Jain Lemos » Photography and Publishing

Laurel poses for shooters on the Scott Kelby Photowalk in Tucson.

Laurel poses for shooters on the Scott Kelby Photowalk in Tucson.

Baton twirlers practice in downtown Tucson.

A baton twirler practices in downtown Tucson.

The Tweet that produced the above photos!

@suprspi via @jeremycowart re Photowalk 7/18: You’re not alone, never heard either! Thanks #togs http://bit.ly/11iR0M #SKPhoto
1:39 PM Jul 15th from web in reply to suprspi

Thanks to Twitter, I learned about Scott Kelby and his Worldwide Photowalk. This was the Second Annual, held on Saturday, July 18. I joined the morning group in Tucson led by Barney Streit, who did a fantastic job of organizing everything.

Laurel was one of the several models who came along and withstood the heat. I like these calm, “chalky” images of her.

I also want to give a shout out to the 2009 National Championship Synergy Twirling Team. I came across their practice during the walk and had a great time shooting these terrific twirlers. My shot with the baton in the air is my favorite. I like how the twirler with her hand on her hip has the light hitting her skin giving the cast of a baton.

Those of us participating on the official list were invited to upload our two best photos. Barney has made his final selection, which is this shot from Francis M. Tan. Congratulations, Fran! The Photowalk is Social Networking at its best: We get to play outside, search for photo ops scavenger hunt style, meet new folks and share visions—all with a little friendly competition added in to keep us on our toes.

Isaac Keyet posts this wonderful gem that fits right into the theme of my last post! Please take six-and-a-half minutes and enjoy the incredible artwork in Bendito Machine 3. This is a perfect example of what I mean when I say, be bold!

1963 Cadillac Sedan DeVille. Photo by Jain Lemos.

Chances are, you have invested countless creative hours into several important projects. Some of these may have been published, licensed or sold; others are most likely buried deep in a file directory on a mass-storage drive, never to surface on a desktop again… unless you take some action today.

Revamping, recycling and recirculating materials already “in the can” is a practice that successful artists utilize. How long ago you developed the material is inconsequential. Think of it this way: If the project was important enough then, it still is. Knowing when and how to repackage your work is invaluable. Here are a few points to keep in mind:

• If you can link your work to any trending topic, you have a ready audience.
• Search again for outtakes or chapters eliminated in editing and start building the sequel.
  
• Refresh the content with new, unexpected design direction appealing to a different (and wider) demographic.
• Remember that beautiful-but-static hummingbird calendar? Now, use 100 images of the birds and assemble them into a 4-minute video with narration, graphics, hip music and sprinkle in amusing factoids.
  
• Use behind-the-scenes techniques to convey the excitement and emotion you had when creating the project.
  
• Don’t be afraid to be bold! Leave plenty of room for collaboration and be open to changing your original vision.

The New York Times Magazine photo editors were duped by Edgar Martins, who now admits he uses Photoshop, as revealed in his interview posted on Arte Photographica. He did not apologize — it was a “misunderstanding” of sorts — and spins a wild tale that goes nowhere to explain his audacity.

Is his career over? No. Unlike Bernie Madoff, his shell game scam will make him even more sought after; the value of his altered prints, made during the era when they were said not to be, are already no doubt worth considerably more than before. Only a few of us will hand down the 150-year death-in-photojournalism prison sentence. Am I surprised? Not at all. I wanted to give him a chance to explain what happened. Instead, with his statement, he proved he is not a worthy person. If he wants to call himself an artist, a photographer, he can, but he has broken our laws. He’s just a flimflam man.

Someone told me that it wasn’t as though he Photoshopped a child being killed in a war zone then claimed it was authentic. True, this story was illustrative to begin with. And for all his previous work he so righteously said was unaltered, well, I guess he wanted to make a joke of the whole issue, thinking he was more clever than we are. Maybe he is.

How does that saying go again? You know the one. Laughing all the way to the bank.

====================================================

There are a few questions that I can’t find answers to:

1. I’ve read he shoots 4×5 film, is that what he used for this assignment?
2. Did Martins submit his images as film or as finished digital files?
3. Where is the lab he uses to develop his film? Who paid for that processing?
4. Where were the scans made of his film?
5. Did anyone at the NYTM see his original film?
6. While he was on the road shooting, did he send in any images midstream, or did he finish, go back to his studio, then submit them all as a package?
7. Did he indicate on each image whether or not that particular frame had been altered?
8. He implies that he gave the magazine choices (what he calls the misunderstanding). Did editors knowingly pick images that were altered and run them anyway because they were the best?
9. Have we asked Kathy Ryan (or whoever was responsible) what happened and what her involvement was in this assignment?
10. Does Kathy claim she looked at the final selects for the article in the final layout for approval, under the impression at the time that they were not altered but created in camera?
11. Can Kathy verify that in her initial conversations with Martins about the assignment, that they discussed his methods and the magazine’s policy for acceptable alterations?
12. Is this policy included in the contract that Martins signed?

I’ve just been invited back by photolucida to be a 2009 Critical Mass Juror. Shawn Records, Critical Mass Coordinator, reminds me that this a fun task! It is. Along with all of the other jurors, I’ll be reviewing the photos (and photo illustrations ) of 180 photographers this fall. Sean says CM 2009 is sure to be better than ever.

Also, this year photolucida will continue with their scholarship program by awarding free participation to five invited photographers from Italy. Sean asked jurors to make recommendations of Italian photographers, so if you know of any, let me know. (I wonder if they will invite photographers from Portugal for 2010?)

© Andy Freeberg, Céline Clanet, & Priya Kambli

From: Jain Lemos
Sent: Wednesday, July 08, 2009 11:24 AM
To: Edgar Martins
Subject: Edgar, are you releasing a statement re NYT images?

Hi Edgar,

Well, it’s a super long shot, but I thought perhaps you might respond to me on the record about what happened with the NYT Magazine pulling your images of the abandoned construction projects after questions were raised about possible manipulation.

Maybe I feel a connection to you because I am Portuguese-American. My grandfather was born in Flores. A little story about his unusual journey to America is here on my blog: Chase your DNA.

But also I felt compelled to write because I don’t think we have heard your side of the story. I’ve been working in photography for many years and, of course, respect Kathy Ryan’s integrity. I am interested to know what really happened so I can tell your side of the story via my blog. It is hard for me to believe that you represented your work when submitted for the story as not being digitally altered if it was. But, perhaps if you didn’t tell and you made a mistake, maybe you will explain that to us so this does not become a negative for all of your fine work, past and future!

Thank you for your time if you have read this. I hope you realize I am here to help you if I can and am not looking for anything in return.

~ Jain

=========================================================================

From: Edgar Martins
Sent: Thursday, July 09, 2009 7:55 AM
To: Jain Lemos
Subject: Response

Hi Jain,

Absolutely!

However, I will not be able to do share my views with you for a few more days.

I have been informed of the discussion that is currently taking place concerning the feature, which I had anticipated to some degree, but which I have not yet been able to acquaitance myself with it, as I am travelling and so unable to access the internet. (Yes, believe it or not there are still places in this world with limited or no internet connection..)

I will no doubt be discussing this issue you with yourself, your readers and readers from other blogs fairly soon.

In the meantime let the debate rage on… no doubt this will open up a healthy dialogue about Photography, its inexorable links to the real & its inadequacies. Or so I hope…

Warm regards,

Edgar Martins

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Update July 10: I investigated, and here is my judgment.

Sometimes I wonder how many more photo sites I can possibly add to my bookmark list! I’ve been cruising this one lately pegged as Picture Social: The Network for Photographers. One of their groups is called Photo Criticism. Here is how the group’s leader, Richard S., explains the rules:

“This group is for negative feedback on photos or things that could be improved only. People tend to only comment on photos when they have something nice to say, but this group is designed to go against that trend so you as a photographer can find out what is wrong with your technique. So please don’t be afraid to contribute a negative comment in this group on someone else’s work.”

As far as I can tell, most critiquing is done politely and constructively despite the green light to hammer away at any downright terrible photos. There are pros and cons to soliciting advice from strangers (who you’ll soon add as friends so maybe my point is moot). Sometimes receiving too much feedback makes your head spin, causing the wheels to fly off of your creative process and vision. Still, I love looking at all types of images and throwing in my seven cents here and there. Will you be brave enough to put your photos up on the chopping lightbox?

I am now Photo Editor for NewsPlink, a news website designed especially (but not only) for reading on smartphones. We think of it as Life magazine in your hand.

Anyone can submit stories and photos, but everything that goes onto the site is vetted and edited. That means what’s up is solid journalism, and there’s a fun and varied mix of everything from first-timers to Pulitzer Prize-winning professionals. Submitting material is easy: there’s a big red button on the top right of every page. You won’t have to subscribe or scroll through some droll agreement either.

The intention is to pay contributors, but of course, the funds aren’t there—yet. Still, it’s fun and a good way to add to your resume, list of clips, or tear sheets. A published, short “plink” is also useful for pitching a potentially much larger story or project, and even sharpen your journalistic skills. Will I see you there?

Remember my day in Tombstone? See how my story was plinked for prime time.