Russ Voss

There comes a time in the life of every blog where the owner posts an apology for not posting more. Well, here it is. But I'm busy! No, seriously...

I've been working a forty-hour-a-week office job, which allows me to pay for new gear but doesn't give me much opportunity to get out and play with my toys. Happily, I can now add photojournalist to my credentials, as I'm being contacted by The Journal News to do freelance work. I get about six to ten assignments a month, mostly on weekends. They've all been interesting, but I won't go into them now. Some of them deserve entire posts on their own... I'll get to them. Eventually.

I have been accepted to the General Studies Program at the International Center of Photography in New York City, this after being rejected from their MFA program (Pro tip: No matter how many people call you a photographic wunderkind, 9 credits of photo and a Communications degree do not a successful MFA candidate make). I'm currently in the process of applying to their Documentary Photography and Photojournalism program, as that is where my heart truly lies in this medium. The result of that application and a long time staring at and comparing course catalogues will determine which program I go into. Either way, that will start up this coming September, at which point I will give up my regular paycheck for the love of the game. You'd think someone who's seen first-hand the recent evisceration of newpapers and professional photography would be more reluctant to dive head-first into these draining pools, but what can I say? I found what I love and I'm lucky enough to be in a place where I'm able to do it.

And now, back to your regularly scheduled photo-blogging!



Nikon D60, 18-270mm Tamron lens
1/250 exposure
f/7.1
ISO 3200

In the last few months I've posted far fewer pictures than I would have liked. Between not having the time to shoot new subjects and general end-of-the-day laziness from working a nine to five job, I started slacking off. Now that I've been away from daily posts, I don't feel compelled to return to them. Rather than use this as an excuse to abandon my blog, I will take this opportunity to change direction and do something more fulfilling than frantically searching Picasa for a decent picture, resizing it and posting it before midnight. I think I've gone as far as I can with that approach.

While I still get to enjoy photography on a fairly regular basis, in the last year or so I haven't had a chance to do as much writing as I would have liked. Infact, I've done so little that I'm dragging this explanation out as long as I can for the sheer joy of writing it. So I'm going to add a written component to my blog. Memories of the people in the pictures, stories surrounding the pictures, techniques I used to get the photo exactly how I wanted it (or how that effort failed miserably and the result was still agreeable; it's art, not science, people), just about anything will be fair game so long as it ties back to the picture.

Now that I've broken my original a-post-a-day plan, I'm not going to tie myself down to any specific schedule. My mind keeps coming back to two posts a week, which would work well for average-sized posts. We may consider this a goal, not a plan set in stone. I'm also considering a few longer posts because of certain subjects I want to cover; depending on how long they take to write, that may mean one update a week. Again, no specific schedule, nothing set in stone.

One final note about my new and improved* blog: I plan to write it at a level that assumes a basic knowledge of photography and photographic terminology. I will try to make it as accessable as possible, but I don't want to get bogged down explaining something in the text for too long. Unless, of course, the whole point of the post is to explain the thing. If I use a word or phrase that I've never used before or I worry people might not get, I will hyperlink it to an explanation.

(*) Your mileage may vary, statement has not been evaluated by the FDA

I will close with a reminder that this is the last week of the Adobe Photo Awesomizer contest. This week's theme is Wacky College Yearbook. Use the Adobe Photo Awesomizer to create the crazy fun yearbook picture you always wanted, not the boring stock yearbook photo you always got.

What’s the Photo Awesomizer?

The Adobe Photo Awesomizer allows you to manipulate, style, and tweak any picture using tools inspired by Adobe CS5. Redesign the photo and have fun and come up with something completely different every time you use the app. Take a picture of you and friends at a party and then tweak it and then send it to them. After you are done, you can share the photos on Facebook, send them to friends, or use them to participate in weekly themed contests.

Below is my profile photo as edited with the Adobe Photo Awesomizer which I used to make the photo look aged and vaguely sepia toned. The editor itself is pretty straight-forward and easy to use. You can add some neat effects through a simple interface, no photo editing experience required.

I would have added a the Groucho Mustache & Glasses, but I was worried no one would recognize me.


(Original photo courtesy of my friend Kelly)


What are the contest details?

Adobe is in the midst of their six week contest which started October 11. Each week there will be a brand new theme to play along with, manipulating and styling your picture before you enter to win. Each Friday a new person and their picture will be selected as the winner, receiving select Adobe software. Here are the weekly themes below to check out, I included the ones that have already taken place just to give you an idea of what all themes are.

· Week 1 (October 11): Rivalry Week – College is back in session and nothing is better than showing off your alma mater’s colors. Everyone thinks their University is the best and most fun. Well now here’s your chance to prove it. Show us by awesomizing your pictures full of school pride.

· Week 2 (October 18): Favorite College Memories – Remember that time when….I can’t believe that happened….That was the best party ever….Use captions to add new life to the best moments of your college experience to help bring back those great memories with a new style.

· Week 3 (October 25): Vintage College – Why are those movie posters from back in the day so cool? Find out by using the Photo Awesomizer to create a vintage photo of any college experience.

· Week 4 (November 1): Halloween Memories – Halloween just came and went and now is the perfect time to show off those costume pictures in a stylish and funny new way. You can help bring a new level of creativity and excitement to your recent pictures. Build on those Halloween photos to create the ultimate costume picture.

· Week 5 (November 8): How Nerdy Can You Look? – Upload a favorite picture of yourself and show us how NERDY you can look! Use any of the Adobe Awesomizer adjustment, stylize or add-on tools to re-design yourself into a SUPER NERD.

· Week 6 (November 15): Wacky College Yearbook – Remember back in High School when everyone had the same boring yearbook photo, mainly to make your parents happy? Well now is the time to change that. Use the application to create the wacky college yearbook photo that you always wanted to have.

To comply with FTC regulations I must disclose that I have been compensated by Adobe with product, however the above endorsement of the Adobe Photo Awesomizer has not been affected by said compensation.

http://www.coalitionforthehomeless.org/

Union Square, New York City, New York, August 7th, 2010

Nikon D60, 18-55mm kit lens
1/250th exposure
f/13
ISO 400