nex·us | \ ˈnek-səs \ :  CONNECTION, LINK a connected group

“Immature artists imitate. Mature artists steal.”
–Lionel Trilling

© Eric Smith

Eric Smith has had two of his images selected by the Praxis gallery to appear in two separate shows: The Street and Nude Geographies.

The street photo, On Break, 2019, was made during a Havana Street photography workshop.

Lily Pads , 2022, was made by Eric in Amesbury, Mass.

Both exhibits will be at the Praxis Gallery in Minneapolis, with an opening reception on September 21 and run until October 12. Temporary galleries for both exhibits can be viewed online using the links below.

The Praxis Gallery is located at 26th S. E & 27th Ave S, Minneapolis.

The Streets

Nude Geographies

Evening Prayer, © Richard Petronio

Richard's nine-photo series, "Architectural States Reimagined," received a Bronze Award for the Prix de la Photographie Paris (Px3) 2024 competition in Special/Special Effects.

The full series of nine photographs can be viewed at:

PX3

New York City, 2000. © Elliot Erwitt

Elliiot Erwitt was as versatile as he was unique. While many of his most famous photos are humanistic, whimsical, and humorous, he was equally capable of capturing dark moments and events. Still, he is best known for his black-and-white candid photos of ironic and absurd situations within everyday settings. An example is the cover photo shown above.

There are several biographies about him, but the most thorough appears in Aperture online magazine.

Aperture

Andrew Cameron began his career in film and video, creating documentaries on subjects as varied as the police, wildlife conservation, historic building renovations, and the day in the life of a Hampshire village. His book, Making Documentary Photography, is for photographers who want to explore the documentary genre. It’s a ‘how-to documentary photography book’ written to help people think, plan, and deliver their documentary photography projects.

In this book, Cameron explains how he approaches making a documentary project, from having an idea to making it happen. Photographers want practical advice, and Andrew's book delivers that.

Get the Book

This is a great story about a remarkable woman, Jessica Nabongo, who has visited every country in the world. It has nothing to do with photography, but it's a fun, life affirming read with bits of sage travel advice from Jessica.

The Ultimate Travel Insider

The Curated Shed is a fall gathering at the home of Glenn Ruga and Barbara Ayotte in Concord, Mass., with the Boston area photo community to celebrate documentary photography.

You can attend the event in person and share food and drink while viewing the documentaries with fellow documentary enthusiasts. If you can't be there in person, you can submit your work for projection. 

Sunday October 8
5:30-7:30 pm
Projections begin at 6:30 pm
$10 minimum donation requested
hors d'oeuvres, beer, wine, soft drinks
Bring warm clothes if it is a chilly night!

Advance registration is required to attend and to show work.

Registration

ISO is an often misunderstood component of the exposure process.

I came across this article on an educational site for filmmakers to which I subscribe. It is a bit dense reading in some places, but overall, the author, Mascha Deikova, does a good job of explaining the relationship of ISO to the creative process.

Although the article is targeted at filmmakers, the information equally applies to still photography.

Understanding ISO

Maylet, 2023. © Steve Anchell

iPhone 14 Pro

December 11 to 16, 2024

Only one space available

Cuba is not only an exotic destination it also offers one-of-a-kind settings for nude photography. The diverse backdrops in Cuba, including neoclassic and art deco homes, as well as within crumbling concrete structures, create a rich visual background that enhances the overall artistic experience.

The Havana Nude workshop is for those who would like to share time and ideas with a small group of like-minded photographers, with personal guidance given to photographers who have not previously worked with models.

Co-instructed by Steve Anchell and internationally-exhibited Cuban photographer, Alberto Arcos, the workshop includes six three-hour photography sessions, and a half-day to explore on the last day. Sessions will take place in homes, artists studios, abandoned buildings, and other locations in and around Havana.

Havana Nude

Snap Collective is taking an unusual approach to publishing photography books for photographers.

This might be a solution for someone who wishes to see their work in hardcover print but can't afford a 2000-run minimum on an offset press.

This is what Snap Collective has to say:

"Snap Collective is an innovative and unconventional publishing concept founded by Dr. Philipp W. Müller. It is designed to bring to life the portfolios of international photographers and artists.

"The idea behind Snap Collective is to give artists the possibility to publish a photo book or a portfolio of their work by offering a streamlined platform with some of the best printing and distribution partners, the support of a design team, and more.

"Snap Collective works with Print-on-Demand technology, which means there is no financial risk involved, and artists can print books as they are ordered. The artist receives a discount on all purchases and royalties."

For more information, check out this article in Photoed Online magazine. To visit their site, click on the link below.

Disclaimer: I have no experience with Snap Collective or their program. But if this is something you are interested in, check it out. If you have a positive experience let me know and I'll mention it in a future Nexus, along with an announcement of your book!

Snap Collective

OFFER ENDS at Midnight on Labor Day, Tuesday, 9/24

If you're looking for a lab to develop film or print your images this is the one I use. In addition to making inkjet prints, DSI can make true silver gelatin prints directly from your original digital files or scans from your negatives.

DSI is also a socially conscious company that supports many social causes, including the Social Documentary Network (SDN), which is often mentioned in Nexus.

For only a few days, they are offering 20% off all print orders over $150 and free shipping.

Use this Promo Code: 20PYS24

Digital Silver Imaging

25% sale ends this coming Tuesday, September 3.

This is last minute, but ThinkTank Photo, the makers of the finest camera bags, is having a sale on select bags and holsters. Unfortunately, the sale ends in a few days, so if you're in the market, don't wait.

25% Off

Good news for film photographers: Kodak has reintroduced a home processing kit for developing C-41 compatible color films and b/w chromogenic films. The kit comes in 2.5 L and 5 L sizes. This kit allows you to develop your own color negatives without needing to send them to a lab.

If you have a stash of outdated color negative film, don't toss it; use it and develop it yourself.

The kit is available from Freestyle Photo in Hollywood.

C-41 Kit

If you're looking for a lightweight travelpod or selfie stick, look no further. ShiftCam is offering three: TravelPod Pro, TravelPod Mini, and Selfie. It also offers several choices of clamps for iPhones and tripod heads for DSLRs.

TravelPods

© Apolo Sales

Deadline: January 3, 2025

The Sony World Photography Awards is one of the few authentic competitions worldwide. It is one of the few major competitions that doesn't try to profit off the photographer by charging entry fees and selling "add-ons" such as critiques of images or asking the photographer to pay an exhibit fee. It also awards cash and equipment to the winners.

Photos for submission can be analog or digital but they must have been made in the year of the competition, in this case 2024.

SWP Awards

Sabrina, 2006. © Steve Anchell

Deadline: November 30, 2024

This call is open to all artists residing in the Americas and working with the nude in any media. Painting, drawing, sculpture, photography, graphics, digital and installation art, video, etc., are eligible.

Winning artists will be featured in a group exhibition at the Limner Gallery from March 1 to 29, 2025. The exhibition will also be displayed on the Limner Gallery website and social media pages.

Great American Nudes

Superman to the Rescue. © Sehmuz Bayhan

Deadline: November 3

Rome Photo Lab is an international photography contest focused on two themes. The first is about Rome, where photographers will provide their unique perspective on the city, capturing the spirit of the place yet without showing any of Rome’s symbolic monuments and famous views. The second is about the street as life’s stage, focusing not so much on documentation but rather on the message and the emotions the photographs will convey: “Reality is an ingredient, a means to an end, not the reason for the photograph."

There is a competition for both themes, with four winners for each theme and eight winners in total. Winners will receive cash prizes, an opportunity to exhibit their work in Rome at the Villa Altieri during the Rome Photo Lab photo festival, and publication of their work in a monograph produced by Snap Collective, mentioned above under Marketing & Promotion.

Rome Photo Lab

December 4 to 9, 2025

The Red Umbrella, 2024. © Steve Anchell

1:1 Model to Photographer Ratio

Cuba is not only an exotic destination but also offers unique settings for nude photography. The diverse backdrops, including neoclassic and Art Deco homes and crumbling concrete structures, create a rich visual background that enhances the overall artistic experience.

The Havana Nude workshop is for photographers who want to share time and ideas with a small group of like-minded photographers. Personal guidance is given to photographers who have not previously worked with models.

Havana Nude

Making Up, 2016. © Steve Anchell

The Havana Street Photography Workshop is a real-life experience led by award-winning photographer and published Cuba expert Steve Anchell.

This is an authentic opportunity to connect with the people of Cuba and witness, first-hand, their shifting cultural landscape.

Havana Streeet Workshop

Prepare to immerse yourself in authentic Vietnam culture. For ten days we will traverse the mountains and forests of the northern region of Vietnam with Hanoi as our start and end point. During that time, we will engage with the people of Vietnam in small towns and villages, photographing and experiencing their way of life.

Vietnam 2025