The " Light of Florida" Project travels to China: Exhibition and Award.

Hi everyone!!


It is with great pleasure that we can announce to our membership and the entire photo community that our project called " The Light of Florida" ( LOF) is moving full speed ahead, and we have great news just arriving from China.

This time, thanks to our contacts with the Chinese photographic organizations, fostered and fully developed by our Board Member Tom Salyer, and our General Member Nancy Brown, we were invited to participate in one of the biggest Chinese Photo Festivals, called "Quinghai Three Rivers Photo Festival", Quinghai Province, Xining, China, and for the occasion, we chose to submit the images that our South Florida members ( and some Central Florida members) submitted for the LOF project.

The pics here, sent by Tom directly from China of the opening ceremony, the premises and Exhibition Halls, speak for themselves. However, the Juror Panel of the Festival picked the Light of Florida Exhibit as the winner for " Best Thematic Show", amongst thousands of images from all over the world, so our sincere congratulations go to all ASMP South Florida Members, as we all can proudly showcase this award as a group effort, which we must continue to push forward. Our extended congrats to ASMP Central Chapter too!

The poster in the image above is the announcement of the ASMP Light of Florida Exhibition and below you see Nancy Brown picking up the award on behalf of the Chapter.

As you may recall, our first attempts to fulfill our plan to have a printed "Light of Florida" book during all of 2009, encountered the financial problems we all are aware of, putting the entire project on hold.

It was the decision of the Board in full to not stop and fight adversity, as to finally manage to fulfill our goals, and even though we are still on the process to make it happen, we feel we are getting closer and closer, and the South Florida ASMP Chapter will eventually have it's LOF Book.

To that effect, and in order to offer an opportunity to all members who did not participate in the first round of images, and to all the many new members of the Chapter, we will issue a call for action to submit more images soon, so stay tuned to your email account, as you will receive an official note of this invite, with the details.

For the moments, let's enjoy the images and the great news Tom and Nancy are sending us from China, and feel free to spread the voice about this fine award the ASMP South Florida Chapter and all it's members have just received!! Below you will see Tom and Nancy with a translator, during a walk through the exhibit.

MANY THANKS TO TOM AND NANCY AND CONGRATS TO ALL SOUTH FLORIDA CHAPTER MEMBERS!! KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK FELLOWS!!



Jorge Parra
President
ASMP South Florida

The Light of Florida goes to China

It is an exciting prospect to share our images of Florida with the Chinese people. I participated in the group show that went to the 2nd annual Photography Festival in Duyun, Southern China. It was a wonderful experience and the show had strong international representation. The headliner from the United States was Ansel Adams, and we had an outstanding group of work from our members. Below are some photos from the 2004 show.













Chairman Mao's Daughter opens the show in 2004

There are obvious concerns about the Chinese lack of respect for copyrighted work and their history is not good on this topic. We can only trust our counterparts at the Chinese Photographers Association to respect our rights and only use the images for prints in the exhibit for which they are intended.













One of the exhibit spaces in Duyun


I would strongly urge anyone who has the chance to go to the show to attend and represent our group in person. It will be a very worthwhile experience and great travel adventure.













The Crew:
Glen McGlaughlin, Jesus Arenguran, Nancy Brown, Tom Salyer, DK and Dennie Cody and Jillen Lippincott

Paul Morris
Morphoto Inc.
www.morphoto.com

“The Light of Florida travels to China”- Deadline approaching

Great news for our South/Central Florida Members!

We have been working on finding the best options and promotion for our great project “Light of Florida” (LOF) which we started last year.

We are happy to announce that we have been invited by..

Qinhai International Photo Art Festival

to submit the Light of Florida Project for a print exhibition in China: the 2010 China (Qinhai) Sanjiangyuan International Photographic Art Festival in Xining —- the capital city of Qinhai province, China.
Date: July 20 to July 23, 2010

Participants in the original project may see the work that was originally selected by our judging panel, http:/www.lightofflorida.com

We are invited to submit around 80 images, and that is our goal. So that the LOF project is well represented in the event, you may select up to 3 images from your original submission. We wish to represent the project, with the book is a separate entity.

Now, what do we need from you?

In a main folder named (______your name_________)

(1) We need to gather Hi Resolution files with proper metadata. Image size should be no less than 11x14 inches @ 300 DPI, file format should be JPEG with the best possible compression (10-12). Photographers are encouraged to submit 2-3 Hi Res files from your original submission and/or images that are already present on the website.

(2) A Rich Text Format of your bio named (Your Name/ BIO / Image Descriptions ) a brief 2-3 sentence of your bio,include website or contact info…

EG. # (filename)= Lakeside,Florida..7am..a quiet area where bird lovers find Egrets..
#(filename)= Tarpon Springs,Florida ..10am, where Greeks used to sponge fish but now own restaurants.

These digital files will be delivered to China, to be printed and mounted there (no cost at all for us) for the exhibition. Again, there is no cost for us to run this exhibition!!



DEADLINE: We have a tight schedule for delivery of those files, so please, make this a priority in your schedule. April 1 , 2010 FINAL DEADLINE.

Images can be uploaded via FTP to our server (using programs like Fetch, Cyberdog, PureFtp, or even Firefox). Create a folder with your full name, add your images in that folder and upload it.

PLEASE, remember to add all necessary Metadata to properly identify and protect your work. Any work with no info/contact will be rejected. The Chinese ask for NO OFFENSIVE images…bear in mind respects to their culture.

For those who may need help with metadata information, please visit www.dpbestflow.org for full info and details.

FTP instructions:

ftp.findaphotographerflorida.com

user name ” asmpmembers “

password ” floridalight ” ****

Note: Do NOT use the quote signs to log in.

Image size should be no less than 11x14 inches @ 300 DPI.

NOW READ THIS>>>>

The Festival Organizer will make pictures and mount them for the exhibition. The pictures and CD will not be returned to the sender. The Organizers understand that the copyright belong to the authors. The Festival Organizers have no right to use these pictures without getting approved by the author.

Legal Stuff: (don’t get scared; it’s to cover us and them)

By submitting my images to this exhibit, I am agreeing to having my images printed for exhibition purpose, and also usage as promotion for its purpose by the Festival and promotion by our local chapter. I warrant the I am the original sole creator and copyright owner of the images rendered, that they are not subject to any transfer of copyright to another, and have proper release wherever a release is needed and does not infringe or otherwise violate any copyright,trademark or trade name of another.

I indemnify and hold ASMP, its LOF committee, and the Festival harmless from any misuse by them or by another party. I further indemnify ASMP, its LOF committee, the Festival and its organizers against any expenses (including attorney fees and costs),
judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred in connection with any threatened, pending or filed action, suit or proceeding, based on a claimed violation of warranty above.

We will keep you posted on more news about LOF as it appears. We will keep pressing hard on the Book part of Project and take advantage of this exhibit and contacts to do so. We are thrilled to have the exhibition in China becoming a reality, as it will also help us reach our goals for this great project.

Coverage from this Exhibit we will use on our Blog and promote its usage to our email promotion of “Find us Here” reaching out to art buyers, editors, agencies. It will enhance our membership and draw great attention.

There is an opportunity for those of you who wish to attend the festival and also partake in a 7-10 day photo trip organized by the Festival Organization. More info should come soon on the costs… Let us know who would like to attend.

Our deadline for submission of the Project's images is approaching. Please take action now!

Thanks for your prompt cooperation!

Light of Florida Committee

ASMP South Florida Member's Spot Light: Sandy Levy

Member's Spot Light: Sandy Levy

Introducing our first ASMP South Florida Member's Spotlight: Showcasing your best project, be it a portfolio work, editorial publication, advertising campaign, social awareness job or fine art project.

Please enjoy our first SpotLight for Miami photographer Sandy Levy, in his own words:

I would like to talk about a very touching moment as a result of photographing kids waiting for adoption for the Heart Gallery of Broward.

What happened was that a child named Cleveland was one of the kids that I photographed several months ago for the Heart Gallery. I shot Cleveland, just a week or two before he turned 18, he was adopted.
This is particularly special and critical because: Once a child turns 18, they are no longer in the program and are considered adults. Then they are more or less on their own. It is quite unusual for a child that old to get adopted. In some extreme cases, they end up in the streets.

Barbara Schechter Executive Director of The Heart Gallery of Broward County pulled me aside at an awards presentation event on Oct. 14, and told me that my photo was responsible for Cleveland's new Mom becoming interested in adopting him. Obviously Barbara was very pleased and frankly, it really gave me a very warm feeling as well, as this was also very special for me.

Barbara contacted me a week or two later asking if I could be at the courthouse when the official adoption took place in the Judges chambers. She told me she would understand if I could not be there, but she hoped that I would be able to go. Of course I accepted and I did not mind taking a camera.

The reason that Cleveland's adoption was rushed in the judge's chambers before National Adoption Day was that by Nov. 15, Cleveland would be over 18 and therefore ineligible for this type of adoption.
Cleveland and his Mom also thanked me privately and that was very nice to hear. In addition, Cleveland would possibly like to become a photographer. I found out he is already an accomplished amateur photographer as he proudly showed me some of his photos.

I must say that the feeling of satisfaction knowing that an image that you make was in some way at least partly responsible for a difficult-to-adopt child to find a family, is quite amazing and wonderful.
I told NBC 6 that I cannot recall another photo assignment that was as personally satisfying to me in my 40 years as a professional photographer. Not monetarily satisfying of course, but personally satisfying!.

You can find more information about Sandy Levy and his photographic work at his main website:

www.levyphoto.com

You can also find more info about Sandy and all our shooters in our ASMP's South Florida Chapter, by visiting our Local Search Engine, Find a Photographer, in the link below:

www.findaphotographerflorida.com

"We live here, we shoot here, find us here!"

Kind Regards!!

New South Florida Find a Photographer Website

We are now ready to launch and promote our new South Florida search engine, our new Find a Photographer.

Please take a look at our new website

www.FindaPhotographerSouthFlorida.com

And spread the word about our dedicated engine, covering ASMP South Florida Chapter members in good standing.

We are getting ready to make large scale local, regional and national promotions for this website, as part of the revamped marketing plan strategy we are setting up to bring more business to our members.

We will keep using our slogan, " We live here, we shoot here, find us here", as part of the promotional efforts we are pursuing.

Stay tuned for more info, as we will soon be unveiling a new totally rebuilt website for our South Florida Chapter, and also a new website, fully dedicated to the " Light of Florida" Project.

Our very special thanks to our Board members Paul Morris, Joe Wolf and David Ramos for their commitment to make this new websites a reality. Great job guys!

Best wishes to all

Jorge Parra

Light of Florida Update

Light of Florida update:

Our talks with the Florida Film Society continued this Monday as Jorge Parra,Paul Morris and myself met to continue discussions on sponsorship. Recent budget cuts from the State have placed a temporary hold on our publication despite the interest and excitement our images have created in Tallahassee.

In July, a new state sponsor will review our project, and together with the Film Society, might consider partnering to produce the type of book with the quality we are all expecting. Several ideas were discussed including a "teaser" version but It was agreed that going halfway was not in our best interests and would not do justice to anyone.

In the meantime, we are pursuing to launch an email quarterly promotion, showing images from LOF that will feature their creators sporting a brief write up from each. It will point to a Light of Florida site, that will show one image from each participant and will link that image to each respective website. Also featured will be our own Find a Photographer . This email campaign will be part of our Find us Here program, something we all need in this time.

Stay tuned for further updates..

matthew pace
president /s.fl.

See The Light

Come and See the Light ... the "Light of Florida"




Join us for a visual presentation of the un-edited submissions for the Florida light book promotion project. See below, To read more about the project and see the book mock-up that was presented to the State Film Board. While you here sign is as a follower and post a comment.



Contributors can applaud yourselves and take a bow, you deserve it for submitting a fabulous collection of images for the project. Everyone is invited, members and guests come and view the collection before selections are made by a panel of independent editors. You will have a chance to meet the other members that submitted work and get to know the faces behind the images.



The images will be juried for our book by the end of this month, but before that, we would like to share them all with you in this ASMP Open Screen Event, Open To The Public.




When and Where



Thursday, March 19

Barry University

Andy Gato Gallery, Thompson Hall, 2nd Floor

11300 NE 2nd Avenue, Miami Shores

6:30pm gathering 7:30pm showtime.

Refreshments will be served.



Use the links below for a campus map and directions:

Directions
Campus Map



Parking is on the west side of Miami Ave.

ASMP/SoFla FLORIDA LIGHT BOOK PROJECT

Please note the book's cover is only conceptual and was created as a mock-up by vice president Jorge Parra when the project was first presented to the Governor's Office of Film & Entertainment.

ASMP/SoFla needs your best pictures for a new book promoting Florida to art directors and film producers throughout the world. With additional books going to the tourist industries, this is a great opportunity for members to get their work seen by people who may be able to positively affect their careers as professional photographers.

What we're looking for: Your best non-studio CONTEMPORARY work focusing on the use of Florida's unique natural lighting. Your subjects are open and we're looking for images from all over Florida.

Who can enter? All levels of membership.

How much will it cost me? Nothing. The state is picking up the tab.

How many books will be printed? Depending on the final price, as many as 2,000.

Who will judge? Images will be juried from an online archive by three professionals and/or academics in the publishing arts who are NOT members of the ASMP. To insure fairness, please make sure your images do not reveal your name, i.e, through a watermark. The selected images will then be put into a pool to be edited by an art director not associated with the ASMP. His or her final selections for inclusion in the book are final.

Deadline: Up to 15 images may be submitted by JANUARY 31st to president Matthew Pace (matthew@matthewpace.com). Please submit low res images at 72dpi @ 1500dpi max width. Please make sure each image has embedded Metadata which must include LOCATION and TIME OF DAY.

Notification Date: March 1 (tentative) for those images that will appear in the book.

Publication Date: June 2009 (tentative).

The release of the book will be promoted to the media and the public through a festive PR event in Miami. Date and place TBA.

To see Jorge's mock-up of the book, please click here.

Sneak Preview of ASMP Archive Projection on Miami's Arsht Center for the Performing Arts

Last night president Matthew Pace and vice president Jorge Parra assisted Felix Pike of Media Stage in the first test of the Archive Projection Project (APP). Using a 16K projector and a slew of electronic equipment, the guys climbed up into the Sears Tower at the Arsht Center overlooking Biscayne Boulevard and commenced to project the ASMP Archive onto the Knight Concert Hall across the street. The test shows more needs to be done on the technical side but member images looked great. Hopefully more images will be forthcoming from membership so that they can be included in the Archive. This is a great way to bring attention to yourself and your art. Please note, we are looking for images showcasing the south Florida lifestyle in work and play. For a more critical look at last night's semi-spectacular, please watch Matthew Pace's take on his own work below.

"Find Us Here" Celebration of Fine Art Photography a Big Success!

Click Pictures to Enlarge.

Photo by Jorge Parra

Our Chapter's "Find Us Here" show was a resounding success. 40 fine art photographs from our membership were displayed at the Luna Star Gallery over a two week period with two different openings during Art Basel. Some were even sold! None of this would have happened without the indefatigable efforts of Dennie Cody who spearheaded and prodded us all to participate in the event. Special kudos go to DK Cody who was right there by his side and Matthew Pace, Paul Morris, my son Dave and myself who joined them in this Herculean effort (Can you say "transform a cafe into a gallery?"). To learn more about the show, click the highlighted copy above.

I think we can all agree that part of what made the show so great was that it brought us all together for the openings and the take-downs. Some of us haven't seen each other in quite a while and it was great to get together once again. Finally, a big shout out goes to Alexis at the Luna Star Cafe. Without her openness, it could never have happened.

DC Copeland