Yes Future

Recently I was in Bayonne, France and walked by this message that stated, "Yes Futur".  Originally there was no "e" at the end of "futur" so in post production I added that character so it read "future". 

Ahhhh....the future!!! Such a mystery!!! I thought that this was a pretty powerful image because of the bridge, in the background, signifying a connection. 

I have added this photo to The Museum of Messages website. I think the composition turned out nicely.  

May your future be full of peace, joy, prosperity and love. 

Photo Competition - Your Help Is Appreciated

This afternoon I was inspired to enter some of my photos, from my series on "love" in The Museum of Messages, into an international photo competition called One Life.  I'd really like to continue exhibiting these images and sharing them with the general public. In order to do that it would be helpful to be awarded a cash grant and some recognition. 

If you visit http://helenavdevengoechea.see.me/onelife2012 and click on the link "Collect Me" at the top of the page that will help me to become more visible in the competition. Your help is much appreciated. 

Attention photo thieves! Yesterday I learned that Google came up with a system called Google Image Search . When a photographer drops one of his or her photos in the search cue it will search the whole web to see if others may be using his or her image without permission. 

I think a lot of copyright infringement lawsuits may be brewing.

As an artist I really hope that people learn that all the time and energy artists put into their work should be paid for not stolen.

The second annual Chelsea Art Walk will take place in New York City at over 125 galleries and art institutions on Thursday, July 28, 2011 from 5 to 8 p.m.

In addition to extended hours at all of the locations, there will be special events such as talks by artists, curators, and gallery owners, live performances, book sales, book signings and receptions. Check it out at http://artwalkchelsea.com/

Photo + Design Exhibition Opening - 07/20/11

On Wednesday July 20, 2011 from 7-9 pm there will be an exhibition opening of some of my photos and designs at Miwa Alex, a venue on 22nd Street between Park Avenue South and Broadway in NYC.

In the show I have incorporated some of my studio photos and designs as well as some imagery from The Museum of Messages . While walking through the gallery and looking at the art on the walls you can also enjoy some delicious rosé or sauvignon blanc from Parlay.

I look forward to seeing you at the opening.

Foto Care: In the Spotlight with Helena V. de Vengoechea

Two weeks ago Elizabeth Stacy, a digital image specialist at Fotocare, contacted me and asked me if I'd like to be interviewed for their blog. I was happy that they asked me, said "yes" and spent a good portion of a day answering their questions.

If you'd like to read their blog post about my photo and design services in NYC you may at http://bit.ly/lxuW1K.

If you know of any companies that are looking to visually promote their products with professional digital design and photography services feel free to forward the studio's website to them for review.

Stay Cool!!

Start Thinking In Motion

Recently I have been thinking that I really need to learn more about video production. Now with our world becoming more of a digital landscape I do believe that this education would be wise to invest in.

I don't think print design and still photography will die 100% but in order to survive in today's workplace one must continue learning. If you are interested in educating yourself in motion you may learn a tidbit at http://bit.ly/mwB1lU.

MailChimp.com

Above is an e-zine that I designed to tell you what Helena V. Studio has been up to this month. I have been using another service provider for quite some time but recently decided to try out another.

If you are looking to share your vision with others via an email newsletter, at an affordable price, I'd like to suggest using http://mailchimp.com/ .

Their customer service is very good, they are fun and professional.

The only thing is, you'll need to have your very own list of contacts. For example,  AdBase is an email service provider that offers a database of creative professionals emails + phone numbers. Mailchimp.com doesn't offer this service.

If you are looking to share your vision with lots of business professionals I highly recommend AdBase. They are very helpful and professional but more on the pricey side because they have more services to offer.

Best of Luck! -Helena V. 

Luck

Last week I was asked to photograph six pieces of jewelry for a designer Tirza Fine Design based in Brooklyn, NYC. I set up my studio with black plexi on stands, to place the jewelry on, my lights, reflectors, camera and laptop and shot different variations. It was a two day job.

After the photo shoot I chose to design a poster for my portfolio. I added the green line element on the top and the bottom of the page, which leads the eye into the ring, then with Arial Narrow, my font of choice, I typed, kerned and placed the "lauren collection : ring by tirza fine design" on the left side of the page and lastly added "luck is believing you're lucky- by tennessee williams" on the right side of the page.

If you'd like to see it at a larger size visit http://www.helenavstudio.com/.

Thoughts?

Where in the War Room Is Hillary Clinton?

This is an eye opener, see above! 

I found online that the famous white house war room photo of the Osama Bin Laden raid was edited in Photoshop.

Big No, No! Hello copyright infringement!!!

More information at http://bit.ly/j2ZB9v.

Discover Great Photography At Oneeyeland.com

If you haven't heard of http://oneeyeland.com/, I'd like to introduce you.

Following is a little info about this photo hub:

Geography:

One Eyeland is a place you won't find on Google Map. It is an island in the virtual world, inhabited by people who shoot for a living.

History:

Founded by award winning lensman Sharad Haksar in AD 2008, out of a whim to create a dark room large enough to fit photographers of every hue.

Climate:

Known to be very warm. Especially to those who revel in talking with pictures. 

People:

Citizens of One Eyeland have a penchant for saying cheese. They are known to splurge unusual amounts of time and money flirting with large format cameras, digital backs, tripods, lights and lenses.

One Eyeland is for the photographers, by the photographers and of the photographers. It is a place where every soul has one birthright: right to visual delight.

Happy Holidays From Helena V. Studio

Yesterday I designed a holiday card that I plan to send out to clients and colleagues. I photographed this message in Chelsea last month and I love how I captured the spirit of an individual walking by the words. Inside the card I plan on writing, "May your dreams come true in 2011." You like?

The Museum of Messages on Kickstarter.com

The Museum of Messages, previously known as Discreet Messages, is a photo project that began in 1999. These photographs are images of messages that people write or design in landscapes, mostly urban, about the environment, love, politics, humor, fear, expression, loyalty and more. As an artist Helena V. thinks it is very important to document these visual voices because people are attempting to publicize their thoughts for others to read, think and learn.

Since these words don't have a very long life span, because city crews clean up these expressions, Helena V. feels that it is her duty to document these words with her camera and, when she thinks it is appropriate, she cleans up the surroundings of the messages she shoots, in Photoshop, so she can exhibit and publish them for others to appreciate.

Helena V. would like to continue to build this photo project but in order to do that she needs time. Time to scout for these visual expressions, photograph them, process the photos, clean them up, publicize them online and to search for exhibition opportunities for the public to see. Time is money and with your help she can move forward with showing others what is important to them and how they feel about the world around them.

If interested, you may contribute at http://bit.ly/9C37GE

Guess The Lighting Blog

Do you ever look at a photograph and wonder how the photographer set his or her lights? If you would like to get a better idea of how photo pros light their subjects check out Ted Sabarese's blog. He looks at a photo and with his wacom tablet he draws how the photographer lit his or her subject. I think this is brilliant! Don't you?

35th Anniversary International Women Only Photography Call for Entry

More Info here http://bit.ly/bhtPOb

Application Deadline: September 30, 2010

Tuesday, June 1st, 2010 - Wednesday, September 14th, 2011
Reception: June 1, 2011, 6:00 a

Soho Photo
15 White Street
New York NY 10013
212-410-3865

Details: To celebrate our 35th anniversary, PWP invites ALL WOMEN PHOTOGRAPHERS - NON-MEMBERS AND MEMBERS, AMATEUR AND PROFESSIONAL to submit entries. Jurors Elinor Carucci and Stephen Perloff award $3000 in prizes and the Grand Prize image will appear on the cover of IMPRINTS Magazine Fall/Winter issue.

AWARDS:
Winners will be selected from four categories. Submissions may be made to more than one category, and there is no limit to the number of images submitted. The categories are:

People
Places
Nature
Abstract

Selected images will be seen by an international audience of collectors, curators, art consultants and others who appreciate fine art photography. These images, as well as 20 Jurors’ Selections, will be exhibited in a two-week group show at New York’s Soho Photo gallery from June 1 – June 14, 2011 and in on online exhibition on the PWP website for six months, November 15, 2010 – May 15, 2011. An additional 30 images selected for Honorable Mention will also be included in the PWP online Exhibition.
• Grand Prize: One photographer will receive $600 and have their image on the cover of IMPRINTS Magazine 2010 Fall/Winter issue. IMPRINTS Magazine, the official publication of PWP, is published in hard copy and online editions. The image will be in the Soho Photo gallery show and the PWP online exhibition.
• First Prizes: 4 photographers (one in each category) will receive $300 and their selected image will appear in the Fall/Winter issue of IMPRINTS Magazine. Their image will be in the Soho Photo gallery show and PWP online exhibition.
• Second Prizes: 4 photographers (one in each category) will receive $200 and their image will appear in IMPRINTS Fall/Winter issue. Their image will be in the Soho Photo gallery show and PWP online exhibition.
• Third Prizes: 4 photographers (one in each category) will receive $100 and their image will appear in the Fall/Winter issue of IMPRINTS. Their image will be exhibited in the Soho Photo gallery show and PWP online exhibition.
• Jurors’ Selections: 20 additional images will be included in the New York City group exhibition and the PWP online exhibition.
• Honorable Mention: 37 additional images will be included in the PWP online gallery exhibition.

Any questions, email open.calls@pwponline.org

Heartstorming Ideas By Ian Summers

Ian Summers, a creative coach, co-creates an environment where people are safe to bring what they love and what matters to come into being. Recently he wrote about my photo fine art concept The Museum of Messages and I thought to share his post with you. If you would like to have some creative guidance I would recommend chatting with Ian. If interested in contacting him you may find his number and email at this link.