Film Photography Project and Picturing Wanteete

Image Source: http://www.picturingwanteete.com/project-history/

 

If you know me, you know that I'm a big fan of The Film Photography Project (FPP). (Click Here) to check them out.

 

Well, FPP supported a project called Picturing Wanteete, where Louise Rita Contino moved to a village in Uganda (Wanteete), and shared photography with seventeen of its residents. The cameras she used, all Pentax K1000s, were donated by FPP.

 

(Click Here) to go to the project web page. I would love to see an exhibit of the pictures. Apparently, there was one in NYC earlier this year; I'm not sure if it's still up. But really, I just love the concept.

 

DMC-365.blogspot.com

Polar Bear Plunge - For a Great Cause

 

Last weekend, I happened into an unexpected event in Reston, Virginia, a polar bear plunge. It was a charity event, for the benefit of Camp Sunshine, a place where families with children battling cancer can go to relax and enjoy time together. (Click Here) to read more about the event.

 

As luck would have it, I had my Leica M9 and my Rolleiflex 2.8F with me. This post will show my color pictures, all taken with the M9 and Zeiss Sonnar C 50mm f1.5 lens, and a few with my new Leica Elmar C 90mm f4.

 

While it was unseasonably warm last Saturday, the water was still plenty cold. Here are the safety divers, clearing the diving hole of ice.

 

 

As you can imagine, an event like this attracts an interesting crowd of contestants.

 

 

When the event started, things got lively. I had a great location to shoot from as well.

 

 

People generally looked happy going in, shocked coming out, and downright uncomfortable after that.

 

 

And now, here are two of my favorites. First, my favorite shot of the jumpers.

 

 

And here's one of the crowd reflected in the icy water.

 

 

It was a very nice unexpected surprise, and I'm glad I was there to photograph it. I think I am indeed falling back in love with my Leica M9.

 

I'll post some images that I made with the Rolleiflex 2.8F tomorrow.

 

DMC-365.blogspot.com

 

Got An Old DSLR Gathering Dust? Help Out A Great School

 

The Duke Ellington School of the Arts

Image Source: http://www.ellingtonschool.org/home/index.html

 
My friend and fellow DC-area photographer, Aboud Dweck, is teaching photography at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington DC. They desperately need DSLRs (of any functional variety) and Apple computers.
 
(Click Here) to read Aboud's post on GetDPI.
 
I have walked by this school before, and can tell that it's something different. The students seem engaged in life. There's an ENORMOUS wooden chair outside, that I think 15 kids could sit in at once.
 
Anyway, if you can help them out, please do. I'm going to see if the old iMac I have could be of any use, but it's probably too old... Maybe I'll have to pick up a D70 for cheap and donate it.
 
Support the future of your art.
 
You can contact Aboud at dweckphoto@gmail.com
 
DMC-365.blogspot.com
 

And Here's Something Good! Donate $25 and Give Someone Fresh Water For LIFE!

Here's something amazing. water.org is a charitable organization that provides safe drinking water to people who don't have it.
 

 

Image Source: http://give.water.org/fundraiser/641/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=wall&utm_campaign=fundraiser_weekly

 
Here's the amazing part - for a single one-time donation of $25, you can give someone water for LIFE!
 
water.org is a well-established organization. I was introduced to them through a business associate, whose company gives to them on a regular basis. You can check their home page for more information.
 
I'm running a fundraiser as part of a program that water.org is currently promoting. I am striving to get ten donations in ten days, at $25 each. This simple effort with guarantee ten people water for life. I'm currently up to three donations (two from within my home).
 
There is a drawing associated with the program. The winner will get to go to Haiti to see water.org's work first-hand. That will be an exciting yet emotionally challenging trip for the winner, in my opinion. I'd love to win, and photograph the good we're doing. However, I'm only doing this fundraiser to help people. I don't expect to gain anything personally from it.
 
So, if you can afford $25 to really help someone in need, please:
 
(Click Here) to go to my fundraiser page, and give someone water for the rest of their life!
 
DMC-365.blogspot.com