I’m heading to Patagonia for an epic adventure with my brother. Things will be quiet here till December 14th. See ya!

Apologies for the blog running quiet lately. Crazy busy as we speed through Thanksgiving towards Christmas. I have been making all of my exhibition prints on the Epson 9880. Super beautiful. Incredibly rich color with smooth gradations. The prints look remarkable. More soon…

Enjoy your Turkey Day.

“The problem with “everyone” is that in order to reach everyone or teach everyone or sell to everyone, you need to so water down what you’ve got you end up with almost nothing.

Everyone doesn’t go to the chiropractor, everyone doesn’t give to charity, everyone has never been to Starbucks. Everyone, in fact, lives a decade behind the times and needs hundreds of impressions and lots of direct experience before they realize something is going on.

You don’t want everyone. You want the right someone.

Someone who cares about what you do. Someone who will make a contribution that matters. Someone who will spread the word.

As soon as you start focusing on finding the right someone, things get better, fast. That’s because you can ignore everyone and settle in and focus on the people you actually want.”

(via Seth Godin)

Leonid Meteor, Syracuse, New York, 2009

The Bakery Photo Collective is a truly amazing not-for-profit self-service darkroom facility located in Westbrook , Maine. I’m a big fan and supporter of the BPC, Scott, and his crew. Right now their annual Photo-A-Go-Go event is taking a place and they need your support.

I know you have an beautiful photograph on your harddrive or a lovely print somewhere in a box that’s waiting to be donated. By donating a print you receive 20 free hours to use their facilities. Yes, I said 20 free hours. I’m mailing a framed print of this image tomorrow:

What are you sending? Support BPC!

More info about Photo-A-Go-Go:

Each December, the Bakery Photographic Collective hosts its annual fundraiser, Photo-A-Go-Go.  One of Southern Maine’s most anticipated events, Photo-A-Go-Go is a silent auction featuring works from established and emerging photographers at incredible prices. Members, interns and photographers from all over the country donate framed photographic prints that are displayed for viewing and sold via the silent auction.  Arguably the largest photo exhibition in the state of Maine, the fundraiser has continued to be a huge success and has allowed the collective to thrive and provide a reliable photographic resource to its members, interns and the Southern Maine photographic community.

I’m proud to announce my first solo exhibition with Anastasia Photo in New York February 5 – March 31, 2009. I will be exhibiting both my Alebtong, Uganda and Murchison Falls works. We’re in the editing process right now and so far the selection looks quite beautiful. More specifics will be announced soon.

Anastasia Photo is a remarkable gallery not only because Felicia, the curator, and Ryan, her assistant curator, are wonderful but also because each exhibition is coupled with a related philanthropic organization. It’s fitting to have the exhibition aligned with A River Blue as many of the works being exhibited were made during my time working with ARB.

I’m proud to announce that I am now a contributing photographer with REDUX Pictures. It’s a solid, progressive career move and I’m thankful to be aligned with as strong of an agency as REDUX. Check out my online portfolio here.

Stay tuned for more big news later this week!

William Elliott Whitmore – Dry

fortunate man is not too late
the woodthrush
flies into my garden

before the snow
he looks at me silent
moving

his dappled breast reflecting
tragic winter
thoughts of my love my own

“The Woodthrush” by William Carlos Williams

First Snow, Syracuse, New York, 2009

This morning I watched and listened to an important TED Talk on compassion given by Robert Thurman. His talk centered on a seven-step meditation exercise to extend compassion beyond our inner circle.

1. Meditate that all beings are one; even animals.

2. See the motherly expression in all beings. Remember the kindness of mothers. Identify that all beings can express and feel motherly qualities.

3. Repay the kindness that all beings have shown you.

4. Think of how lovely beings are when they are internally feeling happiness.

5. Universal Compassion. Look at the reality of how unhappy most beings are. Feel real compassion for all of these people and for yourself.

6. Universal Responsibility; the common religion of humanity. Take responsibility for what is happening to others and do what you can — big or small — to create change.

7. New orientation in life to live equally for ourself and others. Realize that compassion makes us happy; not miserable. Sense these new qualities in yourself, embrace them, and practice and spread your compassion.

Watch and listen here.

Sunrise, Acadia National Park, Maine, 2009