Tuesday, March 15, 2005

Remember Passion & Profession IX Weekend of October 14 through 16, 2005 George Williams College, Lake Geneva, Wisconsin Achieving Balance Between Passion & Profession is a weekend retreat devoted to engaging imagination and rekindling passion for photography. The weekend is facilitated by the Chicago Midwest Chapter of ASMP and is held annually at George Williams College in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. The workshop is conducted in a completely digital environment. Over the past eight years, Passion & Profession has cultivated a uniquely intimate experience in which some of the Midwest's top professional photographers and designers work elbow to elbow with participants creating and critiquing imagery. Activities like "black box" provide opportunities for participants to work together as a team learning to think on their feet and solve problems under pressure all in supportive yet competitive environment. Applications are available at local labs and camera stores or can be downloaded at www.chimwasmp.org/p&p The deadline for applications has not been determined. Scholarships are available for those who qualify. Questions regarding the weekend should be directed to Emily DeWan at emily@emilydewan.com or (773) 502-0795. 8:28:51 AM    comment []

Demise of a home to many a photographer March 2 appeared to be the last day of the Sun-Times Building. Alas, where many ASMP members, including yours truely, spent parts of their careers has been reduced to a pile of rubble. Photo taken digitally with my pda. Nobody dreamed of that in the mid '60s. Make way for Trump. -------------- Frank McMahon 5:41:47 AM    comment []

Thursday, April 22, 2004

ASMP Midway Airport ExhibitLast night there was the opening of the ASMP exhibit Good Morning Chicago, sponsored by the City of Chicago and the Department of Aviation, in the baggage claim area of Midway Airport. The exhibit displays the work of 12 ASMP photographers and their photographs of Chicago scenes. Not only did the opening celebrate the ASMP exhibit but also Chicago Public Arts Program pieces throughout the airport. The exhibit will be up until May of 2005. A good time was had by all, unless you were waiting for your bags. More images from the opening can be seen here http://frankmcmahon.com/midway ----- Frank McMahon 6:46:21 AM    comment []

Friday, March 19, 2004

Two upcoming events Last week at the Chapter Board meeting two upcoming events were discussed regarding the chapter that interested me. One was the eighth Passion and Profession weekend workshop, this year to be at George Williams College, Lake Geneva WI. October 8-10. You can learn about past p&ps by going here, http://chimwasmp.org/p&p and there will be further updates on the new p&p at the same site. The other was the upcoming exhibit of 8 ASMP photographers with mural size panels above the baggage claim carousels at Midway Airport, Chicago. This exhibit is suppose to be up in Mid-March with an opening in Mid-April. You can see a sneak preview of one of the panels here, http://frankmcmahon.com/midway - mine. --- Frank McMahon 1:11:58 PM    comment []

Thursday, March 04, 2004

chimwasmp.org lives Voila, after the gestation period of an elephant we posted the new site yesterday. There are still bugs to work out and, seems to me, now that we have a new Web site we need figure out how to apply the Web site to the organization. ---- Frank McMahon 11:01:40 AM    comment []

Thursday, February 26, 2004

The webdev project is finally approaching fruition. The new site should be posted soon.  6:52:49 PM    comment []

Wednesday, September 17, 2003

User Test is Ready Today WebDev reached a watershed (hopefully). The User Test is up and at http://chimwasmp.org/webdev/welcome.html. Thank you Melissa, Mike and the Web Committee. Anybody, feel free to try the user test. One member sent me an email this morning where he talked about the the early days of the Chapter Web site and said, "I remember the board meetings way back when, when the discussion was about the viability of the web. I'm embarrassed to say I was one that thought it'd go the way of CBs..Al Gore I'm not." -- Frank McMahon 1:29:55 PM    comment []

Monday, September 01, 2003

Monthly Report on WebDev Ealier this month Melissa built a version of the front page with some functionality here, http://www.rfoto.com/asmp/proto/index.shtml We have a prototype for the member portfolio pages here, http://www.rfoto.com/asmp/proto/bartharris.shtml (this is not in the popup window). Melissa is continuing to work on the prototype aiming for the user test to begin in early September. Neil and Ron are preparing the member communication to go out mid-September. Rob is working on content for the front page and I am researching links for the front page. Frank McMahon 7:10:52 PM    comment []

Thursday, July 24, 2003

Web Dev Project Progress Earlier this month Melissa presented three excellent prototypes for the Chapter Front Page, seen here, http://www.rfoto.com/asmp/layout1a.jpg here, http://www.rfoto.com/asmp/layout2a.jpg and here, http://www.rfoto.com/asmp/layout3.jpg. We are leaning towards a combination of the second and third. Melissa is working on a revision of these. The next trick is the member comunication. Neil is working on a rough of the member packet, Melissa is working on specs for the template page and member icons. Merging the two should be the key to having the member communication ready. After that is the testing phase. I spoke with Melissa some about defining this. Seems to me what we will be testing are colors for the site, navigation, and page features (whether to use pop-up windows or not is a question). The list of speciality categories we are working with is below. This list is flexible, subject to feedback from the member communication, until Melissa starts compiling the category lists. Seems to me we should limit the number of categories to 20. Advertising Annual Report Architecture/Interior Black and White Catalog/Product Corporate/Industrial Digital/Computer Editorial Fashion/Beauty/Comps Fine Art/Still Life Food Landscape Medical Nature People/Lifestyle Photojournalism Portrait P.R./Event Sports Stock/Travel ----- Frank McMahon 9:58:49 AM    comment []

Sunday, June 22, 2003

Progress on the Web Dev Project Last week Melissa created a second generation of wireframe iterations, Rob and Neil wrote the Pres letter for the newsletter, Neil sent Melissa a cd with the logo and related fonts, and Ron worked on the specialty categories. What I did was move the Blog to the chimw server so now it is really at http://chimwasmp.org/blog. I posted a variation of this message on the Blog (including the most recent version of the specialty groups), first by mailing the message to the Blog and then going in and tweaking it from my desktop, which may be the way to post messages there - this gives an opportunity to get the message up quickly but then fine tune it. Below are the list of specialties as of now, ADVERTISING ANNUAL REPORT ARCHITECTURE/INTERIOR FASHION/BEAUTY/COMPS MEDICAL CATALOG CORPORATE/INDUSTRIAL DIGITAL EDITORIAL FINE ART FOOD PORTRAITURE PRODUCT P.R./EVENT SPORTS STILL LIFE STOCK TRAVEL LIFESTYLE/PEOPLE -- Frank McMahon 6:09:20 PM    comment []

Tuesday, May 27, 2003

Pictures from a Chicago Landmark, Maxwell Street.  Here is a Web essay on old Chicago landmark in a new place, Maxwell Street on Canal, http://frankmcmahon.com/maxwellstreet/maxwellstreet.htm. Some information about the new Maxwell Street - http://www.openair.org/maxwell/newmax.html (This is being sent via  email to CHIMW Blog and then automatically posted --  the message below is better formatted using the desk top client) ---------------------------------------- 8:32:21 AM    comment []

Pictures from a Chicago Landmark, Maxwell Street Here is a Web essay on old Chicago landmark in a new place, Maxwell Street on Canal. About the new Maxwell Street - http://www.openair.org/maxwell/newmax.html 7:49:01 AM    comment []

Monday, May 26, 2003

ASMP & APA Meetings (a message from Ron Gould) DON'T FORGET!!! Friday the 23rd.   "A Day in the Life", at Columbia College Ferguson Auditorium.   600 S. Michigan Ave.  6 PM. Hear Mark Greenberg, senior digital advisor for A Day in the Life of Africa, speak about the all digital AMERICA 24-7 project. ASMP, APA, ASPP, GAG, C3, and students with ID, $10 Non members, $20.  For last minute info call Ron   773 235-0157   SEMINAR/WORKSHOP IN CHICAGO ------------------------------------------------------------------------ "CREATING PORTFOLIOS THAT SELL" by Selina Oppenheim In today's competitive market, photographers must have dynamic tools that position and sell them to their chosen market. While some photographers spend time on developing portfolios, few books are created from VISION out and even fewer speak to buyers' needs. Learn a new, proven approach to creating portfolios that sell and have an opportunity to practice the skills and steps needed to create your new vision based portfolio. CREATING PORTFOLIOS THAT SELL is a new program from Selina Oppenheim. The Thursday evening seminar will introduce a new way of thinking in: determining the needs of buyers in your market; developing your Visual Integrity; creating a positioning statement for your portfolio; reviewing and editing current images for your new book; developing new images ideas that speak to your portfolio message; setting up shooting schedules that you will keep; editing and paginating your new portfolio; and determining a physical format for new book. .. and then there's the Saturday 'hands on' workshop that will be limited to 20-25 photographers. The day will be jammed pack with all the great information from the Thursday seminar and more though a combination of power point exercises and discussion that each photographer will participate in. Get ready to use your existing portfolios or current body of photography and work in intimate groups of five through the different steps involved in developing a vision-based portfolio. CREATE A PORTFOLIO THAT SELLS! In todays market you need a portfolio that speaks vision, while meeting your clients needs.  Come join Port Authoritys Selina Oppenheim for AN EVENING, AN ALL DAY WORKSHOP or BOTH to learn HOW to CREATE A PORTFOLIO THAT SELLS. All Day Workshop Date: Saturday, June 14, 2003 Time: 9 AM  6 PM Where: Warling Studios 350 N. Ogden, Suite 300 Chicago, IL (312) 733-4779 Fee: APA   ASMP members  -  $95 Non-members  - $150.00 Fee includes lunch and admission to Thursday evening program To be paid in advance with registration  Workshop open to 25 photographers To register contact: www.apa-m.com online pre-registration Thomas Zumpano APA-Midwest (414) 431-0388 Learn: How to incorporate YOUR VISION To develop your positioning statement Which images to keep and ideas for creating new images What markets need your vision and how to find them VIEW FOUR DIFFERENT PORTFOLIOS THAT SELL Evening Seminar Date:  Thursday, June 12, 2003 Time:  6 PM  9 PM Doors open at 5 PM for socializing and snacks Where: Warling Studios as above. Fee:  APA  ASMP members $25 pre-registered online,  $30 day of event or phone in reservations.   Non-members- $50 pre- registered online or $55 day of event or phone in reservations. SPECIAL  Free for New APA Members. Visit www.apa-m.com Sponsor Black Book Selina will lead you through a PowerPoint program giving you an overview of the steps you need to take when Creating A Portfolio That Sells. Selina will be available for one-on-one consultations and portfolio reviews, while in Chicago. To schedule an appointment call Port Authority (978) 263-6822 or visit our website   www.1portauthority.com 8:24:46 AM    comment []

Sunday, May 25, 2003

Welcome to CHIMW-BLOG In early December 1995 there was no ASMP presence on the Web. There was no National site, no Chapter sites, and very few members with sites. That month two chapters launched sites, Houston and Chicago/Midwest. Now, eight years later, it is time to update the Chicago site. (You can see the history of the Chicago/Midwest site here, http://web.archive.org/web, then enter chimwasmp.org). Part of the early promise of the Web was that anyone could be a publisher. That was true if he knew html, javascript, unix, perl, and cgi. Now, more in the spirit of that promise is a blog, part of the update of the Chicago/Midwest site. Frank McMahon 8:01:02 PM    comment []