Iranian Photographers Win Awards At Brooklyn Festival

Several Iranian photographers won awards at the Brooklyn International Photography Festival in New York, the organizers announced on Saturday.

The event, organized by the Art Bureau NYC and the Lumière's Beam Photo Agency and the Federation Internationale de l'Art Photographique (FIAP).

Seyyed Yaser Fattahi won the International Association of Art Photographers (IAAP) Gold Medal for his single photo "Hormoz Island Girl" in the Child Section of the festival, while Sudabeh Vatanparast received the CLUB Silver Medal for her photo "Alone" in this section.

Seyyed Yaser Fattahi – 'Hormoz Island girl'

Sudabe Vatanparast – 'Alone'

Fattahi also received the Master of Light Photographic Association (MOL) Gold Medal for "Shadows" in the Street Section (the featured photo at the top of this article).

In this section, photographers Negar Aqa-ali Tari, Mojtaba Safari and Dariush Qanbarnasab also received honorable mentions.

In the Music Section of the competition, "Thrill" by Mehdi Ruhi won the Photographic Society of America (PSA) Bronze Medal and "Conflict 1" by Seyyed Ehsan Mortazavi received an honorable mention.

Mehdi Rouhi – 'Thrill'

Seyed Ehsan Mortazavi – 'Conflict 1'

The festival also awarded "Now" by Mojtaba Nobakht with PSA Silver Medal in the Open Section and Abdolmoeid Marufi and Mojtaba Safari won honorable mentions in this category.

Iman Yadmellat also received the PSA Honorable Mention for his photo "Chicks" in the Nature Section.

The award-winning photos will be showcased in an exhibition at the Jalopy Music Theater in New York from December 15th to the 25th.

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Source: Iranian Photographers Win Awards At Brooklyn Festival

For an Assignment About Camping at Walmart, the Photographers Had to Camp Out, Too

There's an app that tells you which Walmarts allow overnight parking. At first we were looking for areas that had a lot of Walmarts, but then we switched tactics and tried sparse areas where travelers stopping for the night might be more concentrated. I'm not sure if it was a flaw in our logic or just the time of year, but we didn't find as many people as we had hoped.

Photo A couple of shopping carts in the corner of the lot in Walterboro, S.C. Credit George Etheredge for The New York Times Photo A feral cat on the edge of the same lot. Credit George Etheredge for The New York Times

Did you run into any trouble on the trip?

MB: There was a whole lot of downtime as we got into the wee hours of the night in Savannah, Ga., just hoping for someone to pull into the parking lot. We tried to figure out creative ways to shoot the same scenes. I came up with the idea of setting up two LEDs on a stand, getting the light dialed in and then moving them around to shoot lit portraits of the R.V.s themselves. I decided I would try to get each one in a single frame so that I wouldn't have to keep popping off flashes while people were trying to sleep. I fired off one test shot and it caught the attention of the security guard.

Right after that, I noticed a young man emerging from a car. (I had had my ey e on the car for hours, knowing someone was in there, but I hadn't felt comfortable approaching without knowing if they were sleeping or what.) I went over and asked him if I could shoot a portrait of him sitting in his car. He said yes. Just as I was about to start, the security guard came up and said that we weren't allowed to shoot there. I argued a bit, but she insisted. I didn't want to lose the opportunity, though, since it was the only one I had that night. So I shot the portrait anyway.

A little while later the police showed up. We waited for what seemed like an hour (it was about 4 a.m. at this point) and they gave us a citation saying that we were permanently banned from this Walmart in Savannah. The officers were unclear on the legality of not allowing us to shoot there, but said that the Walmart security team had the right to tell us to leave. Fortunately, there was another Wa lmart the next exit down.

Did you develop any food rituals? I used to put instant breakfast powder in my McDonald's coffee in the morning on the road. I hear you spent a fair amount of time at Waffle House.

George Etheredge: We did have a lot of Waffle House: two eggs sunny side up, hash browns and toast. And orange juice. And peanut butter and jellies that we made in our laps while driving down the road.

MB: The PB&J-with-banana sandwiches were pretty clutch. I packed lots of cold coffee drinks and muffins for my breakfasts, too.

Photo George posing for a portrait in front of a rural storefront in Hickory, N.C. Credit Mike Belleme for The New York Times Photo Mike sitting down for dinner at a Waffle House in Walterboro, S.C. Credit George Etheredge for The New York Times

Did the trip get either of you ruminating on travel and adventure and the siren call of the open road?

GE: It was kind of exciting to just be in a van together with our cameras — exploring, winging it, seeing what you find. Not really knowing what to expect is a freeing feeling. Kind of nice. I'd do it again if I had the chance.

MB: I feel that a bit in retrospect, but at the time it was a hustle mentality. George and I both really wanted to do a good job on this, and started to really feel the pressure when we were having trouble finding people. In the end, because we had the luxury of several days, it all came together, but those first couple of nights we were in full stress mode. By the last night I'd say we were just having fun and enjoying ourselves because we were starting to feel better about what we had.

We've talked about doing it again this spring, maybe up north. It's funny because I'd never really related to the idea of being an R.V. owner before, but this trip got me thinking that it could be a really fun way to see the country, especially when I'm older.

Photo Seagulls on St. Simons Island, Ga.. Credit Mike Belleme for The New York Times Photo A Walmart employee in Hickory, N.C., with shopping carts in the parking lot. Credit George Etheredge for The New York Times Continue reading the main story
Source: For an Assignment About Camping at Walmart, the Photographers Had to Camp Out, Too

UrbanClap brought us the best Wedding Photographers in Mumbai

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It was us getting married and it was not less than a dream come true for both of us. Mohini was really very happy as finally she was going to experience the best day of her life. We both were all prepared for everything and she asked me to do the arrangements all according to our perspective as she knew well that her parents would not agree to her fairy tale dreams regarding our marriage. Both of us agreed to the thing that it would be better to hire a wedding planner so that we can enjoy the pre-wedding ceremonies without any stress.

Well, we found the wedding planner quite easily through the reference of one of my friends in Mumbai. Although all his work was superb, still Mohini was quite disappointed with the Wedding photographer's portfolio which they showcased to us. Mohini wanted to have a professional pre-wedding shoot along with extraordinary pictures of the most precious moments of her life. She wanted to have the best pictures of her in almost every ceremony which was arranged before, during or after the wedding. I too wanted my Mohini to look beautiful in each of her pictures, so I decided to help her get the best wedding photographers in Mumbai.

Mohini and I were genuinely troubled, although I had a lot of friends who were photographers, but still she didn't want to take a single chance on her wedding photographs as that will be the memories she wants to preserve all her life. I too agreed to this little passionate chic and started hunting for the best wedding photographers in Mumbai.  As most of us do, I Googled the same, but the results were disappointing and we were seriously not impressed with any of the images they showcased on their websites. I even tried surfing on different ad portals to find anyone who can get a smile of satisfaction on my Mohini's face but that too went in vain and I was seriously very pissed off.

At evening, when I was already very tired; I received a call from her and she was chirping on phone with her extra cute voice telling me to check the YouTube link she just sent me. Well the link was of some romantic song which she wanted me to play for her on Sangeet, but before that an advertisement flashed on the screen and that was the saviour for me and my Mohini. The advertisement was of an app named UrbanClap which assured to give the best while bringing the service providers right to our door. I suddenly had an energy rush in my body and I sat to search the same application on the Google PlayStore of my Android device. Soon I found the same and clicked on the download button to get it downloaded.

Within no time, the application was installed on my phone. Mean while, I went to have a cup of coffee to decrease the office headache I was having. I then called Mohini to ask her if she knew anything about UrbanClap. She said that she never heard of any such app and sounded a bit confused. I asked her not to worry anymore as she was soon going to get the professional Wedding Photographers in Mumbai whom she was craving for such a long time. She believed and just after few chit chats hung up. I opened the app to find the professional and got to know that I needed to get registered on the app in order to avail the services, which wasn't a big deal for me. After entering few of the basic details they required, I clicked on the register button and soon after that I started getting welcome messages from the UrbanClap team.

I was too relieved now, about finding the best wedding photographers in Mumbai. I just entered what I was looking for in the search space and filtered the location. After clicking on the search button, a huge list of the professional wedding photographers flashed on the screen. Now the challenge was to get the best among all the professionals who were listed on UrbanClap app. Mohini was quite passionate about purchasing stuffs online, so I called her to know that what she does to find the best among all the products. At first she giggled, then told me to compare the ratings and reviews of the product I was going to purchase.

How to find the best from UrbanClap?

Finding the professional wedding photographers from Mumbai was not a tough task. I started comparing the ratings of each professional and landed up short listing the professionals. After short listing the professionals on the basis of the ratings they received from their previous clients, I started reading the reviews they received very carefully. This again led to further sorting of the professionals and finally after a lot of brain storming I started sending personal messages asking them to quote their prices.

Soon I started receiving the mails with their price quotes. I was quite surprised as I also received the portfolios from them which I further mailed to Mohini and asked her to check the portfolios. As I supposed, she fell for the one I loved the most and asked me to hire the same. But I wanted to look to their portfolio in hard copy, so I called them and asked them if they can come down to my place for a meeting. They happily agreed to the same and next day they were there at my place for the meeting. I actually cleared all the doubts I had in my mind regarding the shoots and also bargained the prices. After a lot of discussion, I happily hired them for doing the wedding photo shoot of our wedding.

Why you must be going for UrbanClap?

UrbanClap is the platform which is genuinely bridging the gap between the needful service seekers and the professional service providers. You can find any service provider according to your needs. UrbanClap is very easy to use and has an amazing user interface which is totally user friendly and will not let you feel finding the right professional for you is tiring.

As promised by the wedding photographers in Mumbai, whom I hired, every single photograph of ours was just perfect and Mohini looked almost like a fairy in all her pictures. They were punctual, dedicated and experienced in their profession. Mohini almost screamed in happiness, on every single picture of ours and I was getting continuous hugs from her. The whole team of Panache Studios from Bandra was just amazing at their work and I would, even Mohini would surely recommend them to each and every person who is going to get married sooner or later. I forgot to mention that Panache has a user rating of 5 stars from their previous clients and they indeed deserve the same. Even I will also rate them with 5 stars rating. I am really very thankful to the whole team of UrbanClap for such a great initiative.

Source: UrbanClap brought us the best Wedding Photographers in Mumbai

10 snappy Black Friday deals for photographers

If you love taking pictures, Black Friday is a great time to upgrade your kit. The Popular Science Shop has everything you need, from smartphone lenses to camera drones at up to 75 percent off MSRP. Better still, you can save an extra 20 percent with coupon code BFRIDAY20.

This clip-on smartphone lens system offers three different looks: wide-angle for landscapes, macro for details, and fisheye for weirdness. It also has a detachable light and a built-in selfie mirror. Normally $59, RevolCam is now just $34.99.

YoCam weighs less than two ounces, but this action cam takes mighty videos. The waterproof design lets you capture your outdoor adventures in HD, and even livestream to friends. The camera is now 50 percent off at $99.99.

From distant wildlife to sports action, this beast lets you get closer to the action. It works with pretty much any smartphone, clipping on and off in seconds. It's usually $49.99, but you can grab it now for just $12.99.

The cutting-edge SKEYE Nano 2 FPV Drone usually retails for $99, but you can grab the world's smallest drone now for just $64, a discount of 35 percent off before you even apply the coupon code. Record incredible real-time video with the HD, Wi-Fi controlled camera whether it's day or night. Since the drone is super flexible you'll always enjoy completely stable video.

When space is tight, this endoscopic camera gives you a high-definition view. It's perfect for DIY inspections, but you can also use it for recording wildlife. Normally $49.99, this tiny camera has dropped to $29.99.

Whether you want to capture your road trip or just get some video insurance, the Dash Cam has you covered. It can even film after dark and react to sudden braking. It's worth $59.99, but you can snag one now for just $24.

This impressive action cam is a great alternative to GoPro, with full HD recording and loads of settings. You can also take it beneath the waves, and capture stunning timelapses. Order now for $39.99 and save a huge $60 on the MSRP.

For smartphone snappers, this kit offers total creative freedom. You get a 180-degree fish eye lens, a wide-angle lens, and a macro lens, plus a soft carry pouch. Worth $29.99, the kit is now just $11.99.

If you're serious about aerial video, the Strike Spy Drone should be on your wishlist. The built-in camera takes amazing HD footage thanks to shutter stabilization technology. This impressive quadcopter is now just $59.99 (was $169.99).

You can make flowers and insects your subjects with Blips macro lenses. The kits allow you to magnify tiny objects, with a clever attachment that adds virtually zero bulk to your smartphone. It's worth $33.90, but you can grab the macro kit now for $24.99.

Source: 10 snappy Black Friday deals for photographers

The Right to a Fair Internet for Photographers Is About to Be Gone

On December 14th the Federal Communications Commission will almost certainly be voting in favor of doing away with Net Neutrality. If you're not familiar with Net Neutrality, check out this article we wrote earlier this year on the topic. It is the idea of a free and open internet. As it stands right now, users are able to access the internet freely, with no speed or data caps regardless of the websites they visit. If the plan the FCC is proposing passes (and it probably will in a 3 vs. 2 vote), the internet as we know it may well be on its way out.

For photographers who own a professional photography business (and for any small business for that matter), this is bad news. It means that in the future, small businesses may be forced to pay ISPs (Internet Service Providers) so that potential clients are able to access our websites or portfolios as efficiently as the websites of our competitors who may have more money to give to ISPs to favor their websites. ISPs will be allowed to create "fast lanes" for those with the deepest pockets. And as any professional knows, website speed matters to consumers and consumers are notorious for having extremely short attention spans.

Beyond website speeds, videographers and photographers who advertise using videos may suffer as well. ISPs could potentially choose to throttle websites like YouTube or Vimeo based on what companies own which websites and who might be willing to pay more for better access. It's all a mess.

This has been an ongoing talk since regulations were put in place in 2015 to protect consumers by having a neutral internet. What is different now is the FCC has a chairman who has been staunchly opposed to Net Neutrality. He argues that the regulations put in place in 2015 were flawed and by abolishing Net Neutrality, the internet will be a free marketplace for businesses and that all consumers and companies will have different options to choose from based on their needs. He also promises that ISPs will have to be transparent with whom they choose to throttle or give preference to with "fast lanes". In essence, this is the only rule for ISPs in the new FCC proposal. They can throttle whoever they want so long as they're transparent about it. Perhaps if consumers had more options to choose from in regards to what ISPs to use to access the internet, this may be a viable plan, but as it is right now, with so few ISPs to choose from, and that stand with much more money and powe r than smaller companies, Net Neutrality is certainly doomed.

If you stand for Net Neutrality, please visit battleforthenet.com, enter your phone number and call your congressperson. Urge them to do the right thing and oppose the FCC's new proposal.

Lead image by pixabay.com via Pexels

Source: The Right to a Fair Internet for Photographers Is About to Be Gone

These are the once-homeless photographers who won a spot in the MYTORONTO calendar

The Star interviewed the four women and nine men whose photographs were chosen to fill the pages of the MYTORONTO calendar and grace the cover.

Disposable cameras had been given to 100 people and those 13 photographs were chosen from more than 2,400, after two rigorous rounds of judging and debate.

Both the contestants and the images they produced were colourful, complicated, joyful, thoughtful and almost wildly diverse. The common thread binding the photographers was that during one time in their lives they had been without a place to call home.

During the actual contest most participants were in permanent housing, or well on their way. Each of their winning images has a story and all of them have a message they hope the people who view their photos can take away.

Source: These are the once-homeless photographers who won a spot in the MYTORONTO calendar

Photographers' works document LGBT identities

Photographers Jess T. Dugan and Lorenzo Triburgo, along with Vanessa Fabbre, assistant professor at the Brown School and affiliate faculty in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at Washington University in St. Louis, joined Center on Halsted Director of Transgender Relations and Community Engagement Vanessa Sheridan, who moderated, for a panel titled "Vulnerability and the LGBT Community" on Nov. 15.

The presentation was part of Museum of Contemporary Photography's exhibition "Disruptive Perspectives," which, according to its publicity, is an "exhibition that explores gender, sexuality, and identity" that utilizes "photography to articulate an expansive range of identities that cannot be sufficiently characterized using simplistic binaries."

St. Louis-based Dugan and Fabbre, who are a couple, undertook a photographic project documenting the lives of 88 transgender adults over the age of 50. Dugan photographed the subjects, while Fabbre interviewed them.

The couple consistently strove to "present subjects who were marginalized but also bring attention to their resiliency and strength," Dugan said.

Fabbre pointed out that she and Dugan endeavored for portraits that did not focus on individual vulnerabilities, but rather noted economic, social, environmental and and political challenges they faced instead.

"You'd see how the world creates this vulnerability for them," she said.

New York City-based Triburgo discussed his photographic project Policing Gender, which addresses mass incarceration by combining audio testimonials from LGBT prisoners with abstract images of landscapes and fabrics, effectively challenging viewers' expectations about absence and presence. Triburgo corresponded with the prisoners for some time prior to their recording.

"That, for about a year, was my art practice," Triburgo said.

"Disruptive Perspectives," including work by Dugan and Triburgo, shows at Museum of Contemporary Photography, 600 S. Michigan Ave., through Friday, Dec. 22. www.mocp.org/ .

Source: Photographers' works document LGBT identities