The First Anniversary Issue of Finite Foto: Where We Live

Iscah Trujillo

"In one short year, this collective has struggled with many issues. Longevity in the time of the internet can be short-lived, but we hope that Finite Foto will continue to produce quality content for years to come. The images in this, our First Anniversary Issue, are a mix of shoot-from-the hip snapshots and well-rounded portfolios about each artist’s notion of their idea of home as place. Many of the artists have supported us throughout the year with interviews, articles and portfolio features and a few are new contributors to our magazine. Welcome to our First Anniversary Issue, we hope you enjoy." — from the introduction of Finite Foto Issue 11

Oh Give Me A Home, Where Photographers Roam: A Commentary on Photography and Home by the Curator of Photography at the New Mexico Museum of Art, Katherine Ware

 

This Issue: Where We Live has portfolios by Jonathan Blaustein, David Bram, Micaela Butts, Antone Dolezal, Dan Milnor, David Ondrik, Darby Photos, Kelly Root, Iscah Trujillo, and Wendy Young.

 David Bram

 David Ondrik

Leftovers by Adam Jacono

As part of the panel discussion at Click646, I mentioned that I was still working on ideas about the ongoing project The Un-Natural Nature of Food where I am exploring on many levels our relationship with food and how photographic imagery can be used as a vehicle for information and education. After the panel Adam Jacono approached me about his project Leftovers. Here is a taste of some of his work.

"The Cafeteria: a site where food comes in a plentiful buffet, where steaming troughs of meat and cheese are piled high, and items on the menu are served hot-n'-a-lot. 

The week prior to my visits, this eastern North Carolina cafeteria had revoked food trays in efforts to conserve wash-water. This required frustrated diners to make multiple trips for food, but in my opinion the cafeteria was merely instituting an exercise regime of making people walk to, and from buffet isles. 

This project confronted patrons through photographs of a food identity, personal information can be gathered by the sitters' food choice. I would assume most Americans are concerned about waste and conservation, but who can resist breakfast, lunch, and desert in one sitting" -- Adam Jacono

Back from Click 646

I just got into Santa Fe late last night after spending a week in Greenwood, SC. I am still reeling from the wonderful weekend filled with photographic festivities at the second year of the annual festival Click 646. The event was one of the loveliest and most professional events I have attended. The first evening Sundance Gallery hosted an opening reception with a potluck dinner of many Southern delicacies including one of my favorites-- baked cheese crackers topped with one juicy, meaty Southern pecan -- and someone even tried to test my Southwestern-trained taste buds with stuffed jalapenos. Ann Jastrab from Rayko Photo Center in San Francisco was my unofficial date for the evening and the photographer and featured artist at Sundance Gallery, Ben Ham, delighted us with a flight of California wines (not as delightful the next morning for some). The four-piece band and local favorite, The Nouveaux Honkies, entertained the crowd.

The next evening was The Taste of Greenwood where a few of the local restaurants set up booths on Maxwell and The Nouveaux Honkies entertained us again while we ate and imbibed more of the delicious red wine. Before the festivities, we met with some photo students from Lander University. One student, Gene Ellenberg, was wise enough to bring a portfolio and he has a promising project which I hope will appear on his website in the near future.

 Zane Logan

Gene Ellenberg

The local Arts Council hosted the exhibition of South Carolina student photography exhibition. That evening some of the keynote speakers -- Cig Harvey, Ann Jastrab and I -- selected the prize winners for the student show. In this order of the single image award from first to honorable mention, we selected Beth Stewart from University of South Carolina, Zane Logan from Clemson, Emily Osborn from College of Charleston and Ashley Wood from Clemson.  

 Polly Gaillard

 Kathleen Robbins

The next day started out with portfolio reviews from 10am-1pm. Once again, I was impressed with the quality of work at the reviews. Many students and professors presented their work. Three instructors whose work I particularly enjoyed were Terri Bright, Kathleen Robbins and Polly Gaillard. Robbins presented work form her project on the Mississippi Delta titled Into the Flatland and Galliard showed Pressure Points while Bright presented work two projects (I hope to have a website link here soon). The rest of the day was spent shuffling back and forth from the venues, meeting other photographers, hosting impromptu reviews and discussions and grabbing a quick lunch.

 Terri Bright

Terri Bright

The afternoon and evening were spent in the Greenwood Community Theater where a panel discussion moderated by Click 646 founder Jon Holloway and featuring Ann Jastrab, Cig Harvey, Ben Ham and me. The topic of discussion was primarily marketing your work as a photographer. The crowd in attendance was eager for information and the panel was lively and informative. I think a few of the instructors video taped the panel and I hope to post the links soon. The final events of the festival were two lectures, one by Ben Ham and, followed by, Cig Harvey. Both speakers were dynamic and charismatic seducing the audience with their passion for the medium. And thanks to Jan Banning and his assistant Ben for making the trek up from his artist-in-residence in Columbia, SC.

 Cig Harvey

Cig Harvey

Ben Ham

I might sound like I am just gushing about this event, but it took place just outside of my hometown so I am a little attached to this area. The City of Greenwood's Tourism Department, Click 646 Committee and Jon Holloway have created a festival that is on par with many international festivals that I have attended. This is a much needed event for the community of Greenwood and the photographic arts and education community of South Carolina. As I think of or find out about happenings, links or images related to the event, I might post more. Also, look out for the links and notes from the panel discussion in the near future.

For more info in the festival, read the PDF of Thump Magazine or on the Click646 website.

A Beginner's Workshop on Photobook Publishing (December 6 & 7, 2010)

copyright, Melanie McWhorter

I will be teaching a workshop at New Orleans Photographic Workshops following PhotoNOLA on December 6th and 7th, 2010. The description is below and more info or to sign up, visit New Orleans Photographic Workshops site. Email the Workshops or me with questions.

This two-day workshop covers the evolution of a photography book from its inception as an idea to a finished product.

Intended for photographers with little or no experience in publishing, A Beginner's Workshop on Photobook Publishing is an interactive, dynamic workshop that enables participants to fine tune their ideas and become familiar with design, layout and essential publishing processes. When completed, participants will be able to make decisions about publishing their work and envision all of the steps involved in producing their project from start to finish.

Placed between two weekends of PhotoNOLA, the timing of this workshop is ideal for photographers interested in attending the many events and exhibitions that take place during New Orleans' annual celebration of photography.

Topics covered include researching and developing the concept for a book and the important decisions that must be made at each step along the way. For instance, how does one determine a target audience? What publisher is right for you and how do you approach them? Is it better to work with an established publisher, or is it better to self-publish in the bold new world of the digital book?

Melanie covers the basic components of financing, as well as the essentials of distribution ranging from such easily overlooked matters as storage, to the finer points of what is required to get the book on to the dealers' shelves. This workshop is the perfect publishing overview for photographers of all levels.

Workshop participants have the option of attending PhotoNOLA Education Day: Focus on Publishing on Friday, December 3, at the International House Hotel. The event includes a presentation by Mary Virginia Swanson and a publishing industry panel discussion. There is no charge for participants of A Beginner's Workshop on Photobook Publishing who wish to join this event.

New Issue of Finite Foto: Issue 10 Politics and Advocacy

For this issue of Finite Foto, we are pleased to present work by some artists who are using the photographic medium to document projects about controversial and political issues and who use photography as a means to advocate for a change in the surrounding world. Three broad topics are covered in this month's issue: United States and Mexico border, New Mexico Food Advocacy and The Three Gorges Dam project. We hope you enjoy reading. Please send us your thoughts at finitefoto@gmail.com.

A Voice in the Desert
A Dialogue about Jason Jaacks' Project with Antone Dolezal

An Interview with David Rochkind
by Jonathan Blaustein

A Quiet River
The Construction of the Three Gorges Dam (1996-2010) photography by Zeng Nian

The Un-Natural Nature of Food (New Mexico)
by Melanie McWhorter and featuring the work of Jonathan Blaustein and David Ondrik

Finite Foto is a new media collective that investigates and promotes the intersection of photography and culture in the state of New Mexico. We are dedicated to bringing awareness to the global art community about both historical and contemporary photography from all regions of the state.



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Photo Festival in South Carolina, Y'all Come!

I just got the poster for the Click646 festival held annually in October in Greenwood, SC. This year, the events will take place on October 1st and 2nd. There will be music, exhibitions, portfolio reviews, Taste of Greenwood and lectures. Ann Jastrab, Cig Harvey, Ben Ham and I will be speaking as well. Go to Click646 for more info or email me to get the exact schedule.

Gregory Schaffer Print Fundraiser

Years ago, Gregory Schaffer walked into my office looking for a photobook. He has an extensive photobook library and he was hungry for a purchase. I suggested one of my favorite books at the time (and one which has continued to be a favorite) Sophie Ristelhueber's Details of the World. That recommendation forged a pen pal-type relationship that lasted through his time in the Peace Corps in China and his move to Seattle, Washington. Gregory is now planning an exhibition and as part of the fundraising, he is selling the print shown above that was taken during his time in China. It is printed in an edition of ten on 13x19 inch inkjet pigmented paper. For more info visit his blog. I think there is still one left as of August 8th. Email him to inquire at trickygregor@yahoo.com.