Last Thanksgiving I photographed Alexander Shatravka and his wife, Irina, in northern Maine for a story about Soviet dissidents for the February 11th, 2010 issue of Apu, an old finnish all family weekly magazine founded in 1933. Marrku, the creative I worked with on this story, told me that “apu” means “help” in English and that when the magazine was founded it was sold in the streets by poor people.

I’m very pleased with the layout and the way the photographs ran. Thanks for a pleasureable experience, Markku and Apu!

I went to New York last week to show my portrait/landscape and Alebtong, Uganda work for the first time. The portrait/landscape work were sleeveless prints in an 11″x14″ landscape portfolio and the Alebtong, Uganda work were 8.5″x11″ prints in a small portfolio box.

Before leaving I scheduled meetings with 4 magazines, 1 photo agency, and 1 gallery. I had two good friends helping to bring together 3 of the meetings and I couldn’t be more thankful for their help. I believe the meetings were successful not only because I began showing my work in New York to creatives I want to work with but more importantly because I began building relationships. Good work is great but relationships are so important. I hear all the time about photographers who have had the same clients for 10+ years. I want my relationship with my clients to be like this.

After returning from New York I immediately began printing thank yous. These consisted of a printed image / brand logo on the front and hand-written note on the back with my contact info. Turn around time is always essential in my opinion because I want my clients to know I value our relationship and that a thank you should not come two weeks after we’ve seen each other. These are busy individuals and departments who are taking time to meet with a photographer they probably know little about but will ideally want to know more about upon meeting, and vice versa.

One hopes it’s mutually beneficial. The client gets a new photographer to work with who’s endlessly passionate about making photographs and the photographer continues to work, progress, and build a relationship. The relationship starts young and is always becoming stronger based on product delivered, trust, compassion, and work ethic.

If any photographers or creatives want to chime in on their thoughts, I’d be curious to hear them as I’m sure would others.

Mailing thank yous, Syracuse, New York, 2009

I first became familiar with the work of Dan Winters upon seeing a photograph of his on the cover of the New York Times Magazine. Since then I have always admired the strength, beauty, and originality displayed in his photography. After hearing him speak I can say that I have an even greater appreciation for him now.

“People aren’t going to remember the things you do. They’re going to remember how you made people feel and I’ve always really tried to adhere to that. I try to be kind and gracious, and appreciative,” says Dan.

Profound, simple words to live by.

Watch and listen here.

More info on Dan here.

Watch here.

10. Think about thinking. Metacognition, as this is known, is a crucial skill. Many scientists argue that the best predictor of good judgment isn’t intelligence or experience; it’s the willingness to engage in introspection. The brain is like a Swiss Army Knife, full of different tools. When picking out a couch, we can trust our emotions, but we should rely on the rational brain when scrutinizing the fine print of a mortgage. Unless you think about which mental tool is best suited for the task at hand, you could end up flustered, even sweating, in the sofa aisle at Ikea.

via 10 Ways to Be a Better Thinker.

I made this photograph while driving through Vermont after skiing and visiting an old friend and his wife.

What is pictured is a nearby river beginning to overflow it’s banks due to rapid snow melt combined with heavy rainfall the previous night.

It brings to mind Reuben Cox’s photographs that were recently published in the New York Times Magazine. The photographs accompany an article and it is a must-read.  If you’re going to spend 20 minutes of your day reading something, do so here.

The article focuses on how severe the foreclosure crisis is and will continue to be, much like the river overflowing it’s bank and running through the landscape.

I remember seeing a stunning portrait of Natalie Portman on the cover of T Magazine awhile back but couldn’t remember who the photographer was until tonight.

It was Raymond Meier and he recently shot a series of products in the Greenland landscape for the T Magazine Travel Winter 2008 issue.

The photographs are without question beautiful and I find them slightly ironic given the current state of the world’s financial situation — pieces of luggage trying to stay afloat amidst a sea of obstacles.

Raymond Meier © 2008