"The right to take photographs is now under assault more than ever. People are being stopped, harassed, and even intimidated into handing over their personal property simply because they were taking photographs of subjects that made other people uncomfortable." The Photographer's Right is a downloadable guide that is loosely based on the ACLU's Bust Card and the Know Your Rights flyer. Carry it in your camera bag and show it to the next cop who tells you where to stand.

james nachtwey has won a $500,000 Dan David prize. "The financial prize is substantial and will be very meaningful to my work," Nachtwey says. "It will allow me to take some time to produce books from existing photographs, to advance several projects that have been very difficult either to find assignments for or to finance independently, and it will help me to update and expand my production and archiving facilities." The award honors individuals or institutions with proven, exceptional excellence in the arts, sciences, humanities and public service, and which have made an outstanding contribution to public service and outstanding contributions to humanity.

phototag is a non-profit for-fun joint venture. it's also a community photography project retrofitting cheap disposable cameras with shiny new packaging, artwork, instructions and return postage. each camera is then passed along to friends and strangers with the request that they take one picture and pass it along to someone else. phototaggers are invited to participate in journalling their visual experience online, and once the camera is returned (via pre-paid postage and the u.s. postal service) the photos are posted on the site as well.

finally! the images are up.

the book isn't ready, but here is a sampling of work from eddie adams xv i'm not sure why there are only some images up and not all of them, but at least those of us who survived "eaw storms new york" can take a look back. use the little nav buttons at the left to check out each team's contributions.

there's been some great discussion on the listserv recently that all started when new kid on the block dave vallely asked a very simple question, "how does one get a job taking pictures?  being a photojournalist?  does anyone have any suggestions?  i feel naked and helpess without my camera around at all times, and it just seems pointless to do anything other than take pictures.  any ideas?"
the response it solicited has been tremendous. we've been debating the merits of j-schools. discussing the importance of internships. and realizing that there are other avenues besides just newspapers. and giving the age old advice of if you love something and are passionate about it, then you need to find a way -- some way, any way -- to do it.
then came this response, which i found to be one of the most honest and effective:
i'm going to say something here that you may not take as advice. that's ok though. because most advice you receive here will be good advice, sound advice.
nonetheless, what makes you think you want make pictures for a living?
i say that because I think that makes plenty of sense.
it makes sense in terms of finding work as a photographer, but it also makes sense in terms of being a photographer and something else as well. maybe even something equal or greater than a working photographer.
the point I'm trying to make: just because you feel naked without your camera doesn't mean that you can't carry your camera everywhere you go. that includes carrying it along when seeking out other experiences besides that of being a working stiff like the rest of us.
my father, who was a ski area manager for years and years, said to me once: the best way to get into the ski business is to buy a ticket. i listened to him about the business of skiing, but I failed to take note about the business of photography.
go to law school, get a degree in something other than photography and in that way you can keep what is so special about photography special. you know what I mean?
and if you don't, well then you're a glutton for punishment just like the rest of us.
cheers, sean cayton cayton photography

"I've tweaked pictures before - taken out a phone pole. It’s not a common practice, but you can do it."

PDN senior editor David Walker talks to fired LAT photographer Brian Walski about his doctored photo from Iraq and what his plans are for the future. I was actually starting to feel bad for him until I came across the above quote.

the loudspeaker cracks through the cool air with the words, "girls pole-vault, report!"... the girls give a cursory listen, but return to their whispers of the upcoming prom. they talk of anything besides their pole-vaulting.

i know it's been a while since the last visual update 'round here... but just so you know, we have been a little busy in these parts. shooting pictures. talking about shooting better pictures. looking at many great pictures. so in an effort to show that we're not total slackers, there's finally a new essay up on this site. a little something something from our favorite knight ridder photojournalist, mister rich glickstein -- in what we hope is the first of many little vingettes from iraq.

kevin sites, cnn correspondent in iraq, has been asked to suspend his blogging activities. his blog clearly states that his behind-the-war-scenes material is his own and not representative of cnn in any way. but clearly they felt threatened by this. so go read, and check out his diaries from kosovo, chiapas and afghanistan while you're at it.

"am I alive or thoughts that drift away? does summer come for everyone? can humans really do what prophets say? and if I die before I learn to speak can money pay for all the days I lived awake but half asleep?" -- chris o'connor
great quote and nice picture from bryan bosch -- the newest contributor to photocolumn.org.