story the images are attempting to tell and how this tragedy has been effected by proximity to the American media.

Links:

NPR Interview with Deanne Fitzmaurice

Deanne Fitzmaurice

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Our Icons of Imaging are an amazing group of folks. Many work on projects that give back to the community and it is always a pleasure to see those projects take shape.

One of these projects is Reed Hoffmann’s Wounded Warriors. This project tells the story of the Wounded Warriors program and how it assists in getting injured veterans back into outdoor activities. His amazing images of these athletes showcase the resounding spirit and dedication they have to get back into the activities they love. Reed shares his experience at a recent event run by Disabled Sports USA in Breckenridge, Colorado on his blog.

I can’t wait to see more from Reed on this project and hope he continues to share his experiences as he builds the portfolio. Thanks Reed!

Links:

Reed Hoffmann

Reed’s Blog

Disabled Sports USA

Wounded Warriors

Images Copyright Reed Hoffmann.

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It is always more fun to work with people who are really into what they are working on, no matter your occupation. For me, it is even better when it is one of our photographer friends who is working on a great project and their excitement is contagious.

That is the case with John G. Moore and Spirit – The Book. His project to follow in the footsteps of John Muir, the environmentalist and founder of The Sierra Club, through Sierra Nevada mountain range. He was partially inspired to work on this project to raise money for a worthy charity and then when he first saw the high sierra he knew it would all work.

by John G. Moore

We got a chance to talk to John before his last trip along the trail and you can read that interview here. Also, be sure to check out his site dedicated to the project at: www.johnmooretrail.com.

Congratulations John!

Links:

John G. Moore

Spirit – The Book

John Muir

The Sierra Club

Interview with John

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by Expression Media Support Team

<Repost of 10/22/09 post on the Expression Media Support Team blog.  Direct link:  http://blogs.msdn.com/xmediasupport/archive/2009/10/22/known-issues-on-windows-7-snow-leopard.aspx >

Hello Expression Media 2 users. It’s been awhile since we’ve posted on here. Recently, we’ve had reports of some issues using Expression Media 2 on Windows 7 and Snow Leopard. Below, you’ll find the issues we’re tracking along with some possible workarounds for some of these issues.

Windows 7

• Expression Media 2 crashes when navigating folders in the "Open” dialog. This problem appears to only affect the 32-bit version of Windows 7. There is a workaround. Go into the properties of the Microsoft Expression 2 shortcut that you use to open Expression Media 2. On the “Compatibility” tab, check the box next to “Disable visual themes” and click OK.

• Export Slide Show to Movie Maker in Expression Media 2 doesn’t launch Movie Maker. When using this feature, it will prompt for a file location and create an XML file. Movie Maker can be added to Windows 7 from Windows Live Essentials but it will not open automatically from Expression Media 2.

Mac OS X 10.6 (Snow Leopard)

• Nikon NEF RAW images do not render when the RAW importer is set to manufacturer in Expression Media 2. The images appear as generic icons in Thumbnail view and display a render error in Media view. To workaround this issue, set the “Preferred Engine” to Apple (Expression Media 2 > Preferences > Media Rendering > RAW tab).

• Microsoft Expression Media 2 Import via Control-Click is missing. In Leopard, when performing a control-click on an image, there was an option called “Microsoft Expression Media 2 Import”. This option does not exist in Snow Leopard.

Links:

Expression Media 2

Expression Media 2 Forums

The winning project, Picture Hope, from the Name Your Dream Assignment contest continues to form into the story Jen Lemen and Stephanie Roberts envisioned. In fact, they are journaling their experience as they work on it.

Each time I check back to their journal I am amazed at the little stories and insights they are able to capture and share on their journeys. Jen and Stephanie have a way of connecting with people and being able to create beautiful images. The photographs and videos give you a glimpse into their subjects’ lives with such ease and comfort.

Jen Lemen with her friends in Rwanda by Stephanie Roberts

Be sure to follow the journal as their project unfolds and the story they are telling continues to grow.

Links:

Picture Hope

Shutter Sisters

Name Your Dream Assignment

Microsoft Photo Community and Icons of Imaging websites:

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Seattle is alive with many great photography related events over the next few weeks!  Hopefully many people who visit our blog can take advantage of these.  Our friends at Blue Earth Alliance and Glazer’s Camera have come up with a great idea – the Blue Earth Bash! And one of our own Icons of Imaging, Art Wolfe has an exhibit of his work from Travels to the Edge on display.

Blue Earth Bash - Sponsored by Glazer's Camera
Thursday, September 24, 6:00 PM

What's better than a block party? A block party where you can get your portrait taken by world-famous photographers, try out a variety of Seattle's best street food, groove to live music, and enjoy a family-friendly evening hosted by long-time Blue Earth supporters Glazer's Camera. The Maldives will be performing! You can find all the excitement on 8th Avenue, between Harrison and Republican in Seattle's South Lake Union neighborhood. Suggested donation: $20.00 and that benefits Blue Earth Alliance.

Art Wolfe “Travels To The Edge”

Through November 28, 2009

For the more traditional gallery experience, Seattle is lucky to have Art Wolfe around. Art is one of our Icons of Imaging and currently has an exhibit of his work created as part of his Travels to the Edge television series running at the Benham Gallery on 1^st Avenue right across the street from the Seattle Art Museum (another great place to visit). The photographs from the far reaches of the Earth include nearly every type of landscape imaginable.

By the way, SAM has an exhibit of images from a well-known Northwest photographer worth exploring, Everything Under the Sun: Photographs by Imogen Cunningham. The exhibit showcases 60 photographs from Cunningham’s work from 1915 to 1973 and runs until next August.

It is a great time of year to explore and enjoy what Seattle has to offer on the photography scene.

Links:

Blue Earth Alliance

Glazer’s Camera

Art Wolfe “Travels To The Edge” 

Art Wolfe

Travels to the Edge

The Maldives

Benham Gallery

Seattle Art Museum

Microsoft Photo Community and Icons of Imaging websites:

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Recently, Deanne Fitzmaurice was interviewed by Marc Silber on his photo show. Deanne is one of our Icons of Imaging and she is as Marc points out, “an amazing mixture of talent, curiosity, sensitivity, yet raw courage, rolled into a disarming package—all of which have allowed her to reach deep into the lives of her subjects.”

Always an inspiration, Deanne gives some great tips and insights into her work in this easy to watch interview. She gives aspiring photographers, both amateur and professional, tips on composition layering, working with people as your subject and always being ready for the shot. 

Thanks Deanne and Marc!

For more about Deanne you can watch the video on her Icon’s of Imaging page.

Links:

Deanne Fitzmaurice

Interview on Marc’s Photo Show

Microsoft Icons of Imaging

Marc Silber

Microsoft Photo Community and Icons of Imaging websites:

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