Tiffinbox

Learning Photography in LA

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I get asked where one could learn photography. There is a long list of colleges and institutes. But none of them will be as much fun as Julia Dean's workshops. They are out of this world. Trust me. I have watched her teach. I spent some time as an intern with Julia Dean several years ago. She is a fabulous teacher and photojournalist. You will be inspired by her energy and enthusiasm for all things photographic.

Check out the line up of people for April and May. While she may not be teaching all of these courses, there is something for everyone; from beginner to advanced photographer. Julia's contact information is listed below should you need to get more information. And, yes, while Julia offers workshops in a great many places around the world, you have to be in LA for all these workshops. If you do sign up with her, tell her I sent you!

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The Big Squeeze

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Freelance photographers at the New York Times are getting hit really where it hurts – their wallets. According to a New York Post article, photographers who work with the New York Times but are not on staff will be required to sign a freelance contract that borders on the ridiculous.

One disgusted photographer said that the new contract “demands that photographers relinquish their copyright, resale opportunities and entire take, without any added compensation.”

The American Society of Media Photographers and Editorial Photographers are fighting hard to bring some parity to a moribund dialogue between management and freelancers.

Quite frankly, the Gray Lady is shooting herself in the foot (no pun intended). Lower wages and total control of images (from copyright to resale) means the paper will likely drive good (or even great photographers) out of business and attract low-ballers (those who choose to sell their work rather than license their images for a rate far lower than the competition or the market really demands). Unless the paper is hiring photojournalists, any work submitted to the paper will now be of lesser quality and the veracity and credibility of the images published in the paper, in my opinion, will be suspect. When you have seasoned photographers who have some sense of ethics being effectively fired from their jobs only to be replaced by hacks, well, you know American journalism can expect more troubles ahead.

GoreTV

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What with Air America Radio going live today, it looks like the left is swinging really hard this week. Let's hope they hit home runs back to back (or sixers, depending on where you live). I received this via Mediabistro.com:

GORE SET TO CLOSE ON TV DEAL
Former Vice President Al Gore and business partner Joel Hyatt will pay around $70 million to Vivendi Universal this week for digital-cable channel Newsworld International, which they plan to convert into a youth-oriented public-affairs channel.

Job: Air America Radio Interns

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Via Sree Sreenivasan

My name is Sam Seder, I am co-hosting the 8-11pm radio show with Janeane Garofalo on Air America, launching this Wednesday. I was hoping, perhaps, you could assist us in our search for interns.

We are looking for two individuals who can assist us with research, audio production, and assist in the administration and development of our show's blog. Initially at least, we anticipate these individuals to be working offsite (i.e. not in our offices).

We are looking to fill these positions as soon as possible.

Thank you,
Sam Seder

Fair & Balanced

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After years of listening to conservative talk-show host Rush “the rambler” Limbaugh [for the sheer sake of amusement folks!], I might have just found the reason to run out and buy a XM Satellite Radio for my long drives to and from work. Air America Radio will launch at noon today. How successful will it be in thwarting ditto heads? And as quickly as rumors and pigs can fly, I have to ask is the former Vice President Al Gore behind this project? Is broadcast next?

If you are wondering why I have jumped on the topic of radio all of a sudden, the answer is quite simple. It's simply another medium that has the capacity to create and sustain a perception or an ideology. Rush Limbaugh, Don Imus and Howard Stern are perhaps the best known because they are good at one thing – provoking a quick and unmeditated response from us. They quickly build an idea together and deliver it. Our imagination takes over once we hear what they have to say. Pure reason and rationale gets chucked out the door. I imagine with Al Franken at the helm of this new radio service, the format isn't going to be any different. He will likely say something that is loosely based in fact and then let the callers chime in. A radio riot in the making.

Here is a story in today's New York Times about the new radio talk show.

Art of Resistance

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The one-day Arts Of Resistance Festival will take place at Vassar College. The festival is “devoted to exploring anti-oppressive artspaces.” I put that in quotes because I am not entirely sure what they mean by that. The web site suggests a this explanation:

We wish to create an intersectional anti-oppressive arts space through workshops, collaborative image making, and performances.

It would be nice to know what is “oppressive” about art spaces. Is there a theoretical or political conflict here? Again, it's a bit mysterious.

For the adventurous, Vassar College is in Poughkeepsie, NY. The festival is on April 17 and registration at Ely Hall begins at 10 a.m. Check out the web site for more information. If you want to register before heading out there, email them with your name and affiliation.

Filed Under: Art

Art beyond India

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Art beyond India is a joint exhibit of artists Salma Arastu and Murali Harathi.

The exhibit is at Gelabert Studios Gallery, 255 West 86th St. New York, NY 10024. The phone number there is 212-874-7188. The exhibit runs from April 18 to May 1, 2004 and is open from Tuesday to Saturday, 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. A wine & cheese reception will be held on April 23, between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. If you are interested in meeting the artists, they will be at the gallery on April 19 and 24 and on May 1, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

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Filed Under: Art

Seeing Art On The Radio

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Via The New York Times

This is truly excellent news. On April 19, P.S. 1 Center for Contemporary Art in Long Island City, Queens will likely be the first museum space to host an online radio station.

“Two years in the making and billed as the world's first art radio station, WPS1 will present original talk and music shows with contemporary writers, artists and musicians as hosts. The station will also broadcast historical audio material from a variety of sources, like the sound archives of the Museum of Modern Art, with which P.S. 1 merged in 1999.”

Our Independent Lenses

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Via Monica Mehta

I have another rare TV viewing recommendation for everyone – something that moved Anand and I very deeply, and something you all should check out if you get a chance.

It's called The New Americans, an Independent Lens documentary series that follows four years in the lives of seven new immigrant families as they leave their homelands and settle in an alien land.

As Palestinian Naima leaves her war-torn home to marry a Palestinian-American, Nigerian refugee Israel flees Africa to find freedom, and Ricardo leaves the Dominican Republic to become a baseball player, each finds a major disconnect between what they thought they would find liberty, riches, and peace and what they must face racism, hard work and loneliness.

The second and third episodes follow an Indian hi-tech professional and his new wife as they come in on H-1B status, and a Mexican family that broke our hearts. But the filmmakers ultimately deliver a message of hope in this moving and intimate portrayal of migration.

It runs three nights starting March 29 at 9pm on PBS, concludes March 31 (check local listings). You'll laugh, you'll cry, and you won't look at the people around you the same way again.

Cry Freedom

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Resolution217 “an association of photographers, journalists, teachers, designers and artists brought together by a shared concern for the current state of human rights, particularly the right of freedom of expression, to actively work to overcome hatred, ignorance and injustice” has issued a call for entries.

The International Freedom of Expression Festival 2005 exhibitions are open to photographers, artists, musicians, filmmakers, journalists, authors and poets.  Please see our website for all eligibility requirements, accepted formats and entry forms.  There is no registration entry fee.

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