Friday, May 30, 2008

Joanne Carney at the Apple Store 679 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL May 19, 2008 at 7:00 PM We kicked off this year's ASMP Speaker Series at the Apple Store with Joanne Carney and William Drake. Thank you to everyone who attended - we had a great turnout! Joanne Carney is a commercial photographer with 30 years of experience in advertising and design. She describes photography as the vehicle with which we can "create reality the we way we see it " More specifically, advertising portrays to viewers a "potential life experience." Joanne came to photography after experience as a director in theatre. Early in her career as a photographer, her work was mainly studio-oriented. In 1993, she met her husband, architectural photographer William Drake, and they have been traveling together ever since. Joanne likens taking pictures in a foreign place with being an ambassador. When she photographs portraits, she always makes sure that her models are conscious of the fact that the photo is being taken, and that they receive compensation. Something she learned from her travels is to always synchronize the time on her digital cameras - it makes it so much easier to organize her photographs later! Architectural photographer William Drake shoots on a Kodachrome 64, even though there is only one lab in the US that processes this film. In Bill's experience, film has richer color and gradations than digital. He describes India as having incredible light, which provides a "highly photographable atmosphere." He and Joanne traveled all over the country, photographing temples, baths, sculptures and structures left over from British colonization. Many of their most interesting photographers were taken after they left their tour guide and ventured out on their own. Visiting villages not often visited by tourists, they created vibrant portraits of temples, markets and other public places. Some of their photographs show of the textures and vibrant colors of laundry, umbrellas and trees. Joanne captured the weekly markets as well as the tea growing, rice and silkworm industries. She was amazed that houses were made out of any imaginable material. Many housing structures were erected at jobsites, designed to be shelters for workers who travel from place to place. "It was like the Three Little Pigs," she said. "A house made of straw right next to one of wood and one of brick." YiRan Liu 6:26:09 PM    comment []

Monday, April 07, 2008

Sad News about Photograper and Editor Al DeBat Long time ASMP member, photographer and editor Al DeBat past away March 30. The obituary below was written by his jounalist brother Don (the obituary continues on one of my sites) Al DeBat, photo journalist and world traveler, dies at 76Alfred Louis DeBat was an international photography expert, photo journalist, bon-vivant and world traveler who circled the globe several times in career and leisure-time adventures that saw him tour more than 175 countries on all five continents. Mr. DeBat has long been recognized as a leading authority on digital imaging and traditional photography. He served as Editor-in-Chief of several prominent national publications, including Digital Imaging Digest, Professional Photographer, Photomethods, and Creative Camera. Working as globetrotting professional magazine photographer for several years, Mr. DeBat also wrote travel articles for Crossroads Magazine and other publications. He was a member of the American Society of Media Photographers (ASMP) and the Professional Photographers of America (PPA). Sought-after as a digital expert, Mr. DeBat most recently served as Technical Editor for major book publishers and has edited several digital imaging and photography volumes. He was also the editor of the local American Society of Media Photographers, Chicago/Midwest, publication, The Loupe, which won first prize several years for best chapter publication. He was senior editor of the Photo Marketing Association International's photo information website: www.Prints-Are-Memories.com. "Whether it was sailing off to the Far East on a tramp steamer, trekking through the jungles of Cambodia to photograph fabled temples at Ankor Wat, or scaling the peaks of Nepal, young Al DeBat - like his hero Ernest Hemingway - was always with passport and on the move," said Don DeBat, his brother. Mr. DeBat, 76, who died on Sunday, March 30, 2008, in hospice at the Lutheran Home in Arlington Heights, IL, proudly displayed a world map in his home that pinpointed his travels -  from Africa, China, Afghanistan, and Tahiti to Egypt, Israel, Palestine, Hong Kong, Vietnam and Tibet. (continued) I knew Al when he edited the chapter publication The Loupe in the mid and late nineties. He was a dedicated editor and a good friend. I learned many things from him. Frank McMahon. 7:25:21 PM    comment []

Sunday, March 16, 2008

Sad News about Photographer Archie Lieberman Early ASMP member Archie Lieberman passed away last week. Archie Lieberman, 81, passed away on March 13. He was born and raised in Chicago and attended the Chicago Institute of Design and the Art Institute of Chicago. During World War ll he served as Marine combat photographer in the Pacific. He was a photojournalist for magazines, advertising agencies, corporations, including extensive work for Look Magazine between 1952 and 1972. He was the author of, or photographer for, over 20 books and his work was exhibited in museums and galleries throughout the country and abroad. He won many awards, including five from the University of Missouri School of Journalism, Friends of Literature, Society of Professional Journalist and an honorary Doctorate from the University of Dubuque, where he taught "Powerful Ideas in Photography". He also taught photography classes at Columbia College, Chicago, and Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois. Though he traveled widely, he was happiest at his farm in Jo Daviess County, Illinois, his home for the last 25 years. He documented farm life there with his books "Farm Boy" and "Neighbors". His work has been memorialized at archielieberman.com . Archie said he knew me since I was in diapers. I remember him from a bit later. I said to his son Bob in an email "Taking pictures I always wondered what Archie would think of this. He got me my first intern job in photography." Bob replied that Archie would say we make pictures not take them. Archie's perspective was that of an earthy photographic reality. I suppose it is no accident that my home is near where the Farm Boy and Archie lived. Frank McMahon 8:07:40 PM    comment []

Sunday, March 09, 2008

Chicago Photographers go to China Presentation at Calumet Photographic On Thursday April 3, 5 - 8pm. at Calumet Photographic, 1111 N. Cherry Avenue, Chicago there will be a presentation by the Rizhao Photographer group. The text below is from the announcement of the event on the  Calumet Photographic Web site Spreading Sunshine in China: An Unforgettable Journey for Chicago Photographers It may seem like a pilot for a reality TV show: 10 seasoned ASMP photographers (nine from Chicago) are invited by the Shandong Provincial government to document the eastern coast port city of Rizhao in China for seven days. During this whirlwind one-week experience, the photographers immersed themselves in the mysterious culture, the rich history and the industrious people of Rizhao which means "Sunshine." Each evening, these seasoned pros shared their work with each other for open and honest critiques. Fueled by these new discoveries and insights, the self nicknamed "Sunshiners" hit the streets creating high-quality, beautiful images that grew more incredible as each day passed. What started as an once-in-a-lifetime trip to photograph, evolved into an unforgettable journey to grow as photographers with the resounding support of a community. During this open forum, the group will share its images from the journey along with stories and insights. There will be time for questions and answers about the trip and about the ASMP. Delicious Chinese edibles will be prepared by Calumet''s neighbor Kendall College. The Sunshiners include: Elie Berkman, Dirk Fletcher, Frank McMahon, Eric Futran, Lee Balgemann, David Seide, Marc Hauser, Sylvia Plachy, Ron Gould and Karen Hirsch. Please call us at 1.800.CALUMET (225.8638) to register for this seminar and refer to item number ZSSMCH1365 For more information on the Rizhao, China Photographer Group Karen King Calumet Photographic "> 8:19:14 PM    comment []

Tuesday, March 04, 2008

More than 200 attend Jay Maisel presentention. In late October more that 200 attended the presentation by Jay Maisel in Columbia College's 1104 Center, the historic Luddington Buiding Jay gave a wonderful hour and a half presentation showing photographs from his more than fifty year career as a editorial, corporate and personal shooter and teacher. The emphasis was on his personal work and he was always the teacher. (Darlene McPike photo) Photo of Jay with some who attended. (Darlene McPike photo) Von Buzard Frank McMahon 8:59:37 PM    comment []

Friday, December 07, 2007

10 ASMP Photographers go to China In October ten ASMP photographers, nine from Chicago, went to China to document the eastern coast port city of Rizhao at the invitation of the Shandong Provincial government. The whole group presenting a computer slideshow of our work to our main host Dr. Li Zhaoqian at a banquet on the last night of the trip (Dirk Fletcher photo). Group 2 in the Black Pottery Art Center with black pottery folk artist Xing Baodong in Rizhao. Group 1 working the Forbidden City in Beijing (Frank McMahon photo). It was a wonderful trip, though...... Group members left to right, back to front Elie Berkman, Dirk Fletcher, Frank McMahon, Eric Futran, Lee Balgemann and David Seide (David's selftimed photo). Marc Hauser, Sylvia Plachy, Ron Gould and Karen Hirsch. we came back one tired group. Articles and events related to the trip: Spreading Sunshine in China: An Unforgettable Journey for Chicago Photographers Presentation 4/3/08 at Calumet Photographic, Chicago, Rizhao, China: the view from Chicago in the 2/17/08 Chicago Sun-Times and Rizhao---in the Eyes of American Photographers in the 1/19/08 Rizhao News, China (this is a link to a page on an US server that has the translation and links to the Chinese server). Elie Berkman David Seide Frank McMahon "> 7:58:38 PM    comment []

Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Sad news about photographer Don Johnson I learned some sad news yesterday. Chicago area photographer Don Johnson passed away recently. Donald C. "DJ" Johnson, of Sawyer, MI, passed away suddenly on Saturday, Nov. 24, 2007, at Lakeland Regional Medical Center, in St. Joseph. Memorial Services in DJ's memory will be held at a later date in Illinois and Michigan. Memorial donations may be made to the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago. Friends wishing to send his family a message of condolence may do so online at www.starks-menchinger.com DJ was born on Nov. 20, 1950, in Chicago, to Donald C. and Lois Johnson. He graduated from Northwestern University in Evanston, IL, in 1972, with a Bachelors Degree. On May 18, 1985, he married Susan Paluch in Evanston, IL. DJ was a professional Location Photographer and served as president of Mid-States Imaging Association - MIPA. He especially enjoyed photographing Nature Settings. In his leisure time, DJ enjoyed playing both tennis and golf. DJ also loved spending time in Shorewood Hills and with his dogs. DJ is survived by his wife of 22 years, Susan; by his uncle, Edward N. (Doris) Stevenson of Windsor Locks, CT; his aunt, Anne Galm of Fairfax, VA; stepsisters, Sharon (Kirk) Martin of Aptos, CA and Bonnie Ferguson of San Jose, CA; nephew, Scott Ferguson of San Jose, CA; and by his special close friends, John (Becca) Allegretti, Robert (Michelle) Sebastian and George Keporos. He was preceded in death his parents. I first knew DJ when he was in the photo department at McDonald's. Later he was in charge of production for the Loupe, the chapter magazine. He once used me as a model for a photograph where I was using a cell phone, when cell phones weighed a brick. DJ always had an opinion. He will be missed. Frank McMahon 10:07:43 AM    comment []

Saturday, September 22, 2007

Remember Passion & Profession XI Weekend  of October 12-14, 2007 in Lake Geneva, WI A wonderful gathering of photographers, designers, art directors, and artists attend every year for a weekend of photography, networking, inspiring speakers, and learning. It's a fabulous time and I highly recommend it to all. If you're interested in signing up this year, the tuition is $275; this includes all meals, lodging, materials and use of the digital equipment. Only five scholarships are still available for first-time participants. Save over half off ($140) when you apply for one of the remaining scholarships! Your application must be received no later than Friday Sept 28th. Contact Analia Rodriguez, (773) 259-4826 or anaphotolia@msn.com. Log on to www.chimwasmp.org/p&p to download an application. 10:13:50 AM    comment []