Author Ariel Gore came out with a book a while back, and it has slowly been gaining steam…for writers. A great short read, this book is almost as helpful for artists as the writers she intended as her audience. “How to Become a Famous Writer Before You’re Dead” talks to us (it is written as if the author is conversing with an old friend) about promotion, helping others and yourself, and never giving up.

Her book is inspiring, like a cheerleader in your hands. She suggests mastering your craft, but not waiting to reveal it to the world too long. She tells us to study the work of others, but to be our own artist. She tells us to get off the couch and pursue our passion. The idea of starting small, like putting art in coffeehouses (or anywhere else they will have you), not just waiting until the

Give this book a read, then share it with an author friend. You’ll both be better for it.

How to Become a Famous Writer Befor You’re Dead, by Ariel Gore, $13.95, Three Rivers Press

The link below is to a fascinating article about one perfectionist photographer, and her apparent financial downfall…a long read, but a good read:

http://nymag.com/fashion/09/fall/58346/

Photographer Randall Thomas was held in an  FBI building New York for six hours the other day.  Irony alert….he was shooting video of the same building, which seems to have been the issue.  Oh, yeah, and there is the little issue of what he said when asked by Homeland Security experts what he was filming.  He told them, “it’s none of your business”…that might have had something to do with it too. 

They took him upstairs in the same building he was filming, got a judge to authorize taking his camera and CF card (neither yet returned), charged him with disorderly conduct, failure to comply, and impeding a federal officer.  I have to wonder how many tourists do the same thing every day…dozens? …hundreds?  After all, the building is in downtown Manhattan, on Broadway.  Shouldn’t the authorities be used to hundreds of photos and streams of video every day? 

So why this guy, this day?  His answer was less than helpful, but why did they even approach him to begin with?  If I had to venture a guess, he probably had some very professional looking high-end equipment or he would not have been given a second look.  At WSP, we teach our students to always appear professional, and use the best equipment they can.  Maybe we should start a class in how to look like a tourist and be polite to authorities….any takers?

For those of you who know most of the office staff and instructors at WSP, you know that we range in age from our 20s to 70s, with a large number of us admitting only to “40-something” status.  We 40-somethings are the bridge from Gen-Xers to Boomers, and the majority here…comfortable in film, with digital, and trying with great effort to remain cool…or get cool, while helping you learn.

A new instructor asked me about Twitter, Facebook, and a blog.  That sure sounds cool.  We already had a Facebook Alumni page, I proudly explained, and I thought that was enough coolness for one photography school.  I was done.

Then he mentioned that snow days could be broadcast via Twitter, that Facebook could bring in new bidders for our online auction, and that a blog was a great way to let people see inside the school.  He explained that this was not about cool at all, and not a gimmick, but a way to communicate.  Hmm.

And so, I jumped in, coolness elevated, cluelessness apparent….we now have a Facebook account for WSP supporters, Twitters (I promise, relevant and non-annoying) going out to announce and remind of events and classes, and this blog is back to life.  In October, we start free conference calls on photo-related topics…something we could do in the 1970s, brought back to life somehow very recently.

 So, join us on Twitter, Facebook, in our calls….we’re here, cool or not, to help you learn.

Book Review: The Art Model’s Handbook, the Naked Truth About Posing for Art Classes and Fine Artists, by Andrew Cahner

Andrew Cahner spent years as an artist’s model before penning The Art Model’s Handbook, and it shows.  This is an excellent book for the curious or inexperienced, through the accomplished model, artist, instructor, and those trying to work with models.

Cahner explains what nude models must bring to the job, both mentally, physically, and in terms of supplies and back up.  He then details what a gesture pose is, what it takes to hold longer poses, and how a figure class works.  Advice about how to find work is excellent, as is the section about security and proper behavior for all parties.

He interviews models, photographers, artists, school booking personnel, and interjects his own experience and wisdom, for a 140-page “not too heavy and not too light” eye opener.  Andrew is asking those who hire models to understand what they are offering, how they prepare, and how they wish to be treated.  He is also suggesting to models how they might all improve their reputations, with helpful advice even non-nude models should know.

The book is available for $16.95 on Amazon.com, and more information can be found at www.artmodelbook.com.

As of this month, the difference in fee for copyright registration on paper versus online has made a big jump.  The rate for online registration remained at $35, while paper registrations have gone up to $65. 

 I guess the Copyright Office is sending a not-so-subtle hint: we don’t want any more paper!  Of course, this means that many people who were willing to pay the $10 more (before Aug. 1) for paper, now will have to fork out $30 more.  My bet is that they will change to electronic.  One has to hope that an already strained system can handle the phone and email inquiries about timing out, file size, and payment…and the bandwidth that they will find themselves needing. 

 More info on this change can be found at www.loc.gov, in the Copyright Office information section.

<A Weekly Missive on WSP and Photography by Missy Loewe, academic dean>

It is summertime and things are slowing down a bit (somewhere I’m sure!) as the frenzy of the school year ends for students and parents, and vacation plans are made.  At WSP we don’t have a traditional “school year” so our Professional Program students get just a two-week break from classes.  Photography takes no break either as our industry continues to move forward at the pace of the computer world, not the just-a-few-years-ago pace of its own.  Cameras that used to outdate every decade now outdate in months.  Newer, better, smaller, larger, is always around the corner.

We started this blog because so many of you, both Professional Program students and workshop attendees, asked me to write a short note each week detailing something new, amusing, frustrating, or amazing that is either happening in the industry as a whole, or here at Washington School of Photography.  This is the first installment…I hope you enjoy and feel free to comment!

One indicator of how far, how fast we have come is the phone call I took earlier today.  I usually stay away from answering the main phone line here, and this call just proved me right in avoiding it. 

Caller: Can you tell me about your introductory courses?

Me: Sure – film or digital?

Caller:  What’s film?

Me: <stunned silence, knowing this day might come but not expecting it this day or this month or this year>

Yes, we received a phone call from an adult who either did not know, or to give him some credit, forgot what film is.  I know that my friend Paul sometimes calls just to give us a bad time with a prank, but this was no prank. 

This is just a small example of the revolution photography is going through. (By the way, I said that it was something people put in the back of older cameras to make a negative and he seemed either intrigued or confused.)  I told Joe Yablonsky, one of our instructors, about the call, and again….stunned silence.  We decided maybe the guy was just being philosophical – he had to be.  What’s film?  Good question these days.

Welcome to the Washington School of Photography Photo Blog.