AP: Gaza Audio Slideshow

Here's an audio slideshow Israeli Forces Attack The Gaza Strip with photographs by Associated Press photographers showing the destruction of Gaza.

(Via duckrabbit multimedia).

When you're done watching, here's one of the few honest commentator's opinion:

Robert Fisk of the Independent.

WSJ's Photo Journal: Ashura

Photo © Morteza Nikoubazl/Reuters-All Rights Reserved
The Wall Street Journal's Photo Journal is replete with gorgeous large format photographs, and are chosen to follow world events. I particularly liked the photograph of these men covering themselves in mud for the Ashura religious festival a few days ago in Khorramabad, Iran. I have no idea what that particular ritual signifies.

Ashura is commemorated by the Shi‘a branch of Islam as a day of mourning for the death of Hussein, the grandson of the prophet Muhammad at the Battle of Karbala. However, Sunni Muslims believe that Moses fasted on that day to express gratitude to God for liberation of Israelites from Egypt. According to Sunni Muslim tradition, Muhammad fasted on this day and asked other people to fast.

The caption under this photograph on the WSJ's Photo Journal that all Muslims mourn the slaying of Hussein is an exaggerated statement.

Lacie Hard Disk Max

In my brain, there's an IWO compartment. This acronym stands for "I Want One", and here is a product destined to get filed in the recesses of this ever-expanding IWO compartment, to be retrieved when budgetary constraints are lifted or eased.

LaCie announced its Hard Disk MAX high capacity storage system for users who want advanced RAID features and consumer-level ease of use and style. The Hard Disk MAX retails for $270 and delivers 2 TB of storage capacity. It includes two large-capacity disk drives that can be set in either a RAID 0 or RAID 1 configuration with the simple flick of a switch on the back panel.

The Hard Disk Max includes the LaCie Setup Assistant for formatting of the disk drives, and it ships with Intego Backup Assistant for Mac (and Genie Backup Assistant for PC).

sea tour Learn History and Recreation

sea tour
Learn History and Recreation


Thousand Islands, Sinar Harapan
Learning the history should not be done with how to read books setebal hundreds of pages, or by listening to a boring description. Conversely, history can be learned in a way that's interesting, even rekreasional. One of them, through tourism history.

Interest of the community through history tour packages have been done actually since several years ago. Dipelopori Tour Kampoeng Tua, series appear and then a similar package, among other Tour Night Jakarta History Museum, and tour the Museum Night Prasasti. Now, the row package tours increased long history with the emergence of a new package tour history titled Wisata Bahari. Appropriate name, the package tour organized by the Community Care History and Culture of Indonesia (KPSBI-Historia) was introduced to the community where a number of historical spread on the sea, namely in the Thousand Islands.
Saturday (8 / 5), at 07.00 WIB, the participants who was already about 60 people gathered around the Pearl Beach pier, Pluit. KLM Putra Bugis boat Festival which will be used for Wisata Bahari, already waiting at the dock. According to the plan, that day we will visit five historic island in the Thousand Islands, the Onrust, Edam, Cipir, Kelor and Bidadari Island.
At around 08.30 WIB, ships began to go slow (the speed of five knots) to the Island of Edam, which is the first goal. Unfortunately, the wind did not blow so that the participants had no experience with the travel, cruise laiknya Festival with the truth. However, the weather is sunny morning and still feel cool way to make feel comfortable. The participants also prefer to sit on the deck passengers, although the actual hold on the available space to sit and two bedroom cool by AC.
History heritage
Approximately three hours travel, we arrived on the island of Edam, the island's population by about also known as Pulau Damar Besar ditumbuhi as many tree resin. On the island of Edam, there are a number of historical, among other strongholds Underground and a lighthouse are all made of iron plate.
So together, we walk the paths to the underground fortress, located on the east coast of the island. For participants, it is quite a short trip fun because there is a forest on the left side and right side forest is still quite a meeting, so the atmosphere that participants felt really different atmosphere with the day-to-day in Jakarta. When the debris through a number of buildings in the 1960s used by the TNI AL to practice, almost all participants for taking fun. As a result, the committee is busy enough to keep participants tercerai berai not, as many participants who wander out of the path, while there is no path that so long as it clearly is not used.
Fort on the island of Edam is similar to the underground bunker. The fort on the top surface circular berdiameter 10 meters, and is surrounded by two walls. Condition is still relatively intact. However, space underground fortress that can not be entered again, because the soil and roots is closed.
However, the more interesting of the island is perhaps mercusuarnya Edam. Lighthouse was built in the year 1879 - 1881 is built to facilitate the travel of ships would go to Port of Tanjung Priok. 60 meters high, and all part of the iron plate (cast iron). Sjouke Ridje, one of the tour participants who came from the Netherlands, said that the ancient lighthouse as it is very rarely found.
"Perhaps only a few anywhere in the world. In Indonesia, I see two, and in Anyer here. While living in the Netherlands is only one, namely in Egmond, "said Sjouke, while the screw of the screw-plate weld-iron plate into the wall lighthouse.
Puas historical view on the Island of Edam, and then starting to ship Bidadari Island for lunch, and see the fortress martello (semicircular fortress) built VOC in 1850 to defend the sea from Jakarta. Fort that is now heavily damaged condition, and ruins lives. In addition to infected Krakatau explosion in the year 1883, the fortress also had dijarah on mass 1960s.
The condition of damaged historical heritage-it was also found on the islands that we visit them later. Fortress, the former prison building and the care of infectious diseases and the grave-Dutch cemetery located on the island Kelor, Cipir and Onrust, everything is in damaged condition. This is very be pitied, because the actual value of the history of old buildings that is very high. Thousand Islands in the 17th century and the 18-to-door is the gateway to Batavia.
Nevertheless, almost all tour participants satisfied. However, some participants suggested that next time, no destination is set too many, so that participants have a greater opportunity to see a legacy that is an island. "The island is visited not need too much, probably only two or three islands, but it we could see more time. So a more satisfied. In addition, if elected pulaunya can still be a forest such as the Island of Edam. Kan more fun, "said Lola, ITB student who became one of the tour participants.
Learning history is not necessary with the wrinkled brow. While any trip, a lot of lessons that can be taken. Fun eh?
source:
http://www.sinarharapan.co.id/feature/wisata/2004/0513/wis01.html

Burn Magazine

burn was launched as an online magazine/journal on December 21, 2008 by the legendary David Alan Harvey and a team of emerging photographers. Its intent is to provide a platform for such photographers both online and in print.

In my view (and in the view of many), David Alan Harvey is a role model for all established photographers...he gives, he teaches and he mentors...he relates to younger photographers who benefit from his experience, from his expertise and his knowledge. If there's such a thing as a Nobel prize for photography, David Alan Harvey would be on my short list of candidates.

I encourage you to bookmark burn, to visit it often and see some remarkable talented work from emerging photographers, and to join its community and submit your work.

Great Photo Journalism

Photo © Nanna Kreutzmann/-All Rights Reserved
Great Photojournalism describes itself as an online free community of selected or invited members worldwide, where professional photojournalists from all over the world, display their work.

The concept is by Sofus Comer, a Danish photojournalist himself, who confirms that each member has full editorship of his or her work through via the site's content management system which he built.

Websites such as this one are always valuable to the photojournalism community, as they increase and enhance the visibility of photojournalists...and we all know the more exposure the better. I liked the work of Nanna Kreutzmann, especially her gallery on the Dia de la Virgen de Guadalupe.

Flipbac Viewer

Here's an innovative product which piqued my interest when I stumbled across its website a few days ago. It's the Flipbac, an angle viewfinder and LCD screen protector for digital cameras. According to its website, the Flipbac accessory allows photographers to take photos "without kneeling, take candid portraits without hiding behind a camera, or capture a classic portrait."

It's essentially a stick-on flip-out mirror that can be affixed over most digital point-and-shoot and digital SLR cameras with a 3 inch live view LCD. The cost is US$19.99, plus shipping.

Naturally, the first thing I thought of is whether the adhesive would damage the camera it was affixed to. According the Flipbac's website, it uses a type of adhesive that is easily removable and "peelable". This assertion will eventually be put to test by consumers of the product.

Speaking for myself, I wouldn't use this product since it's not useful to my style of photography, but it may appeal to others....especially to those who use advanced point & shoots similar to the Canon G9 and the G10.

Canon 5D Mark II: Firmware Update

Canon has released updated firmware for the EOS 5D Mk II. Firmware v1.0.7 addresses the 'black dot' and vertical banding issues experienced by users of firmware 1.0.6. The latest version can be downloaded from Canon's website. The company also asks users to update their DPP and Picture Style Editor software.

Via Digital Photography Review

POV: A Tribute to Palestinian Photographers

Photo © Mahmud Hams/AFP-Getty-All Rights Reserved
We all see the wanton carnage and loss of innocent civilians in Gaza on our television screens, in newspapers and on the web. We also learn that the Israeli government has denied access to Gaza for the world’s media despite its country's Supreme Court ruling otherwise.

The Foreign Press Association said this denial amounts to a violation of press freedom and puts the state of Israel in the company of a handful of regimes around the world which regularly keep journalists from doing their jobs.” (Source: The New York Times).

Despite the clamp on the media, some courageous Palestinian photographers have worked in Gaza, putting their lives at risk, working under unimaginable difficulties, and facing incalculable psychological damage from documenting all they see. So I thought of naming them here...a small tribute to their courage:

Mohammed Abed
Suhaib Salem
Ismail Zaydah
Said Khatib
Khalil Hamra
Mohamed Salem
Mahmud Shams
Abid Katib
Eyad Baba

In the meantime we wait to hear from Elie Wiesel, the celebrated "humanitarian" voice who famously said:

"...to remain silent and indifferent is the greatest sin of all..."

Will you at least whisper the same words Mr Wiesel, or are the Palestinian dead children in the above picture still not worth it?

Cham! The Dancing Monks of Tamshing!

Image © Tewfic El-Sawy-All Rights Reserved
Here's a recently produced audio slideshow titled Cham !! of the photographs I made during my October 2008 photo-expedition Land of the Druk Yul. The audio was recorded live while at the monastery of Tamshing in the religious heartland of Bhutan.

For uploading to my website, I prefer to use large format images as you see in this slideshow, however for publishing in a commercial website, I would use a much smaller size and reduce its footprint.

(Click on the image to see it in larger format).

PBS: The Story of India

Image © Callum Bulmer-All Rights Reserved
Yesterday's New York Times' reports that “The Story of India”, a six-hour, three-night mini-series will begin Monday on most PBS stations.

The series is from the British historian Michael Wood, whose projects have included “Art of the Western World” and “Conquistadors.” I met Michael Wood in 2001 while photographing the Maha Kumbh Mela in Allahabd. I presume that some of the footage he produced there will make its way in the series.

The article promises a documentary with lush photography, fascinating facts, and sense of discovery. Just in time to whet my appetite for my forthcoming Theyyam of Malabar photo-expedition!

I'm surprised that there are no credits for the photographs which appear on the PBS website.

Correction: Ethan Goldstine (Producer at kapow, inc) emailed me pointing out that there is a photo credit on the film credits page, and the correction has now been made.

Bhutan Photo Expedition: Candid Shot

Photo © Alicia Conde-All Rights Reserved
I recently received an email from Alicia Conde, who's a photographer from Belgium I met on various occasions during our stops in Bhutan last October, and she kindly attached this photograph made in the Chorten Memorial in the capital city of Thimpu.

It shows (right to left) Ugyen, one of the photo-expeditions two fixer-guides wearing the traditional gho, Gavin Gough (with the hat and his back to us), Ralph Childs aiming his camera carefully at the spinning prayer wheel, and I at the left.

Unfortunately, Alicia's mail server keeps spitting my thank you email back at me. As she tells me that she reads The Travel Photographer blog (and let's be honest...who doesn't?), this post will let her know that I'm trying to thank her.

Marcus Bleasdale: Banker-Photojournalist

I just read an article in the UK's Telegraph on the photojournalist Marcus Bleasdale, and his change of career from banker to photographer. The article highlights how someone who clearly didn't feel comfortable in the world of finance moved towards the uncertain and dangerous life of a photojournalist involved in conflict.

The article starts with this:

"As an investment banker, Marcus Bleasdale was paid £500,000 a year to sit in front of 10 computers and 25 phones. 'My job was to produce for the bank,’ he remembers, 'almost like being a battery chicken, sitting there laying eggs.’ There were perks, of course, and before the age of 30 Bleasdale was the owner of two houses and a 1968 Porsche 911, and he spent weekends skiing in the Alps.
"

And ends with this:

"Does he feel he has changed? 'I think I appreciate life a lot more. I think I’m more sensitive. I think,’ he concludes, 'I’m a nicer guy.’"

Marcus Bleasdale spent 8 years covering the brutal conflict within the borders of the Democratic Republic of Congo and the work was published in his book “One Hundred Years of Darkness". He is widely published in the UK, Europe and the USA in publications such as The Sunday Times Magazine, The Telegraph Saturday Magazine, Geo Magazine, The New Yorker, TIME and Newsweek, LIFE and National Geographic Magazine. In 2004 he was awarded UNICEF Photographer of the Year Award, the 3p Grant and the Alexia Foundation Grant. Marcus was awarded a World Press Photo award in 2006 and the Olivier Rebbot Award by the Overseas Press Club 2006, and is represented by VII.

Lenovo ThinkPad W700: Mac Killer?

Photo courtesy Lenovo
Lenovo is expected to announce the first significant update of its ThinkPad W700 laptop since it was introduced in the fall of 2008. Included in the new specs is an optional (which usually means more $$$) slide-out second screen in a model called W700ds, a more affordable quad core processor option, the ability to order the machine with as much as 8GB of RAM (up from a maximum of 4GB previously) and the correcting of a problem that rendered the optional built-in CompactFlash slot unusably slow.

Yes, you read correctly. A second slide-out screen! This laptop is principally aimed at photographers and graphic artists. The W700ds incorporates a 10.6 inch, 768 x 1280 pixel LED-backlit display alongside the unit's 17 inch, 1920 x 1200 pixel CCFL-backlit primary display. The smaller screen slides in and out of a slot on the back of the main screen, and will add $400-500 to the already pricey laptop.

The Lenovo ThinkPad W700 via Rob Galbraith.