Gioia Reading, 2011.

Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.
– Nelson Mandela

After spending the better part of December on the road, I have been feverishly working these last couple of days to get my annual holiday prints out the door.

This year’s photograph I took last Spring of my 5 year old daughter, Gioia, reading in our garage in Connecticut. I saw that she had plopped herself down to read a book in the warmth of the sun with her water bottle next to her. Remnants of her babyhood—her former crib and baby car seat—lie around in the background. Gioia has learned to read before our eyes, and to begin to devour the world through all things legible: books, signs, recipes, cereal boxes, advertisements and poems.

At about the same time that I took the photograph of Gioia, I was finishing teaching my class at the International Center of Photography. One of my students, Amira Al-Sharif, a photojournalist from Yemen, inspired me with her story of coming to the US to study photography on a Kickstarter grant and her continued success, which is evident in an interview with her on NPR. Amira told me of the struggles that she and other women faced growing up and living in Yemen, especially in rural areas. However, in spite of her hardships, Amira adamantly embraced tradition and spoke lovingly of her family and her country.  Amira grew up in Sana’a, the capital, and with the support of her father she had access to an education that many women throughout Yemen do not have. Given this opportunity, she has dedicated her photography “to work for a better life for the girls of Yemen.”

Najat Reading, 2009. Photograph by Amira Al-Sharif.

This photograph by Amira shows 18-year-old Najat Al-Suraihi learning to read in her father’s kitchen. She married when she was 12 and was subsequently beaten and abused by her husband who left her and took their only child, a 2 year old girl, with him. She now lives with her father and, as Amira puts it, “has two dreams: to be divorced and to be a nurse.”

As Gioia sat reading in the garage that day, in lands far away from rural Connecticut waves of protests were changing the Arab world dramatically and, closer to home, we have seen Occupy protests continue into the winter. It is increasingly clear in the news that knowledge is power and transparency is the expectation of the people.  I am inspired and hopeful that true change in the world can happen without the need of a massive war machine.  This holiday season my wish is that the simplest of activities—a girl reading a book—can bring us closer to realizing world peace.

Finally, I am asking that you consider making a donation this year, as I have, to one of the organizations below that empowers women and girls around the world through literacy and education.

Global Fund for Women

World Education

CARE

Las Vegas, NV, 2001

There are still spots left in my Portraiture Workshop at Project Basho in Philly next week. This is an opportunity to spend some quality time with me, be inspired, hone or discover your own unique style of portraiture, approaching and directing your subject and much much more!

In July, Fortune Magazine hired me to photograph a security checkpoint at the Dallas/Fort Worth Airport. This was to be published in their 9/11 issue last week but since the economy took a turn for the worse these pictures got bumped and sadly only one image ran on the Ipad app.

Photographing the TSA was an enlightening experience knowing the traveler’s side as well as I do.  With only a few exceptions, I have thought they are generally professional in light of the sheer number of people they have to deal with all day. But I am more in awe of the everyday folks that I see going through security. Business people, elderly, mothers or fathers traveling alone with their children as well as big families are more than accommodating, dutifully taking off their shoes, getting the pat down and/or being screened by a machine that is, let’s face it, pretty scary. Even with strobes set up all over the checkpoint and my trusty 8×10 camera, the line never slowed down, which was my worst fear. I had one assistant positioned on the pre-screened side asking, “Do you want to be photographed, yes or no?” and another on the other side obtaining release forms. Did many people say no? I would say about 80% said yes…  That’s fewer yeses than I normally get when I am just out shooting especially for a magazine, but not bad for people in a hurry.

8x10 Polaroid of Lower Manhattan shot February, 2001.

Engine Co. 205, Hook and Ladder 118, Brooklyn Heights.

Engine 202, Ladder 101, Red Hook, Brooklyn.

Engine Co. 205, Hook and Ladder 118, Brooklyn Heights.

Broadway and Vessey St.

Broadway and Ann St.

Broadway and Fulton St.

Nassau and John St.

500 photographers by Peter Wisse

I was very excited today to see that I am listed on Pieter Wisse’s popular blog (and future archive) 500 Photographers as photographer #343.  Thank you Peter!

Waiting for... on TIME Lightbox

I am continuing to shoot on my “Waiting for…” project that was recently featured on Time Lightbox.  I wish you happy shooting or relaxing wherever you are. Happy 4th!

Gioia and I at the drive-in.

Walking back home.

Ryan Dunn hanging from parking garage, 2002.

You have probably heard the tragic news that Jackass daredevil, Ryan Dunn died in a fiery car crash early monday morning. At the heart of the comedy and stunts was a very tight-knit group of guys.  I had the pleasure of meeting Bam, Ryan and a couple other cast members in the Fall of 2002 shooting a cover for the Village Voice.  They were super laid back really just having fun. The news, especially seeing Bam is heartbreaking. Here are two shots showing them in happier times. My heart goes out to Ryan’s family and all the cast members.

Bam Margera and Ryan Dunn shooting on the street, 2002.

…with designer John Korpics on a photo editor last week.  I saw he mentioned my name among others.  I am happy to be on John’s mind.

I like to celebrate business as much as to show the reality of it. I love using people like Ben Baker, Greg Miller and Gregg Segal because their portraits do just that, they celebrate the individual, elevate them to almost heroic proportions.

You can see the full text of the interview here. Fortune photo editor Alix Colow hired me recently to photograph the IBM CEO, Sam Palmisano.  Here is an outtake from the shoot.

Sam Palmisano in his New York Office shot for Fortune Mag in December.

Some of my favorite-jobs-ever came while John was at Esquire including my Jesus shoot with then photo editor Nancy Jo Iacoi.

Las Vegas, 2001. Photograph by Greg Miller

It’s almost summer!  Time to get outside and start talking to strangers and what better way than with a big camera.  There is still space left in my class, The Large Format Narrative Portrait at Maine Media Workshop.  It runs next month June 12 thru 18.  It is kind of a crash course in finding your photographic voice in large format. Whether you are looking to move up to large format or are a seasoned LF shooter and just want to conquer your fear of approaching and photographing strangers, this could be the class for you and hey, hopefully you will have time to grab a lobster roll in the process.  The class quickly gets you up to speed in large format (it’s not that hard and the school provides cameras) then moves into shooting as many pictures you can before the week is up.  Processing is provided by the school so you can focus on shooting, classes are small, intimate and you get tons of one on one attention.

Greg helped me find my voice by encouraging me to use a larger format, but more importantly through his profoundly sharp, insightful, and constructive critiques.  He helped me slow down and develop my emerging style, skills I keep building on four years after taking his class.

-Former Student

To register click here or for more information go here.

Hope to see you there!

A scene from Maine Media Workshops 2010...

...and another.

Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 1998. Photograph by Lois Conner

I will have a print along with over 60 other photographers in the Wa Photography Auction being held at 25CPW this coming Thursday.  The event is to raise money to help rebuild communities devastated by the earthquake and tsunami in March.  100% of funds raised will go to benefit Architecture for Humanity. From the Wa website:

The donated auction prints follow the theme of 和 (Wa). This ancient name for Japan also describes a cultural concept which underpins much of Japanese society. It has no direct translation in English, though the closest term that could be applied would be the idea of ‘Harmony’.  We are pleased to feature prints from a diverse range of photographers who have interpreted this theme in a variety of ways and provided us with a unique collection.

25CPW has partnered with Nuru Projects and Sombra Projects, with contributions from Magnum Foundation, The International Center of Photography, and Friends Without a Border.  Also there will be music from Koto player Yumi Kurosawa, American folk band Thomas Wesley Stern and Japanese cuisine from Blue Ribbon with liquid refreshment from Sapporo and Ito En.  For more information on participating artists, and to purchase tickets, please visit Wa Photography Auction.

April 21, 2011 6-9pm

25CPW, 25 Central Park West, NYC

Advance tickets $20 – http://tiny.cc/waauction

Untitled, 2010. Photograph by Yo Imae.

Tokyo, 2010. Photograph by Yasu Kojima.

Old Fashioned Diplomacy 13, 2011. Photograph by Bill Westheimer

Habitats, 2006. Photograph by Chiho Bangert.

Untitled from the series, Riding the Dog, 2009. Photograph by Brendon Stuart.

Under the Williamsburg Bridge., 1997. Photograph by Greg Miller.