Bad Wig and Ugly Tracksuit Walk - Happy New Year at Green Lake

Photo by Ann-Marie Stillion, 2012 "Annual Bad Wig and Ugly Tracksuit Walk at Green Lake (left) Cory Gooch (right) Jana Rekosh"

For more photos from this deliciously fun day,  follow me to flickr.

Just watched Portlandia for the first time last night. I would say Seattle can easily give Portland a run for it's money. Shout out to Marlow Harris and Jo David for keeping this new years event alive and well.

Have yourself a Merry little Christmas

Photo by Ann-Marie Stillion, 2011 Fremont Arts Council Solstice celebration "Winter Feast 2011"

Photo by Ann-Marie Stillion, 2011 Fremont Arts Council Solstice celebration "Winter Feast 2011"

You don't have to be a sellout but you do have to learn a few things

Screen grab from Chase Jarvis Live. (Left) Ramit Sethi author of "I Will Teach You to Be Rich" and (Right) Chase Jarvis, photographer

I was introduced to photographer Chase Jarvis more than 6 years ago. He came to an ASMP meeting in Seattle to talk about this new thing called blogging. The small crowd of local photographers listened politely as he talked about the value of sharing as a way of building your reputation and your business using this newfangled mode. Then, Jarvis was a building a reputation as a sports photographer. He had discovered the power of social media long before most knew what was to come. And he wanted us to learn what he had come to understand: the internet can produce amazing results and relationships.

Now he is in demand from numerous companies to endorse their products and his app The Best Camera Is The One That’s With You is an inspiration even if you don't have an Iphone and you can buy a book on the subject if you do. That Jarvis loves to teach is apparent in every aspect of his business. Awards. Projects galore and a fine balance of art and commerce. Hefty stuff.

An email to the photographic community yesterday peeked my interest. On his internet channel, Jarvis was talking to an up and coming financial whiz Ramit Sethi whose book "I Will Teach You to Be Rich" needs little explanation of intent. Jarvis said in the email: "Sethi has single-handedly given me better insight about the business side of art/photography than anyone else in my 15 year career." Strong talk. I wanted to hear some of what had helped propel the photographer to his global rock star status. We all know loads of talent who have never even imagined the reach that the photographer has come to represent.

You can watch the entire webcast with Sethi on Chase Jarvis Live, his internet channel in collaboration with Polaroid and B&H.

Take the time if you are a creative. I would be shocked if any artist couldn't pull something out of this talk that is useful to financial and career success.

As Chase says, "we are all guilty" at some time of falling into the starving artist mode. Maybe we are afraid of being accused of selling out, maybe we sell ourselves short. Maybe we don't take advantage of the most obvious tried and true methods to sell stuff. After all, we all sell stuff no matter how you slice it.

And hats off to Chase Jarvis for his continuing effort to inspire and motivate his fellow professionals. Cynically you might say he is just working the big room of the internet. But face to face with the man it is clear that he deeply wants everyone to discover for themselves at least some of the success he has experienced.

Photographer Jini Dellaccio

Jini Dellacio (left) greets gallery visitor Samantha Bailey at the opening of Dellaccio's one woman exhibit on Nov. 10 at Photo Center NW in Seattle.

I attended the opening of Jini Dellaccio's one woman exhibit at Photo Center NW a few weeks ago.   In her ninth decade and sitting upright in a comfortable walker, the photographer flourished in the sixties. She told me her favorite camera was the Hasselblad and favorite lens, the 200 mm. Dellaccio delighted in taking rockers of the day outside for shoots and her work includes many musicians of the day like Neil Young and The Who. Watching her greet and engage with each admirer was a true pleasure. Dellacio's collection of musician portraits hung at The Crocodile for the last few years and will travel again after this exhibit ends on Dec. 16. A limited edition monograph of her work “Rock & Roll” accompanies this exhibition and is available through the Photo Center.

Hair

"Joni's braids" photo by Ann-Marie Stillion, 2011, all rights reserved

Last week I started exploring the small space of my studio for portrait shooting. The lovely Joni and her amazing head of explosive braids dropped by for a few hours of fun. I am pretty excited about the possibilities. Natural light with a simple hot light. Pretty cool.

Occupy Wall Street - the 99% must be heard

From Westlake Park, Seattle Occupy Wall Street Protest, 2011. All rights reserved, Ann-Marie Stillion

 

 

It has been widely reported that Homeland Security has been coordinating the Occupy Wall Street crackdowns. Today I sent the following to  President Obama.

Dear Mr. President,

I have been a strong supporter and writing this pains me. How could you allow the government to play a part and coordinate the police against Occupy protesters? Attacking media, hurting old people, destroying books. Really? The White House should be coordinating conversations not crackdowns. We are your people and using the police against us is wrong.

Please find a way to stop attacking the people who elected you.

Thank you.

Occupy Seattle 10.08.11

Photograph by Ann-Marie Stillion. All rights reserved. 2011

If anyone at the Occupy Seattle event on Oct. 8, 2011 in Westlake Plaza knew what was going on, it was this little marcher. Headed up the street with hundreds of others of all ages and backgrounds, it's hard to imagine a sterner or more purposeful look on a child. I couldn't stop to talk as people flooded over the corner of Pike and 4th headed out for the beginning of the march. But when I looked at the shots later I wondered what this little girl would say now and in the future. I hope she sees this someday.

For more images of Occupy Seattle from that day take a look at this slideshow. The images render a difficult truth for some politicians and business groups alike: this group of people is purely grassroots, on a message of their own, as well as educated and smart enough to keep on bringing it. If you are in Seattle, stop by and lend a hand. You can get started at the Occupy Seattle website.

Hear Your People! Obama

At the Obama fundraiser and protest today. More here

Fall afternoon at Green Lake

Photo by Ann-Marie Stillion, 2007

Any afternoon, depending on the season the time may change, but any afternoon there is this timeless moment at the edge of Green Lake. Such a remarkable place.

Happy Fourth of July

"Georgetown, Seattle, an artists' trailer park, 2011" by Ann-Marie Stillion.