Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Crude World: An Interview with Peter Maass

Follow the link below to an interview with the author Peter Maass, who discusses his book about oil dependence called
"Crude World. The Violent Twilight of Oil."

We recommend this book.

The World

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Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Upcoming Kashi Events

Here is a list of some upcoming events for Ed Kashi:

Florida: "Aging in America" exhibition. October 9 - December 3.
Where: Longboat Key Center for the Arts.
(public reception is on October 15. Ed lectures there on November 4)

San Francisco: "Curse" and "THREE" solo exhibition. October 1 to November 15.
Where: Fifty Crows Gallery
For more info: Fifty Crows Gallery

Palo Alto, CA: "Photojournalism Forum - What Matters"
October 9, 11:40am to 12:20pm
Where: Palo Alto High School, CA
For more info: Photojournalism Forum

London, England: Prix Pictet Exhibition. October 5 - 10
Where: Purdy Hicks Gallery
This is an exhibition featuring a selection of works from the 2009 shortlisted artists for the Prix Pictet competition.
For more info: Prix Pictet

Please let us know if you attend any of these!

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Friday, September 25, 2009

Lecturing at Palo Alto High School Oct. 9th

I am gratified to report that an amazing educator, Margo Wixsom, who teaches photojournalism at Palo Alto HS in California, will be hosting myself, Professor Michael Watts and book publisher David Elliot Cohen on Friday afternoon, October 9th, to discuss David's book, What Matters. We will also cover issues around my work in the Niger Delta, oil, photojournalism and the meaning and purpose of what I do. It is always deeply meaningful and inspiring to share my work and experience with students and I am looking forward to this event.

Palo Alto High School

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Thursday, September 24, 2009

New Post on Resolve about Multi platform Storytelling

Please check out my latest blog post to RESOLVE, with the collaboration of Livebooks' own Miki Johnson, she has once again managed to tease some sense out of me.

RESOLVE

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Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Circle of Blue Interview

Circle of Blue Waternews recently interviewed Ed about his work in Nigeria.

Check it out - a must read and hear!

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Photojournalism's Fading Future

From a recent Livebooks / Resolve "Ed Kashi: Beyond Multimedia - To create change, storytellers must conquer multiple media platforms" blog post, Ed comments that,

"It’s not enough anymore to create work for one media platform, especially if you intend to raise awareness about issues or are trying to effect change."


Unfortunately, this statement may need addition of the words, "...and if you ever hope to make a living in the profession of photojournalism."

Check out Dirck Halstead's editorial on Digital Journalist . Addressing the rapidly changing state of the business of photojournalism, Dirck's article has generated a plethora of ideas for potential fixes along with an equal number of comments that there is no solution.

Ed's hope is for brainstorming; "to promote further discussion and thought about these issues and a need for consensus building in the community impacted by these changes." With recent industry altering events such as the closing of Italy's Grazia Neri as reported in PDN and the troubles befalling France's Eyedea, maybe concepts such as that described by Mike Fox (below) should be investigated further.

"One model that was discussed in Advertising Age was very interesting, and quite compelling. If you are a cable TV subscriber, perhaps just signing up for the basic package, then you will have access to only a handful of channels, most of which are pretty pathetic. But if you upgrade to a different level, you get access to more channels, [which]...get their cut of viewer subscriptions to help pay for their productions. Advertising Age suggested that a similar model be applied to internet service provider (ISP) subscriptions. Now if I had to pay a little more to have access to premium news content, ...then I would almost certainly sign up for that, if I could no longer get that content for free. It actually makes my life a great deal easier. I do not have to manage subscriptions to multiple publications, and I have instant access to a plentiful supply of news, features, and other content. Now spread that model to publications that focus on specific interests such as lifestyle magazines, international affairs, computer information, etc. A small monthly fee to receive a flood of content on your areas of interest, without having to manage subscription payments for individual publications, would make life so much easier. And [the service i.e. Comcast] would be responsible for distributing the fees that viewers pay, to the content providers.

SO...What can be done? What do YOU plan to do? Comments?

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Monday, September 21, 2009

Premiering Tonight - "The Age of Stupid"

British documentary filmmaker Franny Armstrong premieres her latest film "The Age of Stupid" in New York tonight. Armstrong's attempt to "humanize the climate challenge" begins in 2055 with a futuristic librarian reviewing videos from our present. Reflecting on lives intertwined by energy, resulting conflicts, and current abuses of the environment, this caretaker of what remains of human culture, science, and history marvels at our inability to correct our energy usage in spite of the knowledge and tools at our disposal. What will our planet be like if we continue along the existing path without regard for Earth's limited resources? This film provides a frightening glimpse of what may come.

The film opens in 440 theaters in the United States Monday evening and in 63 countries at last count, ranging from Israel to Madagascar. Per Ms. Armstrong, "(There would have been 64, but the Nigerian government just canceled the screening in Lagos, she said, after realizing that part of the film focuses on accusations of government human-rights violations and misuse of oil money.)"

Read the The New York Times "Are We Living in 'The Age of Stupid' article for more information.

Also, check out this article about another movie the Nigerian government does not want seen District 9.

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Friday, September 18, 2009

FiftyCrows Blog: "affect/effect: Photographs That Create Change"

The Fifty Crows blog has a new series up titled: "affect/effect: Photographs that Create Change."

The first story is from Ed's image from the Niger Delta of the boy carrying the goat at the slaughterhouse.

Here is the link: FiftyCrows Blog

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Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Thank you "duckrabbit"!

The OSI / Revenue Watch production of Ed's work "Shadows and Light - Oil, Power, and the Niger Delta" is graciously recognized by duckrabbit

Photojournalist David White and BBC Radio 4 documentaries producer Benjamin Chesterton represent the soul of this organization. "The only journalism/production company in the UK who combine the power of still images and audio to provoke change", duckrabbit is definitely worth a look.

So to David, Benjamin, and the entire staff of their company, a generous thank you for highlighting this compelling work on your blog.

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Sunday, September 6, 2009

SocialDocumentary.Net Competition about Global Recession

I am pleased to announce that SDN (SocialDocumentary.Net) a truly engaged and committed website devoted to documentary photography and social change, is presenting its first photo competition. The theme is the Global Recession. Please go to the link below to learn more details for submitting your work.

SocialDocumentary.Net Context

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Friday, September 4, 2009

Harvard Interviews Ed

Last month, Ed was interviewed for Narrative Digest, a publication of the Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard. Focusing on his photo essay about the the largest abattoir in the Niger Delta, Ed's insights into still photography's defining moments are best expressed in his own words:

"You can raise a camera in the right place at the right time with the right commensurate level of perception, and you capture a moment that feels universal or penetrating or intimate."

Read the entire interview at Narrative Digest

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Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Artivist Film Festival - Another Advocacy Opportunity

"Curse of the Black Gold" has been accepted into the 6th Annual Artivist Film Festival. December 1-5, 2009, the festival will showcase selected films including "Curse" at the historic Egyptian Theater in Hollywood. With more than 45 countries represented by over 300 films over the past five years, Artivist has reached millions in its efforts towards "merging art and activism for global consciousness."

So...if you find yourself in California in early December, check it out!

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