Black Rapid R Straps: Santa Knocks Twice

Photograph Courtesy David du Chemin-All Rights Reserved
Here's a story involving Black Rapid Camera Straps and two "Santas".

A few weeks ago, I had written here on TTP that David Du Chemin's review of the Black Rapid straps on his Pixelated Image blog, made them look very interesting, especially since I was on the lookout for new camera straps myself. I concluded by vowing that I'd ask Santa for one (or two) of these straps this coming Christmas.

Not long after my post was published, I received an email from David who offered to send me one as a gift!! An extremely generous gesture from someone I've never met (but certainly hope I will soon). The Black Rapid R Strap arrived in a well-presented pouch made of webbing and a couple of cool bumper stickers, and I immediately tried it on.

Oh what a difference! Let me say first that I normally wear my camera on a strap on my right shoulder, and I had the misfortune of having the camera with a 70-200 lens slip off, and fall to the stone ground of Angkor Wat. No damage, but my heart skipped a beat or two. With the Black Rapid R strap which I can wear bandolier-style, this danger is non-existent and I'm able to very easily (and quickly) bring the camera to my eye without the strap getting tangled up. The strap is comfortable and well made and its hardware seems very solid. The camera dangles to the side of my body, and is out of the way (and out of sight...almost) while I'm walking around. Perfect for my style of photographing.

My hat's off to the makers of the Black Rapid straps for producing them. Naturally, if it hadn't been for David Du Chemin's generosity, I'd still be waiting for Santa to deliver, and he can be fickle.

But hold on! The story is only half finished.

Ralph Childs, a great friend, a talented photographer and a frequent member of my photo-expeditions, reads my post, feels immense compassion at my "plight" and generously decides to gift me one as well. He has no idea that I received one from David, and orders two sets of the Black Rapid R straps...one for his use, and one that he sends me....so from famine to feast, as the saying goes!

I have two Black Rapid straps now...and Santa knocked twice...early!! Life's good.

Munem Wasif: PDN INterview

Munem Wasif of Bangladesh is a popular figure at this year's Visa pour l'Image festival. He's just won the City of Perpignan Young Reporters award, and his exhibition of photos shot in and around his home country of Bangladesh is a highlight of the festival.

He prefers to photograph in balck & white, which he finds more seductive for his style of work, and lauds the emergence of non-Western photographers who document their own countries.

Via PDN Pulse (link)

The Telegraph's Photo Competition 2008

Photograph 4Corners Images-All Rights Reserved
The Telegraph, one of the main UK newspapers, announced a travel photography contest open to residents of the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man and Republic of Ireland aged 18 years or over. The prizes are the new Nikon D700 kit worth £2,500, and the new COOLPIX P6000 camera worth £430.

The winning photographs will be published in Telegraph Travel on September 27.

Note: As a general comment, and as in the case of all similar contests, make sure you carefully read the terms and conditions, especially since misunderstandings between organizers and contestants can sometimes occur.

Véronique de Viguerie Under Fire

A couple of weeks ago, a group of Talibs in Afghanistan killed 10 French soldiers (attached to the NATO forces), and were subsequently photographed by Véronique de Viguerie, a photographer working with the French news magazine Paris Match, wearing the French soldiers' uniforms.

A firestorm erupted in France following the publication of the photographs in the Paris-Match magazine, finding it indecent for a French magazine to show such images. Accusations that payment was made to the Talibs by the photojournalist were made, but rejected as false.

In the above clip (in French), De Viguerie explains her meeting with the Taliban fighters. 'It took some time, and we used some of our contacts out there'. She used a fixer/interpreter to get to the Taliban fighters, who will only meet with women reporters as they believe that men could be spies.

In her thirties, de Viguerie says that she wasn't too comfortable meeting them. 'But, when you follow the rules and when you have the authorization of their leaders, we become their guests'.

I'm not sure why it's Véronique de Viguerie who's under fire. Isn't it the decision of Paris-Match editors to publish?

Via The British Journal of Photography's blog (link)

New Canon To Eclipse Competition?

Canon added an intriguing teaser to its United States website. As you see, it's of a camera's silhouette against what I assume to be the moon, and the words 'Destined Evolution.' Click the image for a bigger version. If that's not an introduction to a successor to the Canon's 5D, I don't what is.

Rumors are rife all over the internet concerning the megapixel giants expected from Sony, Canon and Nikon at Photokina 2008.

Getty Images Grants-Editorial Photography

Photograph Lynsey Addario-All Rights Reserved
At the Visa pour l'Image in Perpignan, Getty Images announced that Lynsey Addario, David Gillanders and Eugene Richards were selected as the next three recipients of the Getty Images Grants for Editorial Photography.

Each recipient will receive $20,000 and collaborative support from Getty Images photo editors as they pursue their documentary photography projects.

Their portfolios were selected from a field of 153 applicants from 26 countries.

Lynsey Addario’s project, “Darfur,” will examine the ongoing conflict in western Sudan. David Gillanders’ project “Glasgow,” will focus on the culture of violent knife crime which earned Scotland’s largest city the title “Murder Capital of Europe.” Eugene Richards began work on “War is Personal” in 2006 as a series of photo and text essays focused on the lives of people in the US who’d been profoundly affected by the war in Iraq.

Bhutan Ritual Dances (Cham) in NYC

Photograph Tewfic El-Sawy-All Rights Reserved
In elaborate dress and masks, monks from Bhutan will perform Cham dances in public plazas and parks around New York City from Saturday, September 13 through Sunday, September 21, 2008. The monks-dancers will appear several times a day, in celebration of the opening on September 19 of The Dragon’s Gift: The Sacred Arts of Bhutan at the Rubin Museum of Art.

These dances are timely since they'll provide me with perfect warm-up venues before I leave for my Land of the Durk Yul photo expedition which starts on October 3. This photo-expedition is specifically scheduled to photograph similar Cham ritualistic dances in central Bhutan.

Although the dances in New York will be visually stunning, they can't compete with those performed amongst the ancient monasteries, and on the age-old cobblestones of Bhutan's villages, encircled by an audience of villagers and farmers.

The schedule of the New York City dances:

Monday, September 15:

12:30pm performance, Foley Square (intersection of Duane Street, Lafayette Street, Centre Street and Pearl Street)

Thursday, September 18:

1:00pm performance, Columbus Park (Chinatown- Baxter and Bayard)

Friday, September 19:

12:30pm performance, Battery Gardens Plaza

3:00pm performance, In front of Castle Clinton

5:00pm performance, Battery Place sidewalk (Greenwich and Battery Pl)

Saturday, September 20:

1:00 pm performance, Central Merchant’s Gate (59th and Broadway)

National Geographic Assignment

liveBooks, Inc., a provider of customized portfolio websites and marketing software for professional photographers, announced the creation of a new website for National Geographic Assignment, a division of the publication that handles commercial representation for its photographers. The site was recently awarded the Gold Award at this year's 38th Annual Creativity Awards.

National Geographic Assignment features work from more than two dozen National Geographic Assignment photographers, and "is a resource for organizations looking to hire assignment photographers in fields like still life and travel to underwater and landscape."

PDN's Visa Pour L'Image

Photo District News is publishing video postcards from Perpignan, where the annual Visa Pour L'Image is taking place from September 30 to October 7, 2008.

Naturally, we have to suffer through a sponsor message before getting to the video.

Charlie Mahoney: Ancestral Calling

Photograph Charlie Mahoney-All Rights Reserved
Here's a wonderful portfolio of images by Charlie Mahoney, with the evocative title of Ancestral Calling. (Click on Portfolios).

Bob and Dan O'Mahony are Charlie's great-uncles, who live in a farmhouse called Bawnea Kilbritain, outside Kinsale, County Cork in Ireland. I gather that Charlies spent a few days with them, researching his family's roots.

Many of us have similar ancestral callings, and ought to answer them. Charlie tells me that this photo essay may not have marketability potential...but who cares? I think that reconnecting with one's ancestors, roots and origins is infinitely more important.

The photographs in this gallery are just superbly composed, and the Irish light is perfect. It would've been an added bonus had the gallery included audio, as nothing sounds like rich Irish brogue!

A previous post on Charlie Mahoney: (Link)

Ramadan

Photograph Tewfic El-Sawy-All Rights Reserved
Muslims across the United States and the world are marking Ramadan, the holiest month of the Islamic year. Ramadan is believed to be the month in which the Qur'an was revealed to the Angel Gabriel, who later revealed it to the Prophet Muhammad.

Ramadan Mubarak to TTP's readers.

The Style and Convenience of Mediterranean Cruises

Do you have any plan for your next vacation? Why don’t you consider taking the Mediterranean Cruises to legendary cities like Rome, Venice, Istanbul, Athens and Barcelona? You will enjoy the memorable experience in having the best service comparable to 5 stars hotels on the ship during your journey. At the directline-cruises.co.uk you will find the best offers of Mediterranean cruise deals for early and late season.

To cruise the Mediterranean, you can choose from the cruise lines available that will give you style and ambience cruise experience. They offer Mediterranean cruises that can be customized for every age and cruise style, from young singles and gay & lesbian cruises to family, senior and gourmet cruising. You can always use the search box to find the Mediterranean cruise that match your need and suitable for your budget.

The Mediterranean cruises are divided in two regions. Western region that focused on French, Spain and Italy, and the eastern region focused on Italian Adriatic, the Greek Islands and Turkey. You can also mix them and add with exotic destination including Portugal, Sicily, Malta, Israel, Bulgaria, Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia. You can search and book the cruises online or by phone for a simple and easy way to start a vacation.

The Style and Convenience of Mediterranean Cruises

Do you have any plan for your next vacation? Why don’t you consider taking the Mediterranean Cruises to legendary cities like Rome, Venice, Istanbul, Athens and Barcelona? You will enjoy the memorable experience in having the best service comparable to 5 stars hotels on the ship during your journey. At the directline-cruises.co.uk you will find the best offers of Mediterranean cruise deals for early and late season.

To cruise the Mediterranean, you can choose from the cruise lines available that will give you style and ambience cruise experience. They offer Mediterranean cruises that can be customized for every age and cruise style, from young singles and gay & lesbian cruises to family, senior and gourmet cruising. You can always use the search box to find the Mediterranean cruise that match your need and suitable for your budget.

The Mediterranean cruises are divided in two regions. Western region that focused on French, Spain and Italy, and the eastern region focused on Italian Adriatic, the Greek Islands and Turkey. You can also mix them and add with exotic destination including Portugal, Sicily, Malta, Israel, Bulgaria, Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia. You can search and book the cruises online or by phone for a simple and easy way to start a vacation.

EPUK Appeal For Killed Photojournalists

Editorial Photographers UK (EPUK) is launching an appeal for cash to help the families of a young photographer and a journalist killed during the recent conflict in South Ossetia.

Sasha (Alexander) Klimchuk was head of the independent photo agency Caucasus Images based in Tbilisi, Georgia. The 27 year old was freelancing for the Russian news agency Itar Tass at the time of his death. Giga Chikhladze, 30, was freelancing for Russian Newsweek.

They promised to take care of each other’s families should one of them die. But photographer Sasha Klimchuk and journalist Giga Chikhladze were killed in the same incident. Now their families need help.

This appeal to EPUK members – and to the wider photographic community – is to ask for donations to help the families of Sasha Klimchuk and Giga Chikhladze survive at this most difficult of times, and to help them build a future.

The Photo Award

The Photo Award was founded in Sweden in the year 2008, with the purpose of enhancing journalistic photography, and to strengthen professional photography. It also aims to inspire young photographers and get more people interested in photography.

The founder of Photo Award is news photographer Jonas Lemberg, who seeks to assist photographers who work in covering injustice in the world.

Partners in The Photo Award are various Swedish companies such as Berns Salonger, Ord & Bild, MPEG and RMP.

Note: As a general comment, and as in the case of all similar contests, make sure you carefully read the terms and conditions, especially since misunderstandings between organizers and contestants can sometimes occur. Check the sponsors and the promoters. In this particular case, here's a clause anyone interested in participating may want to consider very cautiously:

You hereby grant The Photo Award a non-exclusive, irrevocable licence in each entry throughout the world in perpetuity in all media for any use directly or indirectly connected with the Contest.

Vogue India: Crassness Or Business?

Copyright 2008 The New York Times Company
The New York Times features the article "Vogue’s Fashion Photos Spark Debate in India" which reports that Vogue India’s August issue presented a 16-page "vision of supple handbags, bejeweled clutches and status-symbol umbrellas, modeled not by runway stars or the wealthiest fraction of Indian society who can actually afford these accessories, but by average Indian people."

One of the photographs (above) shows a man -probably an impoverished farmer- modeling a Burberry umbrella in the magazine that costs about $200. According to the World Bank, some 456 million Indians live on less than $1.25 a day.

Many in the Indian press are up in arms about this, calling it "downright distasteful and tacky" and "vulgar".

I wholeheartedly agree, but prosperity in India is growing in leaps and bounds and luxury makers are falling over each other to market their goods in a effort to capture a share of the pie. I grudgingly force myself to swallow Vogue's spread's breathtaking tackiness by assuming that it created jobs for many people, who may not have had one otherwise, and hope Vogue paid the "real people" for their time as models....and given them prints of the photographs or the magazine itself, to bring cheer to their lives.

According to the article, an Indian columnist said “The magazine does not even bother to identify the subjects” of the photos. All I can say is that the editors of Vogue India must be mindless twits, and that hopefully someone will remind them that India has just suffered (again) floods which devastated the lives of millions of "real people".

Via Imaging Insider (link)

UPDATE (September 2) from an article in the UK's Independent:
"A spokeswoman for Indian Vogue editor Priya Tanna tonight said the magazine had been taken aback by reaction to the photographs but defended the decision to publish them, and said the poor 'models' had been paid 'a significant amount."

I'm glad the atrocious judgment and arrogant behavior by those involved at Vogue India is being denounced by the Indian press, the Western media and by bloggers. I would like to find out who the photographer of the editorial spread is, and what his/her position is. I'd also like to know how much were the "models' paid by Vogue India, assuming that it's not a lie.

Canon 5D "Mark II"

A bunch of websites are claiming that Canon Germany confirmed that a successor to the EOS 5D will be announced at Photokina in Cologne during the last week of September. Since all these websites have predicted such a successor for quite a while, there's no reason to believe them now...or is there?

As far as I know, no one has published verifiable information as to what Canon is working on at this time, but my gut feel is that Canon will not allow Nikon take the lead with its recent products, including the D90 with its video capability.

While there are rumors that the 5D successor will be a 21.1 MP full-frame 5 frames per second machine, with LiveView and a 3.2" High Resolution Screen (LCD). However, I suspect that 21.1 MP is not reasonable as it would take away a very large chunk of market share from Canon's $8000 1Ds MkIII. I also happen to think that Canon may also feature a camera with video capability.

The Nikon D90's feature of recording cinematic-quality movie clips at up to 720p HD (1280 x 720 pixels) is an immense step in the right direction, and opens up all sorts of opportunities.

The merging of still and motion photography is what most photojournalists need to meet the industry's current challenges...and Canon will not let its supremacy slip away.

Wishful thinking? Perhaps.