Today is International Women’s Day, celebrating women’s rights and progress around the world. For more information and to find an event near you, visit http://www.internationalwomensday.com/
There are a few spaces remaining in our Creative Sessions Workshop on March 5-7, 2010 in Seattle, Washington. If you are interested visit the Art Wolfe Workshop Website.
Welcome to the new IMPACT online exhibition, a project exploring the internet as a venue for insightful photographic work. In an effort to remind viewers of the important role photographers play around the world, we invited an array of imagemakers to share galleries on their blogs (like this one) that comprise 12 images representing an experience when they had an impact on or were impacted. By clicking on the links below the IMPACT logo, you can move through the exhibition, viewing other galleries by different photographers. You can also click the IMPACT logo to be taken to a post on the liveBooks RESOLVE Blog where you can see an index of all participating photographers. We hope that by linking different photographic visions of our first topic, “Outside Looking In,” we can provide a multifaceted view of the topic as well as the IMPACT individuals can have on the world around us.
Fed by snowmelt from the Himalaya, the Ganges River is the spiritual center of Hinduism, and one of India’s holiest cities is Allahabad, cradled at the confluence of the Ganges and Yamuna Rivers. Every few years, depending upon the alignment of the planets, sun, and moon, this is the site of the world’s largest gathering of humanity, the Kumbh Mela.
I have been in the midst of huge migrations of wildlife, but nothing ever prepared me for this mass human pilgrimage. From every corner of the subcontinent, millions of people converge to bathe in the purifying river waters. There is nothing on Earth that can match this pilgrimage for sheer spectacle and exuberance.
From the earliest moments of the day to late at night, there is constant pageantry and stimulation. I love working the margins of the day, especially the mornings when people are just waking up. Filtered by low light the atmosphere is hazy with dust and smoke; the harsh edges softens and even the most mundane scene looks like a painting. It is easy to say that photographing the Kumbh Mela has been one of the great adventures and privileges of my life.
Drawing form 36 years of international travel, Art will delve into a vast range of subjects; from discovering the subject to elements of design and even new works such as time lapses. Imagery of nature, wildlife and the world’s varied landscapes will round out the curriculum to provide the most comprehensive and imaginitave class available. For more information visit our workshop website. Don’t delay, our first two events in Toronto, Canada – May 20 and New York, NY – May 22 are filling fast.
We have partnered with the Sheraton in Seattle to hold short classes on digital camera basics throughout the summer. Thousands of tourists set to explore the area or board cruise ships stay at the Sheraton every week. We will hold the classes up to four days a week.
John Greengo, a member of the Art Wolfe’s Travels to the Edge crew, is conducting the classes dubbed Camera Confidence. John is a talented photographer in his own right as well as an engaging speaker. He will devote some time to unraveling the mysteries of individual cameras attendees bring to the class. The classes cost $69 for an hour and a half session, with discounts available for Sheraton guests.
My only Creative Session for 2009 begins today. The entire group of 50 participants will convene at my house for a reception with food from my favorite restaurant in Seattle, Wild Ginger, the city’s first Pan Asian eatery.
Starting tomorrow, we will devote three days to learning how to see like an artist. This is a new program from start to finish with an emphasis on the compositional techniques of artists from the Impressionists through the Abstract Expressionists. I will cover line, balance, negative space, color interactions, and moving the eye, among other topics. Darrel Gulin, the past president of NANPA, photo tour instructor, and stock photographer will add his insights regarding composition for close up images. John Greengo will demonstrate discuss gear and travel issues we face while shooting Art Wolfe’s Travels to the Edge. Scott Stulberg will show how layer masks and plugins in Photoshop can enhance or transform images from the mundane to the wondrous. I think all three add value, plus I will need a couple hours a day of downtime to recharge.
I’m excited about this new seminar and look forward to presenting it, and abridged versions, next year and beyond.