Shameless self-promotion

I am writing today about a variety of resources for photographers. Of course, the major one that I am thinking about is The Wells Point web site. Yes, this could easily be interpreted as a shameless self-promotion. I prefer to think of it as an information-advisory about all the valuable things on the site. Read the whole post and then you decide.

I collect URLs in a file on my computer’s desktop and when I get enough of them, like this week, I turn them into a blog post. This will be a mish-mash of different topics.

An important download-able flyer explaining your rights when stopped or confronted for photography was created by attorney Bert P. Krages and it can be found at: http://www.krages.com/phoright.htm I strongly encourage you to get it, read it and share it with other. It is very useful. Let me quote just one piece from the site:

There are not very many legal restrictions on what can be photographed when in public view. Most attempts at restricting photography are done by lower-level security and law enforcement officials acting way beyond their authority. Note that neither the Patriot Act nor the Homeland Security Act have any provisions that restrict photography. Similarly, some businesses have a history of abusing the rights of photographers under the guise of protecting their trade secrets. These claims are almost always meritless because entities are required to keep trade secrets from public view if they want to protect them.

Another, more detailed, explanation of photographer’s rights (and responsibilities) can be found at: http://www.kantor.com/useful/Legal-Rights-of-Photographers.pdf The document discusses issues involved in the publishing of photographs as well in actually making the photographs.

A regular reader of The Wells Point sent me a link to another photography blogger’s piece, discussing another strategy for hand-holding a telephoto lens. You can see that at: http://www.photographyblog.com/articles/how_to_hand-hold_a_telephoto_lens/ I tried it out yesterday and I like the idea a lot. It will take some practice to get used to it. Try it!

The same correspondent sent me the link to a very useful site (for photographers) that can tell you the time for sunrise, sunset, dawn and dusk around the world! The site is called “Gaisma,” which it turns out is a Latvian word, meaning “light”. You can see more (and find a location) starting at: http://www.gaisma.com/en/ The best way to fully appreciate what this does is to look up a place you know well in terms of when and where the sun rises and sets. My favorite diagram is the sun path diagram. It takes a minute to understand ALL the things that the chart is telling you, but once you understand it, there is a wealth of information there!

Last month, you may remember, I finished posting the photography resource lists. I have already received a kind note from one reader who utilized the resource list to her benefit. She wrote:

Hello,

I am a constant reader and subscriber to your blog and podcasts on thewellspoint.com. I found your site while searching for photography grants available abroad. After reading your post about the McCloy fellowship, I checked out the ACGS site and my husband and I ended up applying for the journalism (I shoot, he writes) grant option based in Berlin. I just wanted to pass on my thanks to you for offering a site with such valuable information and resources. Take care and happy shooting!

Notes like that make this whole web-site effort worthwhile.

I have an interesting workshop coming up soon, the weekend of May 16 and 17 in nearby Connecticut. I am teaching under the aegis of the energetic and talented photographer, Bobbi Lane, who has started her own workshop program in Wilton, CT. The workshop is my favorite one, “Light Studies,” which I define as photo essays exploring the light and atmosphere of different places. You can read more about that at: http://www.bobbilane.com/Wrkshps_Light_Studies.html

On a personal note, if you are going to be in New York City in July, I hope you will take the time to see the latest exhibition of my work from India. You can read more about that (and RSVP for the reception) at: http://tinyurl.com/DavidWellsCalumetExhibit The exhibition, at the H.P Gallery at Calumet’s New York City location at 22 W. 22nd Street runs from July 6 through July 28. There will be a closing reception on Tuesday, July 28, 2009 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM.

Okay, so the last two were blatant self-promotions. Let me know if you found the rest of the blog entry useful and/or if you have other suggestions for topics that you might like to read about.