Posted on

Photolucida and Portland Photo Month in Full Swing

Renowned consultant Mary Virginia Swanson speaking right now at the Benson Hotel about using Instagram as a social media strategy for high-end photography.

Greetings from Photolucida, the biannual jewel of Portland Photo Month. Luminaries from around the world are here at the Benson Hotel through Sunday for pre-arranged portfolio reviews, but there are other events open to the public.

Tonight’s Portfolio Walk at the Portland Art Museum is a chance to see the work of hundreds of photographers at once. From Photolucida: “This fan-favorite event is open to the public and draws a huge crowd so get there early (or, hot tip, late)! Over 150 emerging and established photographers lay their photographs out on tables to present to the public – you! This event is a wonderful chance for the Portland community to meet photographers, engage in conversation, and view photographic works. Join us at the Portland Art Museum in the Fields Ballroom from 6-9pm for this always-dynamic event!”

At Blue Sky Gallery, Daesha Devón Harris will speak about her work at 5:30 tomorrow (Friday.) Also on Friday, Small Talk Collective will have their closing reception for RUMORS at Wolff Gallery from 5:00-7:00. And the wonderful AINT-BAD will have a book release party at Ampersand from 7:00-9:00.

On Saturday, a silent auction starting at noon and Photo Book Fair from 6:30-9:00 will be delightful. From Photolucida: “This evening event is all about celebrating the photobook! Join 12 small-press publishers set up with collectible, hard-to-find-elsewhere publications on hand to view or purchase. Publishers include AINT-BAD, Candela Books, Dark Spring Press, Daylight Books, Fall Line Press, Fraction Editions, Kehrer Verlag, Kris Graves Projects, One Twelve, Princeton Architectural Press, Radius Books, and Zatara Press. Many artists will be in attendance to sign copies.”


Posted on

DEADLINE TONIGHT: Photolucida Portfolio Reviews 2019

Image by John A. Stewart.

OK, dawdlers, the clock is ticking. You have until midnight tonight to register for Photolucida’s portfolio reviews April 25-28, 2019. The biennial reviews are a golden opportunity, particularly because influential reviewers from around the world come here to our backyard during Portland Photo Month. Seriously, it’s always an impressive list of editors, gallerists and other photography luminaries. See you there.

Posted on

Matt Eich events in Portland this week

The smoke of cigarettes and cooking food filters together with a shaft of light in Adrian “Nikki” Wilson’s apartment she shares with her girlfriend “Dominique” and mother Ellen in Greenwood, Mississippi on November 30, 2011. Born and raised in Baptist Town, Nikki recently moved out of her childhood home and across the tracks, where there is more anonymity and less drama. She and her mother moved back into the Baptist Town neighborhood a few months later. Image copyright Matt Eich.

We are very pleased to welcome Matt Eich back to Portland this week. By my lights, he is one of the very best photographers in the country today. Matt is particularly adept at navigating the amorphous space between photojournalism and art.

Matt will speak at Blue Sky Gallery at 3:00 on Saturday, Sept. 8, to open his solo show “I Love You, I’m Leaving.”

AND

the prior evening at Blue Chalk‘s Portland office he will show work from across his career. I’ll bring beer. Everyone is invited!

Friday, Sept. 7 at 6:00.

3150 NW 31st Ave, Portland.

 

Posted on

DSLR Video Workshop at UO Portland

September 10–13 at the UO Portland campus —

Led by Sung Park, this four day hands-on workshop will cover best practices in planning, shooting and editing a journalistic video story. You will learn how to use a DSLR camera and a digital audio recorder to create a concise two-minute video story which you will edit using Adobe Premiere.

For professional participants, this bootcamp is a great way to broaden your skill set and make yourself more marketable in today’s competitive media environment. If you are considering pursuing a master’s degree in multimedia journalism (MMJ), participating in the bootcamp can help you decide if the degree program is right for you.

Register here: https://academicextension.uoregon.edu/videobootcamp/

Posted on

Blue Earth Alliance project deadline: July 20

As editorial outlets struggle and avenues for publication change, raising funds to work on long-term photography projects can be daunting. Here’s one resource that has helped more than 100 photographers complete their world-changing projects:

I serve on the board of Blue Earth Alliance, and our next deadline for photography project applications is TOMORROW, July 20.

Blue Earth Alliance offers fiscal sponsorship to documentary projects that align with our mission. As a non-profit organization with 501(c)3 status, Blue Earth Alliance is eligible to receive grants and tax-deductible contributions from private foundations, individuals, or other entities. We extend that exempt status to accepted project photographers allowing them to seek such grants and tax deductible donations.  We do not provide direct funding or grants to projects.

Blue Earth Alliance sponsors documentary projects that educate the public about critical environmental and social issues. We are primarily interested in work that is educational and informational in nature and will consider proposals of any geographic scope involving the photographic and motion picture mediums. Our standard contract sponsors the project for two years. We are particularly interested in under-represented stories and voices.

Please apply, and/or hit me up with questions!

— Tom

Posted on

Critical Mass deadline is Monday

It’s the weekend! Time to spit-shine your entries for Photolucida‘s Critical Mass, which are due Monday.

It’s the annual Portland opportunity to get your work in front of more than 200 portfolio reviewers from around the world — top museum curators, gallerists, publishers, editors, and media producers.

Good luck!

Posted on

Thursday! Oregon Focus Happy Hour in Portland

On Thursday, join Oregon Focus for happy hour at Portland Brewing Company as we welcome students in Southern Oregon University‘s Creative Careers Bootcamp.

Led by Erik Palmer, associate professor and chair of the communications program, the SOU students will visit some of Portland’s best creative agencies and tech employers this week. They’ll still find time for fun, though, and after visiting Blue Chalk Media Thursday afternoon we’ll gather at Portland Brewing from 5:00 to 7:00 (or so.) We hope to see you there!

Thursday, June 21, 5:00-7:00. Portland Brewing’s Taproom: 2730 NW 31st Ave., Portland.

Posted on

College Geekfest – Tonight and tomorrow in Eugene

Tonight and tomorrow, A Photo A Day‘s Geekfest comes to the University of Oregon. Tonight will feature portfolio reviews, a print exchange and free food, and tomorrow commercial photographer Sol Neelman, photo editor and marketing consultant Jasmine DeFoore and fine art photographer Holly Andres will speak before a group shootout, edit and slideshow.

Over the past decade, Geekfest has grown to be a large annual celebration of inspired and inspiring photographers building community together, and now college Geekfests are springing up around the nation. Neelman, a former Oregonian and News-Register photographer now based in Brooklyn, NY, spoke with me about what to expect.

“We are trying to bring the GeekFest experience to college students that may not have heard of it, let alone attended one,” Neelman said.

The event will take place on the UO campus, though it’s free and open to everyone.

“It’s also meant for anyone that needs/wants a kick in the butt, regardless of experience level.”

As a longtime Geekfest veteran, I can attest that fun will be had! The schedule is below.

 

Posted on

PDX Squared on Friday

One of the most-fun photography events of the year, PDX Squared, culminates with Friday’s live judging.

From ASMP:

“GET YOUR TICKETS!!! PDX Squared is on Friday, May 19! Come witness the live judging of this very special photography competition. Includes delicious dinner and drinks! https://www.eventbrite.com/e/pdx-squared-2018-dinner-live-j…

Amateurs and professionals compete head to head to win big prizes and bragging rights, after being randomly assigned one square mile of Portland , and then shooting in that square for 24 hours. This unique event includes 72 competitors. JOIN US!”

Posted on

How the Alexia Foundation Chooses Grant Winners

From Sarah Blesner’s Alexia grant-winning story in 2017: Students from School #18 perform a show at the local theater in Sergiyev Posad, Russia, 15 Dec 2016. The show promotes the cadet school at School #18. Sarah Blesener/Alexia Foundation

The Alexia Foundation is once again accepting applications for its prestigious photography grants. For advice on how to apply, don’t miss Alexia Chair and former Oregonian photo editor Mike Davis‘ insightful article that can help all manner of applications:

“There are four broad aspects, questions, really, that you have to satisfy in the judges’ minds, hearts and eyes: Is the subject engaging? Can you do it? How are you going to do the project? What will happen because of your project?”

Continue reading “How the Alexia Foundation Chooses Grant Winners”