Indego Tripod Bag

Hello friends and fellow bag lovers! A friend of mine recently sent me some information on a great organization in Africa and one fabulous tripod bag. See more info and products at their website: http://shop.indegoafrica.org/


Indego Africa is a proud member of the Fair Trade Federation, employs a simple yet powerful social enterprising business model: (a) partner with cooperatives of world-class artisans in Rwanda; (b) sell their masterful fair trade handicrafts at high-end retailers across the U.S. and on Indego Africa’s WebStore; (c) pay the women a fair wage, including 50% up front; and (d) return 100% of the profits for training in culturally-tailored training programs in business management, entrepreneurship, organic gardening, computer skills, and literacy.

I am loving their tripod (or yoga) bags! You can buy one too! This one is my fav!

Inspire Me Monday: Craig Ferguson

 

Monday is back again my friends. And I am sticking to inspiration, which I hope will get me motivated after a weekend of travel and family. It's time to get back in the photo grove of things.  I first came across Craig Ferguson's work on a set of interviews done on herbervega.com. I was truly drawn to Craig's story as much as his work. I'll admit this is directly linked with the stage of life that I am currently in. I know that I am about to go and live in Lusaka for 2 years, so I have been seeking photographers who have made a similar treck, and been good at it. 

The theme I'm sticking to this week is R-E-S-P-E-C-T, yep just like Diana Ross and the Supremes. During the interview Craig was asked, "What are the characteristics that a good cultural photographer needs to have? How is that different from other fields in photography?"

 

Patience and respect are probably the most essential characteristics needed. Actually, the same characteristics that make someone a good human being would make someone a good cultural photographer. Awareness, honesty, openness, curiosity are all traits that are desirable in any walk of life. 

I've been thinking alot about this approach, respect and awareness are not something that we see incorporated into our immediate daily schedule where we are very busy and important, it seems to be that other people often become more of a nuisance in traffic than an entity to be respected. I am always amazed in other countries how there is less focus on the individual and more on the community. A respect for the group as a whole. As for me, I think I'm going to focus on being aware and respecting those around me this week. You never know someone's story, and you never know what you'll stumble upon if you'd pay attention.

Sebastiao Salgado

I don't know about you, but on Monday morning after my weekend activities I can always use some inspiration to motivate me to action. So I've decided that the first thing I should do on Monday mornings is to find something that inspires me. Be it other photography work, architecture, light, design, or individuals.

One of my favorite quotes is by Henry Thoreau, "If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put foundations under them." To me this is a call to action, a challenge to dream big no matter what the costs. Your future is what you make it, and what inspires you are clues to your best work.

That being said, I thought I'd start this week of by visiting my first introduction to documentary work, Sebastiao Salgado. What strikes me about every single one of his images is the dignity given to the subject, and the beauty even in the moments of sadness.

I think that I have always admire photographers whose work strives for dignity. But after being witness to the photo tourism that took place in Haiti after the earthquake, I must admit that this subject has been on my mind of late. Is shock value worth demoralizing our photography subjects?

Salgado proves that the story or image stands on its own. His work is better than a java jolt on this Monday morning. Hopefully he'll inspire your week too.

Camera Meets Crop Mob!

I spend Saturday with a D.C. meet up group called Crop Mob. Once a month, Crop Mobbers head out to a local farm and take part in that day’s work and get their hands dirty. The specific tasks for each outing varies - they weed, mulch, dig, plant, harvest, or compost depending upon what the farmers need.


This week we headed out to Maple Avenue Market Farm to help weeding, planting, mulching, and picking vegetables. Maple Avenue Market Farm, located in Northern Fairfax County, is the first...and currently the only local farm working directly with Arlington County Public Schools to grow fresh local produce for its students. In addition, the farm's produce is sold at the Maple Avenue Market, a local foods store in downtown Vienna, VA owned by farmers Chris and Sara Guerre, and at area farmers' markets. Chris and Sara are passionate about using organic growing methods on the farm; and passionate about hands-on agricultural and social innovation.

The Crop Mobbers were awesome and left Chris and Sara's organic garden in tip top shape. It was truly amazing what 30 people can do in such a short span on time! It was wonderful to be witness to the community effort in helping these organic farmers. Go Green! 

Website Updates!

Hello all!

I have posted images from my final shoot in Haiti. I worked with ACDI-Voca during the bean harvest. As always I will be forever impressed with the resilience of the Haitian people. Many of the farmers I worked with were hosting multiple family members from the areas that were damaged by the earthquake.

My favorite bit of work is the Haitian Farmer portraits, their approach and positive attitude in regards to their works comes out. And I feel nothing but admiration when I look at the portraits. You can also find new work from the harvest in the Haiti section under Agriculture 2.

Just for fun, I put in some of my favorite photos from our 7,000 mile road trip. I must say, it is great to be back in the U.S.A. It is something I don't think I will ever take for granted again. Upon return from Haiti, I must say I am so appreciative of the simple things in life. These photos are just reminders to all of us who forget how lucky we are to live in a place like this.

One Step at a Time

Today I made progress!!! After reading a guest blog at Scot Kelby's website yesterday by Gary S. Chapman. I decided to send him an email to commend him on some fantastic work and to see if he had any pointers for newbies in the field, namely me.

Today, I had email from him waiting in my inbox! He passed along an amazing resource! Talk about knocking my socks off. You all must go this website:

http://www.hebervega.com/category/10q-interviews/

10 interviews with 10 photographers who are making it happen abroad! This is exactly the kind of inspiration I was needing today! One tiny step for Crystal, one giant leap for documentary photographers everywhere!

The Perfect Camera Bag?

I have been looking for the perfect camera bag for years. But it would seem that I am a camera bag snob. My current camera bag is a backpack style from F/64 that my mentor passed down to me years ago. I love this bag because it holds everything I want to carry with me perfectly, including my laptop. I will admit that it is not the most comfortable bag to carry, a fact that I am often reminded of on long trips.

However, every time I start looking around at camera bags I am thrown off by the restrictions or weight of the bag itself. Should I get a rolling bag? How in the world am I going to get that around Lusaka? Nope...must stick to standard backpack or shoulder bag. Let me tell you, some of those bags weigh as much as I do.

Well, I may have had break through thanks to some excess blog reading. I may have found the perfect bag. It's not even a camera bag, instead a forensic bag, that doubles as a great gear bag at only $99! I'm thinking it may be time to order one of these bad boys! I'll let you know how it goes!

Guidelines to Live by When Entering a Photo Contest

Per my earlier post, I found an article that actually gives you guidelines regarding entering photo contests! I cannot describe my excitement, as I have no less then 10 bookmarked and I have been trying to decide which ones to enter. Thanks to Susana Raab for having this one on her blog!

Know your rights. First stop should be http://www.pro-imaging.org an organization thats produced a bill of rights for photography contest organizers. Contests that do not appear on their site need to be carefully researched. Any contest that takes excessive rights to the images submitted is geared towards amateurs and you should steer clear of it.

What the Duck?

I am loving the photo inspired comic strip by Aaron Johnson.


http://www.whattheduck.net/bestof

I may be ordering a t-shirt! :)

How do you start your freelance business from the ground up?

This is the question that is weighing heavily on my mind today. It seems like there is always a procedure to follow, a book to read, but in the end I wonder if it really all comes down to how much you want to be a photographer?  The rest is just details.

More established photographers tell me to update my website, do some heavy reading on the business of photography, social network, enter contests, make a portfolio book, go to photography events, network, and network some more. As a photographer just a few months into the freelance world this is what I can tell you....so far.

I redid my website, but am still questioning if I need to do more editing. I always want to wait until my next project is completed before sending it on to someone.

My book list from the date that I decided to go freelance includes the following:
 Best Business Practices for Photographers (Second Edition) by John Harrington
ASMP Professional Business Practices in Photography, 7th Edition
Iacocca by Lee Iacocca
The New Rules of Marketing and PR by David Meerman Scott
The Dam Book: Digital Asset Management for Photographers by Peter Krogh

Have any of these books helped? Sure. I have learned alot! But more than likely I will be referencing them for the rest of my life before I can store any of that information in my short term memory.



I currently read any photography blog that I find interesting, which leads my google reader with an outrageous amount of reading material. I'm not sure that I will ever catch up.


I am trying to be good at social networking. I like blogging, hate twittering, and am doing my best to spread the word about my business. I'm still not sure anyone reads this though.

I bought FotoQuote & FotoBiz, only to decide that I will probably make up my own forms as I don't like the format of FotoBiz.

I recieve the list serve list on photography contests all over the world, and from various photography newsletters. I research every one before deciding whether our not I'm willing to plunk down the 20-100 dollar entry fee.



This week I started to put together an actual portfolio book, but found myself confused about what you in include, how to present both horizontals and vertical images beautifully, and asked myself over and over again. Do I have what it takes?Is a single photo editor/wire service going to understand why I capture what I capture.


Since I just returned to D.C. I am back on the photography event circuit, which for me starts with WPOW happy hour next week.


Here's the truth as I see it. Maybe it doesn't matter how many books you read, how many photo contests you enter, or how good (or bad) your photos are. Maybe it's more about spunk. Are you willing to go up to bat for your photos? Are you willing to go and see every photo editor/wire service/photographer you know (or your friends know) and take the inevitable smack down when they don't like your work. Can you take the criticism? And better yet after that criticism will you still go home and pick up your camera and say, "I'm doing it anyway!"


I know that I don't have the answers when it comes to how you make it as a freelancer. I'm willing to try almost anything that has worked for others. But maybe I just have to find my own way. The truth is sometimes things fall in place and your dreams come true. Other times you just have to keep on keeping on and hope that day is just around the corner.

Women in Afghanistan: Inspirational Portraits by Jody Bieber

I recently came across this video interview with Jody Bieber on her portraits of women in Afghanistan. I am always drawn to photographers who give their subjects the dignity which they deserve. I was especially drawn to the Time's cover image of Aisha. When I look at the photograph and see this beautiful woman who has been disfigured by the rules of her society, I am proud that the photographer chose to show Aisha is such a beautiful way. The luminance in the light tells a tremendous story in a single instant. I think that this is a testimonial to the power of portrayal which photographers hold. I have so much respect for photographers who will fore go the shock factor and tell a story. Jody made a instant fan of me!