Unfortunately my email was down for several days, and my web hosting company responded to the problem as if the world still travels by horse and buggy. Needless to say, my business will be going somewhere else much faster.
If you tried to reach me by email during the past few days, please resend. Thanks. -Jay
speak@jaywatson.com
The 2009 International Photography Award winners were announced this week. Jay Watson Photography grabbed honorable mentions in the categories for people lifestyle, editorial portrait, and fine art portrait. Once again, it was nice to participate. Contests are not really that important, but a little recognition is sweet.
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A gallery of work from the finalists in each category can be seen here: International Photography Awards. Some of my favorite entries are below.
Fine Art: Francois Robert “Stop The Violence”
Brilliant iconography of symbols to create a strong message without a single word.
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Editorial/Sports: Julian Abram Wainwright, Viet Na: “Freefall”
How did he do this? Julian Abram makes Olympic divers look like dancers and turns sports photography into high art.
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People/Culture: Rachel Papo, United States: ” Serial No. 3817131″
Guns, cell phones, and youth. Papo’s photo essay covers teenage Israeli girls who are required to serve for 2 years in the military.
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Deeper Perspective: Yann Gross, Switzerland: “Kitintale Skates”
Ugandan skateboarders who skate and destroy.
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Editorial/Environmental: Ed Kashi, United States: “Oil in the Niger Delta”
I got to meet Ed Kashi last year when he spoke in SF about his work. His dedication to photography is exceptional. Ed’s documentation on “Oil in the Niger Delta” is extremely important. I would use the word powerful, but that goes without saying. When I say “important” I mean that more people need to know about this and the whole story. The best photojournalists go after stories that other media outlets have ignored. This is unfortunate for the people of Niger’s Delta, who Ed has clearly proven could use some political help.
About the IPA
I am a fan of the IPA. The founder, Hossein Farmani and his staff are people who have a huge respect for photography. While it may appear the IPA has a category for every genre of photography that exists plus a few extra, this allows for more images to be submitted (more work for the judges), more competition (better work), and more winners. The amount of entries has grown exponentially over the years making the IPA one of the more prestigious competitions, and they kindly acknowledge the work of both professional and non-professional photographers. Check out the links above and get inspired!
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64′ Impala lowrider. 8″X12″ mounted on wood. © Jay Watson
Another photo illustration on wood I finished last week. This was originally intended to go to an art auction last month in Hawaii to raise money for Habilitat, a substance abuse center in Oahu. However, I ran out of time and sent two other pieces to meet their deadline. The annual Habilitat luau is one of the largest luaus in Hawaii, and this was the 5th year I have contributed (Pineapple’s second year) art for their silent auction. More than $175K was raised for the program at this year’s luau. The residents at the center are incredibly kind and appreciative to the contributing artists. They check in with me all the time, and often call just to say “mahalo.”
Now that my work has been to Hawaii 5 times, it is time for it to go to Japan. Camera and photographer available.
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Cowboy, Salinas, CA. 8″X 12″ mounted on wood. © Jay Watson
Surfer 16 Kappa, HI. 12″X12″ mounted on wood © Jay Watson
Above are two pieces I will be showing at Surfindian in San Diego on June 26th for the Mattson Family Art Benefit. News of the art show just got picked up by Transworld Business and Surfline. Should be a great crowd. Over 50 available pieces have been donated by dozens of artists for the auction.
With only 5 hours sleep, Jamie and I drove from San Francisco to San Diego in 10 hours on Tuesday. The hardest stretch was the first hour leaving home. Sleepy! The rest was almost easy. We stopped in Pismo Beach for coffee jammed with espresso shots, and picked up some art from Theo Hetherington at his Huntington Beach studio near midnight. We flew past all of So Cal’s beach towns as if we owed them money. I could have driven our car all the all the way to Mexico. The Beats were looking down on us and they were proud.
On Wed, we met up with surfboard shaper-artist-project manager-family man Clayfin at his home in Carlsbad and picked up one of his gems for the show. Then down to Pacific Beach to drop off all the art with Chris at Surfindian. SF could use a guy like Chris and a place like Surfindian. Gallery first then boutique surf paraphernalia second (videos, mags, books, and yes cool T shirts). Today we pick up more loot for the show and then hang it!
My wife has a new board ready at Moonlight Glassing, but we’re too busy to pick it up. Or surf it!
Finally! Mobile users, if you are viewing this post using one of those thin Apple products that connects to the internet, enables users to type letters with their thumbs, and allows you to hold this invention to your face to speak with or hear others with similar devices, click here to view a small mobile version of my portfolio. Notice how it redirects you to an iphone version of the site?
iPhone tip: To take a screen capture from your iphone, press the home key and the sleep/wake key at the same time. The screen will quickly flash and the image will be saved in the “camera roll” album found in Photos. Works on both the iPhone and iPod Touch.
Why Have A Mobile Version Of Your Website?
Dozens of companies are targeting artists and photographers with website templates that are viewable on iPhones. It is a big marketing selling point. I was never worried about this. Who would ever choose to look at a photographer’s site on a 3″ screen? However, who would have predicted websites would slowly replace printed portfolios (cough newspapers)? Who keeps a printed address book anymore? Names, phone numbers, and urls are stored electronically in our pants. Who knows why and when someone will be looking at your work.
Another reason for a mobile site…. Twitter. Your website is HIGHLY visible in the upper right corner of your Twitter account. Since this network was designed with mobile users in mind, many are using their cell phones to stay updated. If your site is flash based, they won’t see your work. Even if Apple and Adobe open up the iPhone for Flash (any day now guys!), will your site still be palatable for the 3″ screen?
Strategy
Call it an experiment, but I built the first mobile version of my site as the Twitter equivalent of a full portfolio. It was narrowed down to only 20 images. Both the “About” and “Contact” page cut right to the point. Of course this is not how I prefer people to see my work! But I will let them decide for themselves. If they choose to visit on a cell phone, why not give them something to see?
Fact: From Apple’s WWDC 6/08/09: “iPhone makes up of 65% of all mobile web usage.”
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update Oct 15, 2010:
Thanks to SlideShow Pro, my entire website is now viewable on an iPhone, iPad, Blackberry and Droid devices and shows the same content that is visible to desktop uses.
Neon by Brooklyn artist and photographer Kent Rogowski. photo: JW
This just in. Artist friend and college homie Kent Rogowski has started something very cool to help fellow artists by founding Scaffold, a non-profit organization that will give fellowships to emerging and mid-career artists. More from their announcement below. Read the rest of this entry »
This week I found out from photographer friend Michael Singman-Aste that I scooped up two honorable mentions for the 2008 International Photography Awards. Thanks for the news Michael and congratulations to you as well! The image below is part of a new ongoing series called “Covered,” that won in the Fine Art category. The IPA received over 22,000 submissions this year! Being one of the few hundred honorable mentions is a worthy accomplishment. It is nice to receive the recognition, and I enjoy being listed next to some of the well known names in the industry. Cheers to all the winners.
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Covered: Untitled 01. Santa Cruz, CA © Jay Watson Photography
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Bull rider at rodeo in Woodside, Ca © Jay Watson Photography
Portrait of a surfer at Pacifica, Ca © Jay Watson Photography
Well I wish it was me that is off to Hawaii for either a vacation or for a gig. Instead (2) prints have been sent to Kaneohe, Hawaii on Oahu in the hopes of raising money for the 8th Annual Habilitat Art Show and Luau Benefit.
This is the 4th year that Jay Watson Photography has participated. Each year I have donated two prints to the event, and so far everything has been sold. Read the rest of this entry »
The IPA Awards show was held in October. This fall has been very busy, and I was not able to get the announcement out until now. A mini-press release is below. Go here for the editorial portraits awarded in the competition.
Los Angeles, California. 10/15/07
The International Photography Awards (IPA) announced the winners of this year’s IPA Photographer of the Year awards.
Jay Watson Photography of San Francisco, CA was awarded an honorable mention in the People category for his editorial portraits of Steve Sellers titled “What’s He Building There” for Garage Magazine issue 14.
About IPA
IPA is comprised of 18,000 members and affiliates from around the world. IPA’s mission is to salute the achievements of the world’s finest photographers, to discover new and emerging talent, and to promote the appreciation of photography. Since 2003 IPA has acknowledged photographers’ achievements from around the world in various categories.
IPA Contact:
www.photoawards.com.
Fashion shoot for Vive La Reine clothing in San Francisco, CA. © Jay Watson Photography
This week Lexar.com has featured a clothing fashion shoot on their Digital Photography home page, which covers a fast pace assignment I did for the San Francisco clothing company Vive La Reine. More work goes into a clothing shoot then you might think. Read Behind A Clothing Shoot to see the rest.
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