Via Mediabistro.com

Singapore is ending its 22-year ban on Cosmopolitan magazine. Each issue, however, must be shrink-wrapped and the cover must feature the text: “Unsuitable for the young.”

Back on August 14, I wrote that I was on assignment for India Today.

“It is likely to be another cover image but I am not terribly sure till I actually see it. The journalism business is sure fickle and things can change at the drop of a hat. I can't say much more about who or where I was as things are still under wraps. But it was a thrill nonetheless. I'll reveal all in a few days.”

Well, chalk one up for gut feeling. I was expecting the image you see below to appear on the cover of India Today's international edition, but that was not to be the case. Technical snafus, lack of storage space, differences in time between here and India were all contributing factors. The folks in Delhi decided to publish a production still on the cover. Sigh!

Thankfully, two images of I produced of Mira Nair managed to make it inside the magazine. So, when you get the chance check out the August 30, 2004 issue of India Today.

“Nirali , which means “different” in several South Asian languages, is just that—a different kind of magazine for today's modern South Asian American woman. Published monthly online, Nirali Magazine reflects the identity, needs and interests of South Asian American women all over the United States.”

I know what you are thinking – yet another magazine for the South Asian woman! But this one is very different. From the standpoint of design, it looks really slick. The folks at Nirali sure know a thing or two about presentation. The writing, too, is fresh and the topics are timely. I think you will fall in love with it for a great many reasons.

Via Melissa Lyttle

AK47's fourth issue is out. Back issues are here.

Nine days to 9/11. The third anniversary of the attack on the World Trade Center and The Pentagon will soon be upon us. The Musarium has collated an array of photographic work on its site and is worth a visit. There are also links to resources for more information and a forum that may help answer some of your questions.

I am now publishing a weekly photoblog at Sepia Mutiny. It's quite likely that you will see the same images I post here over there. But don't let that stop you from checking out the fine writing you will find there by scrolling up or down.

Special thanks to Vinod and Manish for inviting me to be a part of Sepia Mutiny. It's a nice play on words and as a photographer I am naturally drawn to it.

Starting out in photojournalism? Mark Hancock, a staff photographer for the Dallas Morning News has a blog that is a good read.

Take this post about pushing and pulling film; I learned something new! And yes, I still shoot film.

Via Sarita Vasa

Presenting the “ArtWallah Forum”

Feel free to post what you may, “I need some artists to play at my wedding”, or “Have you guys seen this play–it's awesome.”, or “Has anyone been to that restaurant Nirvana?”, etc. And, people will actually reply to you!! Write a sentence OR a short novel, and it will be posted. There are some basic housekeeping rules, so please read them, and log-in! If you have any technical issues please email our resident geek and board member- sanjay@tpcap.com. And, the last thing that every respectable Desi will ask, “Is posting free?”, YES.

See you on the message-boards,

Sarita Vasa
Artwallah
Executive Director

Fashion photographer Nisha Kutty uses punchy colors, off-beat poses and funky lighting in her studio work. I like her bold, honest style on-location as well.

Something terribly incongrous and wonderful about placing a model in a rustic setting. But its really those kinds of images that at once draw and capture our attention. I wish, Kutty would show us more of her work from South Asia.

Do you give a hoot?