Yes you read it right. And yes, it's Andrew G from Australian Idol. And no, we weren't aware that he was a photographer either. Nevertheless Mr. G is showcasing a year's worth of self-portraits in an exhibition aptly titled 365.

The Australian Idol host and 2DayFM announcer has taken a photograph of himself every day for a year and will be exhibiting the results. Andrew snapped himself at his LA home, where he has lived for a year, as well as in Spain and Isreal. The resulting images will be showcased at Surry Hills' Mart Gallery from September 15.

"Since I was given my first camera for Christmas when I was about seven - it was a Kodak Instant - I have always been into photography," he told The Daily Telegraph.

We can't help but think that, well... Lots of people claim to be "into" photography, and a select group put in time and effort (and money) taking classes and really learning how to take a good photograph. It is these people who would love to have their own exhibition in a Surry Hills gallery, but are being overlooked because someone semi-famous bought a camera.

Andrew refers to this exhibition as "a dream come true" but isn't it more deserved by, dare we say it, actual photographers? We can't help but think that this is like those famous actors that spontaneously launch an auto-tune fuelled singing career just because they can.

Still, judge for yourself. An interview with Andrew and some of his self-portraits can be found here.

British Fashion Photographer Corinne Day passed away on th 27th of August from a long term illness.

Day was credited with creating the heroine chic movement after splitting from the 80's high glamour photography of the day and shooting a grungy looking model, the then unknown Kate Moss. The heroine chic look spread across the fashion world like wildfire, however, it soon became mired in controversy and was accused of glamourising drugs and encouraging anorexia.

This lead to Day distancing herself from fashion for a period and exploring projects in other areas such as commerical and fine art photography in which she gain acclaim before returning to fashion in 2000 shooting for Vogue and other well known publications.

www.corinneday.co.uk

The winner of this years AOP - Association of Photographers Open competition has been announced as Australia's own Adrian Cook.

The 2010 AOP Open was judged by five renowned professionals, who sorted through the 1300 entries before giving the coveted Best in Show award to Cook for his beautiful shot titled, 'That Summer'.

Judge Martin Brent explained their choice: "I chose this image as Best in Show because it has a genuine honesty, it's refreshing, it's a caught moment, the kind of moment that photography is all about. Emotion is conveyed, the kids are clearly having a great time, Mom (?) is relaxed and it's an intimate family moment that we are allowed to share without feeling voyeuristic. When Kodak came up with the trademark catch phrase 'a Kodak moment' I think this is what they had in mind."

The other winner was London photographer Luc Coiffait who picked up the Public Choice Award with a massive 20% of the votes. Coiffaits stunning black and white portrait titled 'Enchanted' is inspired by his fashion background.

awards.the-aop.org

We have often talked on this blog about the recent difficulties facing photographers shooting in public places, well Sunday, August 29th at Campbells Cove in Sydney photographers will be letting everyone know exactly how they feel in the form of a rally.

Join Ken Duncan and other top photographers to protest the restricted access to public sites and the unfair treatment and attitudes towards photographers. The organisers want professional and amateurs alike to turn up with their cameras and tripods and fight for their rights. 

For all enquires phone (02) 4307 8409

www.artsfreedomaustralia.com

Jazz photographer Herman Leonard has sadly passed away this week in Los Angeles at the age of 87.

Leonard became a legend of Jazz photography with his smoky, backlight black and white shots defining the scene from the late 1940's when he began shooting. Icons of Jazz such as Billie Holiday, Duke Ellington and Miles Davis were all captured in his images.

Leonard himself lead a colourful life, born in Allentown, PA he studied photography at University in Ohio before spending time in the army. After his stint he returned to photography where his career took him to work in New York, Paris and the Far East for private clients and commerical publications such as Playboy. However, he always remained loyal to his first passion of Jazz and it is his work here that he will be best remembered for.

Leonard is survived by his children Valerie, Shana, Michael, David and his six grandchildren.

The drama concerning a collection of antique glass-plate photographic negatives bought by a wall painter Rick Norsigian in a garage sale 10 years ago rages on.

Experts agree that the negatives seem authentic, which has spurred the beginning of sales by Norsigian of prints created from the plates. However, Adam's family and friends remain skeptical about their connection to the photographer and doubt the estimates of the plates being worth $200 million. Adam's business manager William Turnage believes that "If they were any good, he would have printed them. He printed everything that he felt was good. And [prints from Adams' hand] look completely different from what anybody they've hired to stamp out prints would make."

Norsigians experts have therorized that the negatives survived a 1937 fire in Adams studio, as suggested by scortch marks on some of them." However, Matthew Adams, the grandson of the photographer claims that Ansel was extremely cautious about his negatives, keeping them under lock and key when not using them to make prints. "He treated the negatives as if they were his children".

Ultimately the decision will be left to the public as Norsigian puts his lost negatives prints on sale.

http://www.ricknorsigian.com/

In May this year collectors, dealers, and institutions from around the world gathered for a chance to bid on photographic history. The item for sale was one of the first Daguerrotpe wooden box sliding cameras ever made. In fact the camera was made 170 years ago in September 1839, just a few weeks after the public announcement of the invention of photography itself!

So it is not surprising that when it's North German owner placed it for sale it exceeded even the auction house WestLichts expectations. The final price reached €732,000, making it the most expensive camera in the world.

The organizing committee of the 2010 Human and Water competition, a Chinese international photography contest, has stripped the winner of his title after he was found to have plagiarized the work of another artist.

The fraudulent winner, Zhang Ziping, entered a digitally manipulated version of a photograph by Ren Shichen, a Lanzhou-based newspaper photographer. The image features two people carrying water along a mountainous road. Shichen spotted the photo among the listed winners on the internet and contacted the committee, remarking, “I didn’t participate in the competition, how could my work win the top award?”

Ziping reversed and cropped Shichen’s original image, which was one of a series of photos taken in over one hundred drought-stricken villages since 1999, in which time Shichen said he has spent almost 100,000 yuan traveling villages in Western China that have suffered drought.

Of Ziping, Shichen said, “He downloaded my work from the internet and changed it with image processing software.”

Li Jingfeng, a member of the organizing committee, stated that “Over 2,000 separate photos were in the contest but we could not verify the authenticity of each photo.” However he claims that they did have very strict procedures, and the winning photos were displayed online so that members of the public could report irregularities.  

The organizing committee decided last Friday to strip Ziping of his award, after he failed to provide any evidence of his ownership of the prize-winning photograph. An online notice was issued to cancel Ziping’s award. The committee also sent an apology letter to Ren Shichen.

Ziping's winning image, 2010.

Shichen's original image, 2007.

A DAY WITH SUE BRYCE Master Photographer
SHIREEN AND ROB HAMMOND - WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP
These two seminars are not to be missed.

A DAY WITH SUE BRYCE Master Photographer

Book in and join Sue in a full day of shooting portraits, in her own unique groundbreaking style of portrait photography. Shoot along side Sue and learn her posing manual filled with great tips and tricks. The styling, the posing, and the lighting, that can turn the ordinary into the stunning!
POSE, CONNECT, & DIRECT.
Learn the three principals from Sues comprehensive posing book and let her show you how to grow your business. Log onto Sues website www.suebryce.com for more info on Sue.
EARLYBIRD BOOKINGS NOW BEING TAKEN :
    •    PERTH BOOKED OUT
    •    MELBOURNE 6 July BOOKED OUT
    •    SYDNEY 20 July
    •    BRISBANE 17 August
Enquiries 03 9824 7090 Mobile 0418 509 228
For More information or to BOOK go to www.aswpp.org

SHIREEN AND ROB HAMMOND - WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP

Shireen and Rob Hammond created Field of Vision just six years ago. Starting their business without any bookings, with hard work and commitment within three years they were photographing 200 weddings a year. Shireen gained her Master Photographer status in just four years, while the studios reputation gathered momentum very quickly. Rob takes care of the production ensuring that the images that the studio produces, are of the highest standard. Join them for a day, and learn how Shireen produces her amazing images, and how Rob turns them into gold.
The morning will consist of a practical hands on shoot with a bride and groom, while the afternoon will be spent on the business side of things.
Check out their website on www.fovphoto.com.au.
EARLYBIRD BOOKINGS NOW BEING TAKEN :
    •    SYDNEY 13 July
    •    BRISBANE 10 August
    •    MELBOURNE Special Two Day Workshop 25th & 26th July
Enquiries 03 9824 7090 Mobile 0418509228
For More information or to BOOK go to www.aswpp.org

Thousands of skywatchers and photographers on Easter Island cheered as a total solar eclipse darkened South Pacific skies for four precious minutes yesterday.

Easter Island, famed for the monumental "moai" statues built thousands of years ago by the Polynesian Rapa Nui culture, served as ground zero for the event, which was streamed across the world via the Internet.

The eclipse could be seen in person only along a narrow slice of the Southern Hemisphere. The spectacle began at sunrise as the moon's shadow swept across the South Pacific, darkening skies over the Cook Islands, Easter Island and parts of southern Chile and Argentina.

The time of greatest eclipse occurred over open water, lasting 5 minutes and 20 seconds so shooters had to be ready to go and ready to change their exposures as it was happening. Just how do you meter and predict an essentislly unpredictable light? "As you go!" Exclaimed an exhilerated Burt Manarcor of Chile.

A solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the sun and Earth. The moon blocks the light from the sun and casts a shadow on Earth.

Skywatchers can observe a solar eclipse safely while the moon totally obscures the sun. But scientists recommend that people wear special viewing glasses during the partial phase of a solar eclipse and avoid looking directly at the sun, if even just a tiny sliver of the solar disk is visible.

The next total solar eclipse will occur in November 2012 and will be visible from northern Australia and the South Pacific.

Nine days ago the European Court of Rights banned the use of the Terrorism Act of 2000 Section 44, declaring it illegal. This move had a massive impact on the rights of street photography, because, it has now prevented the use of the Act to stop photographers and detaining them without resonable suspicion of 'terrorist like' behaviour.

However, a London photographer was yesterday detained near Buckingham Place under just such circumstances. Jules Mattsson, who was photographing cadets for their website and with the permission of their supervisors, had his details taken and was searched by the Metropolitan Police.

Jules mattsson © 2010

This occured just two weeks after Mattsson had been detained by Police in Romford, claiming he represented a terrorism risk. He managed to record the interaction and you can view it on his blog or follow him on twitter for all the latest developments on his case.

Back in March we told you about the efforts to bring back instant film in The Impossible Project made Possible: Instant film is back! When the Impossible Project announced the release of the first B&W instant film since Polaroid ceased production in 2008.

Well now the company has completed their mission by producing a colour instant film as well.

The company is showing off its achievements by unveiling the first shots taken on the new film by photographers such as; Louis Gaillard, Coco Amardeil and Herve Plumet, at this years Rencountres d'Arles.

All 13 photographers experimental images, taken on the beta volour film, are being displayed at the Bar de la Roquette from 5-13 July.

Time magazine - iconic symbol of front cover success and fame. Time online - some photo essays that will no doubt give some of these photographers a bit of both too!

As the saying goes, "An image speaks a thousand words."  Enjoy!

Crude Waters
Waves carry oil from the Deepwater Horizon to the shores of Orange Beach, Alabama. Water thick with oil has battered the Alabama coast, leaving deposits 4-6 inches deep in some points.

Read more: http://www.time.com/time/picturesoftheweek/0,29409,1997648_2154517,00.html#ixzz0smaIVuzb

Hello all!

In the interest of keeping ourselves minty fresh and continuing to find the best way to get you guys the best information we can get you in the most convenient way we can, we have created a brand new facebook page. Many of you may already be "friends" of Photo Art Gallery on facebook but that is all about to change.

We want to be able to interact with you more, want you to be able to interact with us more easily and get all our latest news and updates as well as all the interesting tid bits we find along the way out to you as quick as possible.

The new facebook page allows us to do this. On the new page you can now upload your own photos and interact directly with the galleries facebook persona. As well as being kept up to date with all the latest movements the gallery is making.

So what are you waiting for?!!! "like" us already!


PhotoArtGallery.com facebook page

Our friends over at Photo Art Centre have lost the retail plot (or maybe they've been watching too much of the infomercial channel)
We just got this press release from the guys at Photo Art Centre and we think they might need a little ‘holiday’!!

***Press Release***

 -Photo Art Centre Jumps on the End Of Financial Year band wagon.-
 Photo Art Centre have gone EOFYS Crazy!
The rest of the retail world are doing it so we felt compelled to join in!
Just enter the promotional code  SALE  to get 25% off store wide! Everything!
We've gone mad!
Everything you create MUST GO!!!
 We mean everything! Books, Calenders, prints and more! all 25% off, Hurry in now these prices wont last!

www.photoartcentre.com

Acrylic Float Frames

 While we are talking about good deals, don’t forget the amazing discount that we have at the moment for our brand new acrylic metallic face mounted prints. 20 x 30 inches - $249.95!!! (Normally $349.95)  Go to PROMOTIONS NOW ON to learn how to get yours or check the acrylic phorum thread to ask any questions.

Happy EOFYS everyone!

Two years after the initial deal between Getty and Flickr to offer users of the site the ability to sell their images, the companies have not only extended the deal but have updated the system. Now instead of an invite only system for users spotted by one of Getty's editors, Flickr users may now submit images for consideration, making it easier for their work to be found by potential buyers. So just by including a 'request to licence' link next to their image, buyers can select the option which will put them in touch with a Getty representative, who will then negotiate on the photographers behalf.   

Of course this move by Getty has split industry opinion, some believing that the surge in imagery by amateurs hitting the market will deflate the prices for professionals and others arguing that no amateur will get rich off this deal and that it is just a great way to reward the community. Either way the stock industry and the way images are bought and sold is changing and the modern photographer will have to learn to adapt.

Cinematographer Shane Hurlbut, ASC, recently used the Canon 5D Mark II Digital SLR camera to shoot several short HD films about U.S. Navy rescue crews.

One of those films is below.

Navy Swimmer Short 720p from Shane Hurlbut, ASC on Vimeo.

PRESS RELEASE

Canon EOS 5D Mark II Digital SLR Cameras Capture Heroic Action in the Hands of Cinematographer Shane Hurlbut

The video imagery begins in dramatic slow-motion: The crew of a Blackhawk helicopter sprints toward a waiting aircraft. Upon boarding, it takes to the sky. Cruising over forbidding alpine terrain, the crew locates an injured mountain climber trapped in a crevasse atop a remote peak. The Blackhawk lowers a Navy diver, who straps the victim into a gurney. Then the two are hoisted aloft on a long, thin cable. Once aboard, the aircraft speeds off into the sunset, headed for the nearest hospital helipad.

Beautifully photographed in digital HD and impressive to see, this three-minute commercial is remarkable not only for its depiction of a highly trained U.S. Navy rescue team, but also for the fact that it was shot in just a few hours using Canon EOS 5D Mark II Digital SLR cameras. As its director of photography, Shane Hurlbut, explained, it could not have been made with any other camera system.

"It would have been impossible to shoot within the time parameters we faced,” Hurlbut said. “Nothing is as small and nimble as our Canon 5D Mark II camera packages. We rolled eight 5D Mark II cameras simultaneously in real-time. Re-loads and unlimited re-takes were not an option.

Hurlbut carefully pre-planned the shoot. He used one Canon 5D Mark II onboard a Jet Ranger helicopter to shoot the Blackhawk in flight. Another camera operator aboard the Blackhawk took advantage of the 5D Mark II’s compact size to capture shots from inside its cockpit. He also shot breathtaking views by holding the 5D Mark II out the aircraft’s door, and by aiming straight down the rescue cable. Later, airlifted part-way up the mountain, Hurlbut and his camera assistant hiked another 1,000 ft. carrying backpacks that held additional 5D Mark II’s, lenses, and a tripod. At the summit, Hurlbut shot the Blackhawk hovering overhead.

"If we had used motion-picture cameras it would have taken us half the day just to haul the gear up the mountain,” Hurlbut noted. “What we accomplished was all because of the compact nature of the 5D Mark II and our ability to take advantage of its still-photography platform to make beautiful motion pictures. It was amazing what we were able to pull off in so short a time.

Even more amazing was that it was the second U.S. Navy commercial they shot that day. Several hours earlier, Hurlbut and his team used their Canon 5D Mark II cameras for an equally complex shoot of Navy swimmers making a helicopter rescue of a downed pilot in the ocean.

Game Changer
A member of the American Society of Cinematographers, Hurlbut has captured moving images using practically every film and video format currently available. When he first saw the Canon EOS 5D Mark II Digital SLR camera, however, he immediately identified it as a “game-changer,” adding that he had “never been so excited by the creative possibilities a camera offers cinematographers.

"I call the Canon 5D Mark II a ‘game changer’ for several reasons,” Hurlbut elaborated. “The first is its big CMOS sensor’s ability to collect light in widely varying ISO’s. It’s very clean up to 1600 ISO. Its light-gathering capability has a nice, very film-like gradient. The 5D Mark II’s sensor also delivers ‘VistaVision’ depth of field. Not one digital HD camera out there will deliver that. I find that if you operate at the right f-stop with the 5D Mark II, you get a wonderful, shallow depth of field. You’re also getting skin tones unlike any delivered by other cameras. I don’t think the other manufacturers have put the kind of R&D into their cameras that Canon put into its 5D Mark II. Perhaps the biggest reason why the 5D Mark II is a game changer is because it’s so compact. You can capture perspectives with it that no other camera system can deliver.

Have Cameras, Will Travel
Hurlbut cites the Canon 5D Mark II’s compact design as crucial to his current production, Act of Valor, which depicts Navy SEAL covert ops in fast-paced action close-ups. Hurlbut has been shooting the movie in various locations around the world for the past year. The compact size of the 5D Mark II enables his six-man crew to transport an eight-camera production package in the overhead bins of airliners and avoid the risks of checking it as baggage. Passing through customs is also simplified, given that still cameras typically entail fewer restrictions than motion-picture cameras. Once on location, his crew of six goes into what Hurlbut called “platoon module,” with everyone carrying equipment and multi-tasking production duties. This includes shooting with the 5D Mark II.

"Whether they’re grips, gaffers, or loaders, they’re all members of my elite team,” Hurlbut commented.

“They’re all co-collaborators and they’ve all used DSLRs. When I hand them a 5D Mark II camera they know what to do. It’s amazing the great footage they get.The compact size of the 5D Mark II also speeds production, allowing for many more set-ups per day than are possible with larger cameras. Hurlbut has his crew outfit their 5D Mark II cameras for different shooting configurations that he can switch to at a moment’s notice. These configurations are made possible with support rigs and accessories from such companies as Redrock Micro and Zacuto. Hurlbut has also designed his own custom base plates for mounting extra-large motion-picture lenses on the 5D Mark II.

A Fresh, New Style
Hurlbut believes that the Canon 5D Mark II is destined to benefit the entire production industry. “I have seen agency creatives get very excited by the 5D Mark II because its reduced cost and high film-like quality make storyboards that were once too expensive to shoot suddenly become affordable. Also, I think as more film studios begin to understand the power of the 5D Mark II platform they’ll change the way they think about making movies and episodic television.

“More than anything, what I love about the Canon 5D Mark II is that it’s part of a global revolution,” Hurlbut concluded. “The 5D Mark II is causing a paradigm shift in the production industry because it provides film-like quality combined with lightweight operation and amazing mobility. It’s also affordable, so it’s giving a lot of people a voice who’ve never had one before. I think the style of filmmaking that’s going to come out of the use of the 5D Mark II will be a whole fresh new style that hasn’t even been named yet.”

Australian Vogue photographer Richard Bailey had passed away at the age of 52, he died in hospital on Sydney's North Shore after an epic 6 year battle with Bladder Cancer. Bailey received fame and recognition for his iconic Fashion and Portrait images, his previous client list includes names such as Naomi Campbell, Hilary Swank and Nicole Kidman for companies such as Covergirl and Vanity Fair.

True to form Bailey worked right until his last days, his final shoot being for good friend Jimmy Barnes on his latest album cover, his wife and ex-model Gillian Bailey describes how "Richard was very ill on that day but kept going. Bless him". In fact before he died Bailey was planning the shoot of a lifetime in Thailand with Paris Hilton and a mammoth $400 million budget, he described it to his wife as a "fantasy" shoot.

Bailey is survived by his wife Gillian and two children Jasper and Billie.

Opening - Hijacked 2: Australia / Germany
15/06/2010 -

The Australian Centre for Photography was ‘Hijacked’ again on the 10th June, as curators Mark McPherson and Ute Noll brought together Australian and German artists/artwork for the opening of Hijacked 2: Australia / Germany.

Mark McPherson’s brain-child, Hijacked 2, focused on the diverse talents and perspectives of 32 contemporary photographers from Australia and Germany. Confronting, evocative and often dream like, Hijacked 2 provided the perfect much-awaited follow up to its predecessor, Hijacked 1: Australia / USA.

Hijacked 2: Australia / Germany will be open at the Australian Centre for Photography until the 17 July.

The exhibition will also be touring interstate. Visit Big City Press for more information on venues and dates.

As we mentioned on our June 4th Blog 'MyPhotos - Social networking images media revolution' photographer Daniel Morel posted 13 images of the Haitian earthquake's devastating aftermath on Twitter on January 12th 2010, the images attracted a lot of media attention and were soon distributed worldwide by outlets after seeking permission from Morel. The images were also used by the AFP (Agence France Presse), unfortunately the AFP found the images not on Morels Twitter account as the rest had, but rather on another account owned by a Lisandro Suero who had taken the images from Morels profile. As a consequence the AFP credited Suero, not Morel for the 13 images which they then distributed to media outlets around the world eager to report the devastation.

The AFP realised their mistake and by the evening of the following day had changed the credit on the image. However, they neglected to tell all their affiliates until nearly 6 weeks later that the credit information was incorrect, by which time it had been published by multiple media outlets including Vanity Fair, The Guardian and the New York Times, all of whom credited the AFP for the images.

Morel is now suing the AFP for the loss of income and copyright infringement to the amount of $150,000 per images plus damages.

The AFP in turn has filed a legal complaint against Morel for engaging in 'commercial defamation' claiming that they were within their rights since Morel granted a non-exclusive license to use the images by posting them on Twitter. Morels defence, however, is that the images were in fact posted on a separate site called TwitPic which automatically links to Twitter and according to the terms and conditions at the time on TwitPic all images posted are copyright to their owner.

Clearly the outcome of this case will be critical to all photographers and their use of the internet and social networking sites as a vehicle to display work, so we will all have to hope for a fair outcome. For more information on the case, including copies of the complaints visit www.dankennedy.net/2010/04/27/more-on-the-haitian-copyright-case/.