The 50 Greatest Photo Ops

Philly Printing Workshop

amadou — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 11:41:12 +0000

Project Basho has just announced a Fall workshop I’ll be teaching, Fine Inkjet Printing. This intermediate/advanced workshop examines a high quality printing workflow. We look at some of the top third party paper options, explore softproofing techniques and delve into the practical applications of color management. If you’re in or around Philadelphia this workshop is a great opportunity to learn how to print with confidence.

QuadTone RIP Workflow

amadou — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 15:23:49 +0000

The QTR driver

Roy Harrington’s QuadTone RIP (QTR) software is a remarkable collection of tools that allows for some of the highest quality black and white output available on Epson inkjet printers. If you’ve only used the Epson ABW driver, you owe it to yourself to try QTR.

QTR is capable of both very simple operation, for those who just want to press a couple of buttons, to highly advanced printer control desired by…well, you know who you are. I’ve written an in-depth tutorial that takes you step by step through the most common scenarios of QTR usage. Whether you’re completely new to QTR or have been using it for years and wondered about some of its advanced features, you’ll gain a solid understanding and workflow of one tool that should be in every black and white lover’s toolbag.

Soft Proofing Basics

amadou — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 21:14:44 +0000

If you’re committed to getting your print output to match your screen as closely as possible, you’ll want to become familiar with Photoshop’s soft proofing feature, officially labeled Proof Setup. In this video tutorial I walk you through the basics of soft proofing and show you some of its benefits.

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Headed to Boston

amadou — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 10:55:17 +0000

I’m off to Boston tomorrow for two appearances to plug The 50 Greatest Photo Opportunities in NYC. In the morning I’ll be taping an interview on The Literati Scene, a local TV show devoted to authors and their work. I’ll have air times and a link to watch the interview shortly.

In the evening I’ll be at the Harvard Coop Bookstore for a book signing and discussion of my work. If you’re in the Boston area, stop by and be sure to introduce yourself. I’ll be handing out signed posters, and maybe even a few prints of images from the book.

Mermaids in Brooklyn

amadou — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 11:45:34 +0000

On Saturday, June 20 the 26th annual Coney Island Mermaid Parade gets underway to officially kick off Summer. What is the Mermaid Parade, you ask? Billed as the largest art parade in the country, this event brings together some of the most creative and original costumes, floats and choreographed madness, all celebrating the wonderful, wacky spirit of Coney Island. THe sea-themed parade participants make for outstanding photo ops and I guarantee you won’t find a shrinking violet in the bunch. The best way to photograph the parade is to buy a $5 pass to shoot in the staging area. You can roam among all the participants and have your pick of the most inventive and unique costumes you’ll ever see.

For those of you that own a copy of The 50 Greatest Photo Opportunities in NYC, you can see my coverage of the parade on pages 56-58.

Air America Interview Available

amadou — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 13:26:40 +0000

Click below to hear the radio interview I did this morning on Air America’s The Lionel Show.

The Lionel Show Interview 6/12/2009

Interview on Air America

amadou — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 10:07:43 +0000

This Friday, June 12, I’ll be a guest on The Lionel Show, an Air America radio broadcast. The interview is live and will air at 8:35 a.m. ET on Air America stations across the country. You can also listen live right from the comfort of your computer. I can’t think of a better way to get the morning started.

The High Line Opens as a Public Space

amadou — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 14:19:04 +0000

The High Line, a stretch of elevated rail tracks running along the West side of Manhattan, has officially opened to the public. Built in the 1930s to allow freight cars to safely navigate a busy section of the city, the railway had fallen into a state of disrepair and neglect. No trains had run on it since 1980, and shortly thereafter, developers eyed the structure for demolition. A local advocacy group, Friends of The High Line, was formed to save this piece of urban history and against all odds, they actually did it.

As an elevated parcel of untouched real estate, left to the whims of natural decay and untended horticulture, the High Line has long been a source of fascination for photographers who enjoy exploring hidden nooks of the city. New York photographer Stephen Sherman has been photographing the High Line since 2006, documenting the various stages of renovation in support of the High Line project.

Now that it is accessible to everyone, the High Line is a bounty for anyone looking for a unique perspective of Manhattan’s West Side and the Hudson River. The High Line is open daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Manhattan Polo Classic

amadou — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 10:00:48 +0000

Saturday’s polo match on Governors Island was a great opportunity to get a look at a sport still relatively unknown in these parts. The crowd was impressively large, considering the only way to reach the island is by ferry.

Interesting how the event was organized. Along one side of the field you had the VIPs (those you normally associate with polo).

The VIPs

On the other side were assorted scofflaws, ne’er-do-wells, and roustabouts, also known as the general public, who were allowed to attend for free.

General admission

The two stars of the event, undoubtedly were Ignacio “Nacho” Figueras, perhaps the world’s greatest polo player…

"Nacho" Figueras

and, more to the point for this crowd, part-time Ralph Lauren model.

A man and his horse

Oh, and HRH Prince Harry, who was in town for a brief two day visit to NYC.

HRH Prince Harry

A couple of shots from the match.

Match action

Lining up a shot

By the way, I got to shoot from a great spot just a few feet off the edge of the field. I’ve learned there are few sounds more distinct than the hooves of 8 horses galloping straight towards you at full speed; “thundering herd” came to mind, quickly followed by “Oh, @#$$^”.

PhotoTour NYC: Walking Tours for Shutterbugs

amadou — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 00:52:45 +0000

Whether you’re a tourist, in town for a few days, or have lived in NYC all your life, what better way to explore the city than by capturing it in photographs? Beginning this month, and continuing through Summer and Fall, I’m leading a series of walking photography tours. Each tour takes you to the best locations for the best images of the Big Apple. Not only that, I’ll be by your side to help with composition, camera techniques and give you hints on how to make your shots even better. There are tours that specialize in architecture, night scenes, little known locations, and areas of uncommon beauty and solitude. The tours last from 3-4 hours, are scheduled regularly on both weekdays and weekends, and offer the perfect combination of expert guidance and inspiration from your peers. Best of all, the tours are very economical, at a cost of only $75 per person.

Ensure that you capture the best New York has to offer and impress your friends and family with photos they’ll be happy to look at again and again. If shooting alongside a professional travel photographer and a motivated group of your peers sounds exciting, click for more information or just book your spot on our secure online reservation form.