Mar
7
Smithsonian Spotlight Picture Perfect
March 7, 2011 | 1 Comment
“It’s a photo opportunity of a lifetime. Since 2003, Smithsonian Magazine has run an annual contest, offering photographers the chance to have their winning pictures exhibited at the Smithsonian Castle in Washington, D.C. and published in the print edition of its Magazine. In that time, hundreds of thousands of shutterbugs from over 90 countries have submitted their best shots, but only a handful can win. We join judges behind the scenes and a winning photographer behind the lens to answer the question: what makes a simple picture a work of art?”
Mar
7
Thanks to John Montgomery for this link to aerial photos from around the world.
Mar
7
MacArthur Foundation Accepting Proposals for Documentary Film Grants
March 7, 2011 | Leave a Comment
| June 1, 2011 |
Posted on February 23, 2011
Deadline: June 1, 2011
The Media, Culture, and Special Initiatives program at the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation is accepting proposals for its 2011 documentary film grants program.
The program seeks to fund documentary film projects that address the significant social challenges of our time or explore important but under-reported topics. Domestic and international topics are welcome; preference will be given to projects that align with one of MacArthur’s grantmaking areas. Support will be provided primarily for production and post-production activities (although some of the funds may be used for pre-production or outreach activities). Documentary stories that will be told both in film and a second medium are encouraged.
Mar
7
Fifth Annual Solas Awards Winners Announced
March 7, 2011 | Leave a Comment
Congratulations to the winners, including the Bay Area’s own Michael Shapiro, who took the bronze and $500 for “Beneath the Rim,” his engaging account of following in the paddle-strokes of John Wesley Powell on a journey through the Grand Canyon.
Mar
7
International Mobile Phones
March 7, 2011 | Leave a Comment
To take your mobile phone along or not? Does your next destination use CDMA or TDMA? AMPS? TACS? Here’s a site for travelers listing what phone systems work where.
Mar
7
Electricity Around the World
March 7, 2011 | Leave a Comment
Unsure about the electrical system at your next destination? Few other countries use the 120 volt system that is standard in the US and Canada. Libya and Aruba are close, at 127 volts, as are the Dominican Republic at 110 and El Salvador at 115. Turkmenistan is on 220, 230 is standard for the EU, and Australia uses 240.
Here’s a handy source for information about electrical systems around the world: the Global Electric and Phone Directory.
Feb
21
The Heart of Memoir Writing Workshop
February 21, 2011 | Leave a Comment
| March 18, 2011 9:00 am | to | March 19, 2011 4:00 pm |
Workshop activities include:
- Instruction in writing techniques particular to creative nonfiction—travel, memoir, food and the personal essay.
- Strategies to aid the invention, composition and revision of students’ writing.
- Study of professionally published models of creative nonfiction writing.
- Writing exercises and sharing of participants’ writing.
The workshop fee of $150.00 includes instruction, digital copies of reading materials, morning coffee, drinks at lunch and afternoon snack. Directions to the workshop location in Pleasanton will be sent to all participants. Email the instructor, Kathryn Abajian, at kabajian@gmail.com for an enrollment form and further directions. Or call Kathryn at 925-998-5785 with questions.