Critical Exposure Wrap-Up...From Contributors!  Yay!

Wrap-up piece courtesy of Mark Parascandola, a local DC photographer; Photos courtesy of Jaime Windon, also a DC-based photographer and volunteer with the S.T.E.P. Up DC photography class; Captions by Emma Nolan-Abrahamian, a VISTA Fellow and colleague of Adam Levner.

This was a fun event, and I was really impressed with the work of these students. Several of the photographers were there and talked about their work. It was interesting to see what they chose to focus on, and the exhibit demonstrated how effectively photography can be used to convey a message. One especially powerful image simply showed the number '41' written on a tiled school wall -- I didn't know what this represented until I read the student's text about the impact of gang signs in the school.

Artemio Garcia, one of the students in S.T.E.P. Up DC photography class, talking with Amanda Lucidon (right), a DC based photographer who volunteered during the S.T.E.P. Up photo class and worked with Artemio to develop his story. 

Sackiella, one the students from Truesdell Elementary School, talks about her experiences taking pictures with Critical Exposure. 

Sarah Mayo, another S.T.E.P. Up DC photograpy student, looks at the exhibit.

Thank you Mark, Jaime and Emma for your generous contribution to DC Shot List!

Get involved!  Get more information on Critical Exposure, today!  www.criticalexposure.org

A 12th Grade Reason to Be
At Critical Exposure's "Through the Lens" Tonight

Photo and Essay (posted below) by Byron

Adam Levner, one of the founders of Critical Exposure, just sent me the following essay and I was so moved, I wanted to post this right away.  If you are attending the 4th annual "Through The Lens" reception, tonight, I can assure you will be impressed.  Please take lots of pictures tonight and share your thoughts with me tomorrow!

This exhibit will be open at the ARTiculate Gallery until May 15th and can be viewed tonight, of course, but also M - F from 10am - 6pm.  More info:  www.criticalexposure.com

Now, before you jump up to get ready, please take a minute to read the following small essay...

A VISION SO CLEAR WITH A SOUND SO FAINT
Byron (12th Grade)
Spingarn STAY Senior High School
 
I put a photo of my brother on the keys of an open piano and took the picture.  To me it represents what my brother stood for.  My brother graduated, so it says “Graduation Picture 2006,” and it also captures the music side of him that is also in me.  He graduated from Spingarn STAY, the same program I’m in. He graduated in 2006 before he got killed.
 
I’m going back to school because of my brother, actually.  Before he got shot he graduated from high school.  I made a promise to him that I was going to graduate so I enrolled in the same program as him in 2006.  But, later on that year, while I was in school, he got killed.  So I dropped out of school, I lost my focus, I couldn’t really concentrate. I’m just getting back in here because I know he wanted me to finish school, and I made him a promise that I would finish school and walk across that same stage that he walked across.  And I’m going to make sure that I fulfill my promise--
my word is my bond.

May Events & A Call For Contributors...



Pictured from left to right: ROW 1--Erika Horn, Christopher Chen, Random-Guy-Who-Pops-Up-In-My-Shots-At-Various-Events; ROW 2--Betsy Spruill Clarke, DC Shot List yo!, Adam Clarke; ROW 3--Dakota Fine, Random-Guy-Again-Seriously-Who-Is-This-Dude?, and Martin Locraft.

A Couple of Hot Shots, if You Will

Well, these aren't the only events for this month, so I will keep this updated throughout this month.  But I wanted to get this out, ASAP, so you know where to find the best eye candy!

Before I share the goods, I want to call out for contributors.  If you are interested in covering any one of these events for DC Shot List, please shoot me an email!  I want to talk to you, today.  foto.maven@gmail.com

Okay, now, mark your calendars...

Wednesday
May 6
6:30pm - 9:00pm

Critical Exposure's "Through the Lens of D.C. Youth" Photography Exhibit
Host: Critical Exposure

Where: ARTiculate Gallery, 1100 16th St. NW (16th & L), Washington, DC

Who: For the past year, D.C. youth and young adults have been given cameras, workshops in documentary photography, and the opportunity to record the causes, consequences and solutions to the dropout crisis in D.C. public schools.

Why: Because D.C.’s dropout rate is too high to ignore--nearly 50%, a number that has serious implications for both the youth themselves and the community as a whole.  Also, there will be:
-Great Photos – See powerful photos & writing by local students, and get the chance to talk to them about their work.
-Food & Drink – Make a donation of $35+ and enjoy free wine, beer and food.
-A Good Cause – All proceeds will support Critical Exposure, a D.C.-based nonprofit that teaches students how to use documentary photography and their own voices to advocate for school reform and social change.

Suggested Donations:
$35 Snapshooter: Cost of a 35-mm point-and-shoot camera.
$75 Shutterbug: Cost of exhibiting two students' photographs.
$150 Photo Pro: Cost of providing one student with a digital camera.
$500 Photojournalist: Cost of 1,000 photo postcards to send to policymakers.

Info: +1.202.745.3745 or info@criticalexposure.org or www.criticalexposure.org

Above right photo by Jaime Windon.
 

Friday
May 8
7:00pm - 10:00pm

The New Color
An exhibition of Corcoran photography majors
Host: Civilian Art Projects

Where: 87FLORIDA at 87 Florida Avenue, NW, Washington, DC

Who:  Featuring Corcoran photography majors: Jake Dingman, Carrie Greenwood, William Knipscher, Caitlin Lennon, Collin Sundt, Michelle Yo

Why:  Because new speaks to you!  As Andy Grundberg writes in the foreword to the exhibition’s catalog, “every generation has the opportunity to create new art that speaks to its particular moment in history and culture.” The New Color displays six artists’ take on that moment as seen through the rich possibilities of light recorded on color film – a rapidly disappearing discipline in the digital era.

Info: +1.202.347.0022 or info@civilianartprojects.com or www.civilianartprojects.com

Above right photo:  "Undiscovered 4," by Collin Sundt 

Inked Souls Closing and B-Boy Battle
Host: Art Whino Gallery

When: Saturday, May 9, 2009; 6:00pm - 11:55pm 

Where: Art Whino, 2450 Crystal Drive, Arlington, VA

Who: DJ Fleg in the house plus featured Photographers: Lady Glock, Michael Colon, James Walker , Roger Snider

Why:  Because you feel jipped on the 3rd sequel to "Breakin," or lack thereof, and you want to come out and see Breakers Battle 3 versus 3 for a $600 in Cash and Prizes.

Info: info@artwhino.com or www.artwhino.com

Critical Exposure's 4th Annual "Through the Lens of DC Youth" Exhibit

Photo by Jaime Windon

Nearly 50% of D.C. students don't graduate from high school. Only 9% get a college degree. See through the eyes of D.C. youth as they share their photos of the causes, consequences and solutions to D.C.'s dropout crisis.

Location:  ARTiculate Gallery, 1100 16th Street NW (16th & L), Washington, DC 20036 US 
When: Wednesday, May 6, 6:30PM to 9:00PM    Add to my Outlook Calendar 
Phone: Critical Exposure 202-745-3745 x20

Join Adam, Heather, Emma and Jahi for Critical Exposure's 4th Annual "Through the Lens of D.C. Youth" Photography Exhibit!

Reasons to Attend
-Great Photos- See photos & writing by local students, and talk to them about their work.
-Food & Drink- Make a donation of $35+ and enjoy free wine, beer and food.
-Good Cause- All proceeds will support Critical Exposure, a D.C. nonprofit that teaches students how to use documentary photography and their own voices to advocate for school reform and social change.

Suggested Donations
$35 Snapshooter: Cost of a 35-mm point-and-shoot camera.
$75 Shutterbug: Cost of  exhibiting two students' photographs.
$150 Photo Pro: Cost of providing one student with a digital camera.
$500 Photojournalist: Cost of 1,000 photo postcards to send to policymakers.

If you're paying at the door, please bring cash or checks.

A brief program will begin around 7:30pm.

Paying in Advance
Want to skip the line at the front door? Donate online up to 24 hours in advance and they'll have your name on the list.

Spread the Word
If you have friends or colleagues who like art and want to support a good cause, please encourage them to come! Just click on the "Invite More People" link.

"A Vision So Clear With a Sound So Faint" by Byron Coleman

These photos are also part of the S.T.E.P. Up DC campaign, a joint effort with the DC Alliance of Youth Advocates.

Exhibit made possible by the generous support of our individual donors and the Collaborative for Education Organizing of the Community Foundation for the National Capital Region, Morris & Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation, All Souls-Beckner Fund, Hattie Strong Foundation, the Crowell & Moring Foundation, and the Charles & Esther Kimerling Foundation.

PICTURE EQUALITY.

What's Black & White & Green All Over?  You!

Article and photos by Betsy Spruill Clarke

This Earth Day, 2009, DC Shot List wants to motivate the green "monstah" in you with a list of sustainable tips with a photography twist.  Whether you are a photo-arts fanatic or a PRO-tographer, these suggestions can certainly benefit you, your photography and yo mamma, lady earth.

Sustainable Charging - Batteries
Rechargeable batteries are definitely the way to go, when it comes to sustainable shooting.  Energizer and Duracell dominate in marketing their products.  However, Marriott International digital imaging specialist, Adam Clarke, recently sent me this list of rechargies, from "METAEFFICIENT" that seem to have the best ratings.

But what about the batteries you have lying around with possible power still inside?  Battery tester, my friend.  They are cheap, easy and tell you the status of life inside of those mystery cells.  DC Shot List recently found a digital battery tester for under $10 at Batteries Plus in Rockville.

And make those batteries last longer.  Remember the days when you used the camera's viewfinder to frame your shot?  Yeah, they still make 'em like that, and using it instead of your LCD display will help.  And to the protogs?  Yeah, you know your f stop and shutter speed magic?  No need to look at the back of the display after every shot...I do it too and I'm trying to break that habit!

Cameras - Reshoot to Recycle
There are many ways to give your old cameras, new life.  Have 3-5 antiques lying around?  Position them together over the mantle for some insta-cool art! Have a perfectly good camera that you just do not use anymore?  Sell it to KEH, a very honest company from Atlanta, that will give you a very fair and decent price for your second-hand shooter.  Or even better?  Donate it to Critical Exposure, a photography program for kids in public schools.

Adam Levner, co-director of Critical Exposure advises, "At this point the only donated cameras we can really use are digital SLRs.  We try to have the same kind of basic digital cameras for all the students in a particular class because it makes teaching the students how to use the cameras much easier."

Make Photo Paper Green
Believe it or not, DC Shot List was hard-pressed to find any info on how to recycle photo paper.  Primarily because it just can't be done, due to the silver, chemicals, etc...  So, here are a few suggestions for misprints and other old photos that just end up in the trash.

Shred 'em up and use as packaging material.  Not only will you avoid those annoying styro-nuts, but you will also have pretty rad confetti cushioning your breakables.

Make a fabulous collage!  Okay, that one is just too easy, but think about how absolutely awesome Aunt Mildred's blown-out and way too contrasty mug would look pasted on ole what's-his-name's body.  Yeah, it's not home decor that appeals to everyone, but it will keep you laughing.

Still Using Film?
DC Shot List commends you but not for any reason that is green.  Just another film grain addict, is all, but I digress...

Those film cannisters can be used for so many, many things:  cutsie packaging for jewelry gifts, paint samples, medicine vial, change containers, etc.  Heck, I've even witnessed the film cannister be used for other "green" past times, but we won't get into that right now.

Recycle & Purchase Ink Cartridges for Your Furry Friends
PetSmart Charities "Recycle for Life" program enables you to dispose of your ink and toner cartridges properly through their recycling program. Purchase your ink and toner through this program and PetSmart Charities will receive a donation of $2 for every ink cartridge you purchase and $5 for every toner cartridge you purchase.  Plus, for every ink cartridge and cell phone, by the way, that you send back using one of their special pre-paid envelopes, PetSmart Charities will receive anywhere between $2 and $5 dollars!

Photo storage, Sharing and Selling
Online, baby!  Not necessary to print out every single photo you have as a keep sake.  Now you can just keep them in an external hard drive with a couple of DVD back-ups.  Plus, you can really be efficient by using Flickr and other sites to share your shots with friends and family.

PRO-togs, sell your images through sites like Zenfolio.  Your clients can now purchase the files to download, instead of a print or CD.

And on the topic of CD's...
if you are going to put some images on one, choose a CD-RW, which means "rewriteable," which means if you screw up and forget a specific shot, you won't have to throw out the disc you just burned.  Just burn...and re-burn.

Well, I hope we learned something here today.  Now, turn off that computer, grab your camera, and go outside and shoot now, while it's not raining! 

Mother Nature is showing you her best side, today!!!