Picture Book: Kodak, Instagram, and the Future of Photography

Earlier this month, Eastman Kodak — the film giant that once accounted for 90% of the film sold worldwide – filed for bankruptcy. Kodak was the big cheese in photography back when everyone still used film in their cameras, but they’ve been outpaced in the digital age; ironic because Kodak pioneered digital photography. (Pioneered the [...]

Digging on a new blog: Spencer Tweedy

Have you heard of Wilco? They’re an indie-rock band with a dedicated following. I’m neutral on their music but feel an affinity for Jeff Tweedy, the singer, because he’s a fellow migraineur.  You can familiarize yourself with them at the Rolling Stone site. Anyway. Last week I read an interview with Tweedy’s son, Spencer Tweedy. [...]

In My Room

The decoration of personal space is very important, especially if you’re a teenager and you only get one room or part of a room in which you can express your personal likes and dislikes through art, bedclothes, paint, small totems, or a giant collection of something or other (makeup, art supplies, Nikes, who knows?) This [...]

Taking Pictures Part Two: Websites

As I continue to experiment with photography, I have been searching the Internet for interesting and helpful websites on the topic.  Don Tibbits has created the Library of Photography, a portal for all kinds of photography and digital websites.  Here, I discovered  A Daily Dose of Imagery, a photo blog by Sam Javanroch.  I also found [...]

Win a trip to France: International Heritage Photographic Experience

You want to go to France? Here’s your mission: Capture Southwestern Pennsylvania in one shot! Entries Accepted Now through April 15! The International Heritage Photographic Experience (IHPE) is an international photo-taking competition for youth that aims to promote rich heritage through creative photographs. Their photos celebrate historic buildings and gardens, rural and urban landscapes, and [...]

Fresh Resources for Black History Month

Although I don’t have direct access to the lesson plans of middle- and high-school teachers in Pittsburgh, every February brings students into the library looking for information on African-American history–especially biographical information on famous historical figures.  If you, too, have some research to do in this area, let me suggest some online options to supplement [...]

Make it last forever

What would happen if you committed to taking one picture a day for a full year? Would you look at the world carefully? Would you get out and explore your community? Would you meet new people and try new things? Try Project 365 and see where it takes you! Project 365 is an online initiative [...]

Bookface Revisited

I know you all have been waiting eagerly by your computers since bookface was posted on here a couple of weeks ago. You’ve been checking the blog everyday and wondering “Are we ever going to see the results of this photographic experiment?”  The answer is yes. Here of some of the pictoral illusions we created at Woods [...]