I was able to upload the rest of the images from the Sepik before hopping on the airplane to head home.
Traveling up the Sepik River has definitely been a greater challenge than the earlier part of the trip. However, struggle is not without its rewards. References to freshwater crocodiles are in evidence everywhere you look in Sepik tribal culture. The Sepik tribes revere the freshwater crocs since they are the only big, bad thing in their environment (other than the clouds of bloodsucking mosquitoes). They mimic the scales in their corporeal scarification and their houses are made of layered leaves to look like croc scales. Sacred totems and elaborate carvings also colorfully incorporate the crocodile.
The new international photography competition, USA Landscape Photographer of the Year, launched by the world-renowned photographer Charlie Waite at the end of 2013, will close for entries on the 17th of April, 2014.
The competition is open to all photographers from anywhere in the world, for their images of the rural and urban landscapes of the United States of America.
A highly regarded panel of judges, made up of some of the most prestigious landscape photographers in the USA, such as Art Wolfe, David Muench, Christopher Burkett, Jim Patterson, Tim Fitzharris, Marc Muench, Marc Adamus and Brenda Tharp will review images to determine the overall winner of USA Landscape Photographer of the Year 2014.
The overall winner will be determined on the basis of three images, which can have been entered into any one, or any combination, of the Award Categories:
• Classic View
• Urban Landscape
• Black & White
• Landscape on the Move
• My U.S.A.
There will also be an overall youth winner for the photographer under 21 years of age that enters the strongest three images across the Award Categories. There is a significant prize fund which includes US$5,000 to the overall winner, US$1,000 to category winners and awards in cash, equipment, and mentoring to category and special prize winners.
Details of the competition can be found on the website and winners will be announced in USA Today on the 31st of May, 2014. For more information:
Visit: www.usalandscapephotogheroftheyear.com
Email: info@usalandscapephotographeroftheyear.com
Earlier in the week the leading newspaper in PNG, the Post-Courier ran a short front page story on our film project. It is gratifying to know that this project is interesting and important to so many people.
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Traveling up the Sepik River has definitely been a greater challenge than the earlier part of the trip. However, struggle is not without its rewards. References to freshwater crocodiles are in evidence everywhere you look in Sepik tribal culture. The Sepik tribes revere the freshwater crocs since they are the only big, bad thing in their environment (other than the clouds of bloodsucking mosquitoes). They mimic the scales in their corporeal scarification and their houses are made of layered leaves to look like croc scales. Sacred totems and elaborate carvings also colorfully incorporate the crocodile.
The Power of the Image project Launches in China
Exhibition and Seminars Feature 20 of the World’s Most Influential International Professional Photographers
Beijing, China – April 7, 2014 – On April 25, Beijing’s Temple of Heaven will become the site of one of the most memorable exhibitions of its kind – The Power of the Image. The exhibition will feature more than 200 works by 20 internationally-renowned professional photographers, including Pep Bonet, Michael Crouser, Lauren Greenfield, Peter Guttman, Jocelyn Bain Hogg, Nadav Kander, Frederic LaGrange, Yann Layma, Roman Loranc, Gerd Ludwig, Steve McCurry, Eric Meola, Sylvia Plachy, John Sexton, Matthew Jordan Smith, Eddie Soloway, Art Streiber, Joyce Tenneson, Art Wolfe and Qin Yuhai.
Organized and developed by the Beijing Fuhai Culture Company, Kodak Alaris and supported by the Tencent Website, the “Power of the Image” is hosted by the China Public Relation Association, George Eastman House, and the Beijing Municipal Administration Center of Parks, Beijing Association of Parks. The multi-faceted program includes the exhibition at the Temple of Heaven from April 25 to May 31 and a host of events, seminars and panel discussions on April 26 – 28, including the April 25 opening and awards ceremony; exhibition of the Life Story of George Eastman; the exhibition “Photography Changed the World”, featuring photographs from the world renowned photography collection at George Eastman House; dialogues with “Power of The Image Award” photographers; and the Workshop of Photographic Preservation and Digital Processing.
“It is a great honor for me to hold this international photographic activity,” said Mr. Cao Jian, chairman of the Beijing Fuhai Culture Company. “As a Chinese who has had the benefit of being involved in the imaging industry for 20 years, I hope to help expose more people to the power of photography as captured by this extraordinary group of professional photography legends and the importance of their images. The birth of photography had a revolutionary effect on the development of world civilization. The unique aspect of photography lies in capturing a glimpse of the real world we live in and recording the truths of that reality. It is my hope that by joining with George Eastman House, Kodak Alaris and the esteemed photographers in the “Power of the Image” project, we will help develop a deeper understanding about photography and photographers who are part of the project.”
Bruce Barnes, director of George Eastman House, said, “We hope to have a continuing partnership with China during this time of tremendous change in the photographic industry. Through traveling exhibitions and international programs, we o fulfill the mission of our museum, which is in part to promote access to and understanding of photography throughout the world. We aim to recognize contemporary artists through exhibitions, awards, and exchanges, and this partnership offers a platform for cultural organizations, photographers, and the public to share the power of photography.”
Images have been used to record and inspire human development; they will continue to have a far-reaching effect on the past, present and future. The award-winning images in the Power of the Image reinforce world peace, the advancement of human civilization, the protection of our environment, and uniquely highlight photography as a way of expression.
The official website of the “Power of the Image” international photographic program was launched March 28 and includes information about the “Power of the Image” agendas, exhibitions, photographers and their photographic works in both Chinese and English. As a media partner of the international photographic activity, Tencent also launched a special edition, featuring a full photographic activity report under its photo channel.
Papua New Guinea is the first location for a Canon Australia film project I am working on with Abraham Joffe (www.untitledfilms.com.au). It has been a couple decades since I have been to the Highlands and I was extremely excited to be photographing the Asaro Mudmen again as well as the Huli and Chimbu. The filmmakers are channeling Baraka (one of my favorite movies), using drones and movement in virtually every shot. Up next: the Sepik River.
PALOUSE WORKSHOP with Art Wolfe Pullman, Washington
August 15-17, 2014, with an evening reception on August 14th at The Hilltop Hotel.
This three-day course will change the way you look through the lens as well as how you look at your photographs. Art will share the finer points of maximizing early morning and late afternoon light. Field shoots will be at some of the most beautiful locations around the beautiful wheat fields of eastern Washington.
All aspects of outdoor photography will be covered including composition, field techniques, technology, and the unique philosophy of this highly specialized profession. There will be informative lectures, rigorous critiques and portfolio reviews.
Want to do aerial photography? Flight add-on available. Please email info@artwolfe.com.
For more info, or to register for the workshop click HERE.
In January I was in India, photographing in the desert Kutch, wild Kanha National Park and along the lush Kerala coast; I transitioned from that subtropical clime to snowy Yellowstone National Park. February took me back to India’s remote Ladakh region in a quest for snow leopards; hiking every day at high altitudes I lost seven pounds and found the cats extraordinarily difficult to photograph, but all in all it was a rewarding return to the High Himalaya.
Often my favorite shots are serendipitous and this image of a single Gentoo penguin on an iceberg is one of those cases. Here along the Antarctic Peninsula, Gentoos live on just a few islands.
As we approached slowly in the Zodiac there were several penguins sitting and standing on the iceberg, and I remember thinking to myself that it would really be cool if there were only one. As if on cue, three of them dove into the water leaving the one. I expected the straggler to follow, but it stayed as if reading my mind.
By remaining on the iceberg, the single penguin on its little chunk of ice became a metaphor for dwindling ice packs throughout the world. I wanted to show the enormity of this penguin’s world so I chose to use a 16-35mm f/2.8 wide angle lens while holding a graduated neutral density filter to give the sky more impact. The deeper gray of the sky also brings out the deep blue hues of the icebergs in the distance. On sunny days the opposite is true; the brighter sky diminishes the color of the ice. I also did something I don’t normally do: I put the subject in the center of the frame. By doing this I am making a statement about the vast expanse of this environment and the limits of the ice.
I have three trips to Antarctica coming up. Two are sold out but you can get on the wait-list:
