Smiles are Free

Last December 2009, I found out about a project called Help Portrait. It was founded by celebrity photographer Jeremy Cowart, and is about a community of photographers, coming together across the world, to use their photography skills and equipment to give back to their local community, for one day, December 12th.

Help Portrait

The basic premise is:
1) Find someone in need
2) Take their portrait
3) Print their portrait
4) Deliver it to them

This project had moved and inspired me to participate, but due to some severe sciatic pain, I was unable to attend in December.

I posted this info on Flickr with a group of photographers that I am active with in New York City. They to were inspired and some of them were able to attend in December.

As it turned out, the emotions and the success of this day of giving back made such an indelible impression, that two of our Flickr members, Mike Abshier and Kaity Volpe decided to start our own "Smiles Are Free" group.

I suppose we are a copy of the original idea, but we wanted the spirit of giving back to continue and grow.

Our group is now an official non-profit foundation, and we completed our second shoot!

We have a similar mission as "help portrait", except we wish to continue the giving back part, by finding ways to help some of the neediest, get out of a bad situation and get a new start.

As a participant, it was one of the most fulfilling experiences. Working with my friends, and the families we photographed was better than I ever could have imagined.

Flickr - Smiles Are free

What is a new movement in photography without some cool swag!

Cafe Press

Order yours today, and we hope to see you as a volunteer at one of our next sessions.'

One final thought
I know there is a lot of sensitivity about doing photography on-the-cheap, or in our case, for free. I am in agreement that we should all work hard not to diminish or cheapen the value of professional services. However, this is an exception.

What we are doing is charitable and brings enormous happiness to many people who never could have afforded a professional portrait before.

What we get back is not measurable. The joy and love we bring to others, we get right back.

And, we get to practice and improve our craft. It's very hard work, long hours of shooting, post processing, and spending our own money for material and supplies, but it's worth every penny!

So to all the $500 wedding photographers, do what you need to do. In time, you will, and should be able to charge a higher rate, but know your clients' needs and serve them the best way you can.

Ivan

Print is not dead!

Fredrick Van Johnson, a great photographer and host of the podcast This Week in Photography (TWIP), said something that has become a common perception I don't completely agree with, regarding print design.

During an interview on the January 18th (episode 125) with photographer and former graphic designer, Michael Corsentino, Frederick said something offhand that really bothered me.

Michael was describing his background and that he was a former graphic designer specializing in print-only design. Frederick responded "Print? What's that? Hehe!!". Michael's reaction to that was an uncomfortable "yeah, right".

I feel it's disparaging to print designers, and spreads the perception that print is dead.

Yes, it's true that printing on paper has diminished greatly. We've seen many legacy magazines become thinner, and smaller, and many have disappeared. The newspaper industry is hurting and it has impacted print designers, but it most certainly is not dead.

In fact, there's new trends of marketing that say that a print campaign with direct mail yields better results than just email marketing alone.

In fact, too much email marketing has become a negative! People are often sick of spam and constant bombardment of ads, and click the delete button before reading a single word.

I'm not saying email or electronic marketing is bad, just that in combination with a printing campaign is much more powerful.

And, with new print-green technologies, you can argue that printing IS actually more tree friendly. When you print web pages on your laser printer, the toners and paper you use are often more wasteful!

Never discount the power of holding a beautifully designed printed piece that you can touch, feel, and carry anywhere, compared to a web screen!

I hope Frederick will say something on a future podcast, to support graphic artists who specialize in print as well as web design.

Frederick, if you read this, I'm still a fan of your podcast, I just wish to set the record straight on an aspect of the profession that I've devoted my life to.

Here's the links for your reference:

This Week in Photography
TWIP episode #125

Frederick Van Johnson's website:
fredericvan.com

Michael Corsentino's website:
www.corsentinophotograpy.com

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Ivan Boden
Graphic Design
Photography

Young Archer

The Young Archer, Statue attributed to Michelangelo

I went to the Metropolitan Museum of Art this afternoon, to see two exhibits. The Young Archer, a statue on loan that is believed to be a Michelangelo, but has some skeptics. And, a portrait, previously NOT believed to be painted by Diego Velazquez. The painting underwent restoration to remove old varnishes and old restoration work and through forensics revealed new information. The experts now believe it was indeed painted by Velazquez! Wow!

Amazing, and so wonderful to see these works in person.

It was a great day!

For more information:


Young Archer, Attributed to Michelangelo

Portrait of Man, Diego Velazquez

I love this lens! Canon EOS 70-200 f/2.8 IS USM L. Hard to believe that Canon felt it necessary to make improvements to it. They just released an update that has a closer focus distance, and focus's faster.

A Marilyn Monroe story...

When you think you've heard every story your mother or father ever told you of their past, every once in a while, they come up with a new one.

A story you've never heard before, that either amazes, surprises, or shocks you.

Over the holidays, I got to spend some quality time with my mom and dad. Dad is 81 and mother is 78. Both have their share of health issues, but are generally doing ok. My daughter Alexandra is a freshman at Emerson College, and she's studying film. Somehow, the dinner conversation was about film, but took a turn when my dad said this doozy:

"Did I ever tell you about the time I sat next to Marilyn Monroe in a NY City movie theater?"

Oh...My...God...!

No dad, you did'nt!

I would have remembered that one! Yikes! Do tell us more!

"Well, your mother and I went to see a movie in NY in 1961 and it was a full house. We got separated, with mother sitting 2 rows behind me. I found a single seat and sat down, and was shocked when I noticed who was sitting to the right of me. It was Marilyn and next to her was her husband Arthur Miller." I couldn't beleive it! I did not want to bother them, so I kept to myself, and enjoyed the movie. When it ended, we all got up and left. That was my brush with fame, and a time I will never forget."

He told me the name of the movie, but I forgot. I will have to ask him again and edit this blog post. He said he believed Marilyn was attending a movie that she lost the leading role. He mentioned the name of the leading actress, but I can't remember who he said. I'll ask him again and edit this blog when I find out.

Can you imagine that! Marilyn Monroe, one of the biggest movie icons in history, right there, sitting next to my father in a regular movie theater in NY. How cool is that.

That's all there is. No other juicy details, but still, a very cool story! Hope you enjoyed it.

Happy Holidays!

My first exhibition!

Great news! I just learned that I've been approved for an exhibition of my photography at the Upper Saddle River NJ, public Library. The library is in the town where I grew up, and my work will be go on display sometime in 2010. Exact dates to be determined. I'm very excited about this opportunity. Please check back for more details that I'll post here, as they develop. Cheers!

An Absolute Turkey, The Photo Book!

Ok, it's Thanksgiving and by coincidence, the show I recently had the privilege to photograph for Bergen County Academies just so happened to be named after the bird we so joyfully feast on. The show had nothing to do with our traditional holiday despite it's timely name, but was so wonderfully fun to experience. This school, it's students, teachers, faculty and parents who are involved in staging these productions, never cease to amaze me with their talents.

It is my pleasure to present this photo book as a keepsake to remember these performances.

An Absolute Tu...

A Bergen County Ac...

By Ivan Boden, Photog...

Book Preview

Enjoy.

Ivan