Though I am on my way to Thailand, I am able to share some photos from Sri Lanka before take off. While staying in the beautiful Southern Province I fell ill with a terrible head cold. A few days out capturing the beauty- the rest of my days were spent close to the hotel. As you can see- it wasn’t such a horrible sick chamber! (Click the play button below the photo to see them all.)
Art was able to travel to Kenya and visit with the Maasai during their Emorata ceremony. A circumcision ceremony is the most vital initiation of all rites of passage in the Maasai society. This initiation is performed after puberty in a large group of young men called an age-set. Young men are eager to be circumcised and become warriors. Once the boys become warriors they resume responsibility of security for their territory. Circumcision, or emorata, initiation elevates an individual from childhood to adulthood. In order for the boy to be initiated he must prove himself to the community. The boy must exhibit signs of a grown man, by carrying a heavy spear, herding large herd of livestock, etc. The boy must endure the operation in silence. The healing process will take 3–4 months, and boys must remain in black clothes for a period of 4–8 months.
Congratulations to the winner of Celebrity Cruises’ smartphone competition. Zoe King will be “Celebrity Cruises ‘Photo Ambassador for 2014” and will embark on a 14-night Scandinavia & Russia cruise in May next year.
For more information on the competition and to see more of this year’s entries, click HERE.
Zoe King won with her picture of Gangaramaya Viharaya Temple in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The competition’s esteemed panel of judges included Stuart Franklin, Ian Berry, Massimo Vitali, and myself. I did indeed choose Zoe’s picture as the winner! This is a very complex image, with a lot going on – color, line, repetition and movement. This complexity is what makes it interesting and draws me into the scene.
I have been working with Amber Lotus for many many years. They are a great company to work with, and I thought I would share their mission:
Amber Lotus Publishing’s wall calendars are like a book that you read one page a month. This vehicle can be very valuable in promoting inspirational ideas because the messages, quotes and concepts are repeatedly transmitted throughout the month. These inspirations sink into the reader’s consciousness while they are engaged in something as prosaic as checking what is scheduled for the next day. Therefore, they are inserting the infinite into the finite realm of time. We are committed to supporting Environmental Awareness, Earth Stewardship and Mindful Living through the pages of these calendars.
We have always been concerned about the environment. We were one of the first calendar companies to use recycled paper and were an early member of Green America. We started our program of offsetting our tree usage and carbon footprint by planting trees and contributing funds to NativeEnergy. We continue that initial focus by using FSC certified paper and partnering with Trees for the Future. As of 2013, Amber Lotus Publishing has helped plant more than 330,000 trees and Trees for the Future has certified that we are now significantly carbon negative as a company.
You can purchase a copy of the 2014 Travels to the Edge calendar on my store.
If you were planning on getting an item signed by me before the end of December, please have your orders in by the 13th!
Feeling spontaneous? I will be giving two presentations at my gallery Tuesday, December 10th. I head out of town for six weeks so this will be the last chance to get personalized books for the holidays!
Where: The Art Wolfe Gallery
When: 5-9 pm
What: presentations at 6 & 8 pm + book signing
I also have some beautiful new prints hanging in the gallery, so come on down & meet the artist!
The Art of the Photograph
Essential Habits for Stronger Compositions
By Art Wolfe and Rob Sheppard
Foreword by Dewitt Jones
Based on legendary image-maker Art Wolfe’s popular lecture series, THE ART OF THE PHOTOGRAPH (Amphoto Books, on sale December 3, 2013, $29.99) is guaranteed to shift the fundamental way amateur photographers see and capture the world around them. Drawing from a career spanning 40 years of award-winning photography, Art Wolfe gives a rich array of insights, advice, and techniques aimed at dramatically offering the most comprehensive, imaginative master class available in a photography book.
This is Art Wolfe’s instructional magnum opus and a highly personal work. He shares the story of his own artistic discovery and describes the rigors of his experience as a professional photographer, shooting in the field. Utilizing his formal training as an art instructor, Wolfe teaches readers how to explore the elements of design to make compelling and emotionally engaging photographs. Together, Art Wolfe and Rob Sheppard look at the most common traps amateurs fall into and offer the kind of simple yet eye-opening advice that can instantly change anyone’s photos. How do you find inspiration? How do you find unique subjects? How do you know which lens to use? Wolfe also includes the invaluable chapter on the “10 Deadly Sins of Composition” so photographers will know beyond a shadow of a doubt how to take the most satisfying images possible.
THE ART OF THE PHOTOGRAPH runs the full gamut of Art Wolfe’s artistic expertise and lays the true foundation of image-making. Extraordinary photos of the world’s cultures, wildlife and varied landscapes round out this essential curriculum to provide the most thorough and imaginative volume on composition.
About the Authors
ART WOLFE’s stunning images are recognized throughout the world for their mastery of color, composition, and perspective. Wolfe’s television series, Art Wolfe’s Travels to the Edge, airs on PBS stations throughout the country. He is also a popular speaker for such companies as Microsoft, IBM, and Sheraton Hotels. He can be found at artwolfe.com as well as on Facebook and Twitter.
ROB SHEPPARD is the author/photographer of more than 30 books and hundreds of articles and is a well-known speaker and workshop leader. He was formerly the longtime editor of Outdoor Photographer magazine, where he is now editor-at-large.
