Ansel Adams

Adams is an inspiration not just because of his photographs, but also his zest for life with no boundaries. You understand what I mean if you've read his autobiography. Don't miss this NY Times web article with sound byte interviews about him. This is another website with sound from the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. PBS has a movie about him as well.

Really, next time you need some inspiration to do anything, read his autobiography. When you finally put it down you will feel like you can accomplish anything. You probably won't want to put it down until you reach the end, but it is not very thick, so it makes a great weekend retreat.

Can't Get Enough?

Check out Cameraporn's 60 Photography Links You Can't Live Without

Focal Press Book: Black and White in Photoshop CS3 and Photoshop Lightroom

This is now on my list of highly recommended books for digital photography educators. Leslie Alsheimer has a wonderful, comforting, sometimes lighthearted tone to her writing. Her ability to communicate shows that she is an experienced teacher. She teaches digital photography workshops in Santa Fe. And she is a very inspiring photographer as well. She obviously took great care in preparing every chapter and choosing every photo. This is a book by an artist, not just someone who has expensive equipment and likes to take photos and work in Photoshop.

I have not only improved the quality of my own photography after reading this book, but I find myself remembering many of her tips when the time comes to approach a subject with my students. If you are an intermediate to advanced user of Photoshop, you will still find new ideas here. I especially appreciate that she starts right off by discussing workflow instead of making it an afterthought.

I had trouble putting the book down. And when I was done, I realized I had learned as much about color digital photography as black and white. You don't necessarily need the CS3 version to use this information, and Lightroom is a small part of the process.

By the way, I love Lightroom. How in the world did I manage all my photos before?

Dance Photography, Movement Fashion Photography, and Boxing

We just finished action photography. Wish I had remembered this short video on Adobe's website beforehand. The photographer, Sarah Silver explains how she takes photos for Dance Spirit magazine and movement fashion shots.

Also on that page is a link to Sye Williams and his photography of boxers, show dogs and miscellaneous oddities of the south.

Baz Luhrmann, Apple, a Design Contest and Podcasts

If you get Apple email (and actually open it) you may already be aware of this: The Set to Screen Series: Be part of a new adventure in filmmaking.

The podcasts show wonderful examples of yet another way artists are important professionals. I plan on showing them to my computer graphics students on a day when they just can't focus on work.

Student contests (high school and college) accompany each podcast. The first is making a poster from photos provided from Baz's movie Australia. (due May 26) Your students must create it on a Mac.

I hope that when my son enters and wins he includes me on the trip for 2 to Australia grand prize.