"we haven't always been clear about what our mission is. we haven't always been clear about our brand," says Kicklighter, sitting in the quiet doubletake offices in davis square. "we don't want to be a pretty little quarterly, a boutiquey magazine for rich people with time on their hands. we want to be relevant to people's lives."
the editors at doubletake magazine have decided to cease publication and web updates temporarily, until, at the earliest, january 2004. while they try to figure out its purpose as well as how to run the magazine as a business rather than a charity -- even after bruce springsteen raised $1 million to support it.

During the week of May 12-18, 2003, America 24/7 invited everyone in America with a digital camera to submit photographs that depict their lives, families and communities — and what it means to be American. Professionals, students and amateur photographers across the nation shot more than 1 million pictures. This collaboration produced a visual time capsule by citizens from every walk of life. america 24/7 is here.

a new show at the icp called strangers "leaves traditional quick-draw photography behind, and moves toward a new, concept-heavy way of thinking about camerawork." the art world is evolving and embracing the realism of good old-fashioned street photography -- with a twist. but that causes the purist in me to think there's a hint of laziness suggested by the lines ...timing isn't everything. the concept is.

in need of some inspiration and motivation. try swooping into a place, unknown. and working with people who at the beginning of the week are strangers and by the end of the week seem more like family, shooting subjects you've just met from a story idea that you draw out of a hat. well it happens every year, and it looks like the folks at the 28th annual mountain workshops had a fun and productive time in bardstown, kentucky this year. next year, i hope to be there making photos as nice as the ones the students made this year, and making memories that will last a lifetime.

helmut newton: edgy

get out your i-zones, your pinholes, your dianas...
as scott macdonald pointed out on the listserv, tomorrow is world toy camera day. he intends to shoot with the ol' holga and share the results with everybody. he's even going to enter the contest described here.

it's not often that a college gets big name photographers like sam abell, karen kasmauski and emory kristof to come visit. along with the long-standing photo tradition at the university of missouri, the national geographic also chose the up-and-coming university of georgia for the first-ever first national geographic contributing photographers-in-residence program.

from ebay: rare chance to own your own photographer

..."as photos on news sites gain in popularity, and users gain the power to add to the visual dialogue, perhaps the web can bring back photojournalism as a force for change."

for eight years, photographer ed kashi has been photographing aging in america, in his latest installment, he shows us the new world of growing older, a look at how seniors are staying engaged in their later years, and the love and loss that accompanies growing old together.

$5,000 for your education!
The Ron Patel Scholarship Fund is now accepting applications for 2004. This year, the $5,000 scholarship will be awarded to a photojournalism student to advance his or her graduate or undergraduate education, according to fund president Mary Patel. Deadline is December 1, 2003.
Ron Patel was the renowned editor of the Sunday Philadelphia Inquirer, and Mary Patel's husband, until his death on Jan. 7, 2000.
There are no age restrictions on this scholarship. The $5,000 check will made out to the school and the student so the winner must either be in school or about to begin.
The Philadelphia Conference is assisting with outreach and details. Questions may be directed to: scholarship@philadelphiaconference.org.
[jim macmillan wanted us to get the word out -- apply today!]

looks like the kids up at barnstorm had a blast. i can't wait to see what they produced, both for the workshop and for themselves.

cindy sherman talks about a "perfectly ambiguous picture."

i love finding out about new photographers, especially ones with dreamy, dreamy images.

Negotiating contracts has never been easy for freelance photographers. But here comes the The Independent Photographers Toolkit by the National Press Photographer's Association. Check it out and bookmark it! It is a work in progress so expect to see new links and features.
link via seshu badrinath