Palm Springs Photo Festival Portfolio Review Sourcebook

The Palm Springs Photo Festival has published a Portfolio Review Sourcebook containing one image from each of the photographers who participated in the Open Portfolio Review on Sunday afternoon at the beginning of the Festival. The book also includes the names, websites and contact information for the 84 participants. It is printed in a 7x7 inch square format on premium luster paper by Blurb. I'm glad to have my photo Metro Line 1 near People's Square, Shanghai included in the book.

Metro Line 1 near People's Square, Shanghai

37th National Juried Photography Exhibition at Larson Gallery

My photo Alejandro - Oaxaca, Mexico will be on display in the 37th National Juried Photography Exhibition at the Larson Gallery from April 8 to May 7, 2011.  The exhibition was juried by Ann Pallesen, Gallery Director at the Photo Center NW.  There will be an opening reception on April 8 from 5:00 - 7:30 pm.  The gallery is located at 1015 South 16th Avenue in Yakima, WA, and is open Tuesday through Friday 10am - 5pm and Saturday 1 - 5 pm.

Alejandro - Oaxaca, Mexico

Mary Ellen Mark - 15 Years of Workshops in Oaxaca

The celebration of a girl's fifteenth birthday in Latin America call a quinceañera and involves major festivities, so it is only appropriate that there should be a similar event to celebrate Mary Ellen Mark's fifteenth year of teaching photography workshops in Oaxaca, Mexico. The Alvarez Bravo Center in Oaxaca is currently displaying an exhibition that includes over 125 prints of work created by Mary Ellen and the numerous students she has taught during her fifteen years of Oaxaca workshops.

I first tried my hand at street photography in March 2006 in Mary Ellen's workshop and returned for a second workshop in July 2007.  There's been no looking back since. I'm please that my photo Siesta en el Mercado Ocotlán - Siesta in the Ocotlán Market is included in the exhibition.

Siesta en el Mercado Ocotlán - Siesta in the Ocotlán Market

My hearty congratulates and best wishes go out to Mary Ellen for all that she has accomplished.

Palm Springs Photo Festival

I just returned from six warm, sunny days at the Palm Springs Photo Festival - Connect 2011. The festival, now in its sixth year, is organized by Jeff Dunas and includes workshops, seminars, symposiums, portfolio reviews and evening presentations by the faculty.

I participated in the open portfolio review on Sunday and it was great to see many friends, including a number who were with me in China at the 2009 Lishui International Photography Festival.

My main reason for attending PSPF was to take a four-day master class with Graciela Iturbide, the renowned Mexican  photographer. Graciela radiates amazing spirit and creativity and it was truly an honor to work with her.  Rose Shoshona, the owner of the Rose Gallery in Santa Monica and Graciela's representative, was also present during the workshop and she was a delightful addition to the week.

On Thursday afternoon I attended a useful two-hour seminar on digital asset management with Peter Krogh. Peter highlighted important considerations to make sure that digital files may be stored and accessed securely. A complete discussion of important factors may be found on the ASMP Best Practices and Workflow website.

On Friday I did six portfolio reviews. I had an opportunity to meet with Carol LeFluly of Eye-Forward, Chris Pichler of Nazraeli Press, Karen Sinsheimer, Curator of Photography at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art, Anthony Bannon, director of the George Eastman House International Museum of Photography, Mary Virgina Swanson, photographic consultant, and Colin Westerbeck, Director of the California Museum of Photography at the University of California, Riverside, and the co-author with Joel Meyerowitz of Bystander, the seminal book on street photography. I showed work from my Metro and Sidewalks of New York series and received many useful comments and suggestions.

I would like to thank everyone involved for this wonderful experience.