Available now at http://silvanaagostoni.com, Traces is an exhibit of art photography now on display at the Museo Achivo de la Fotografía in Mexico City. On display until 29 May, 2011, the show is composed of a series of remarkable images taken at an abandoned prison in the state of San Luis Potosi, Mexico, at once evocative, insightful, and haunting.

Once again WordPress was pressed into service as a scalable Content Management System (CMS). Ms. Agostoni will be able to quickly and easily add additional galleries, with the WordPress software handling the complexities of sizing images and managing image libraries. With WordPress hosting, installation, setup, and a simple custom theme developed by CB&F, getting up and running was quick and easy.

Here’s a quick VR movie from the sail…
FullMoonSailVR (Quicktime required. Click and drag to pan; shift or control to zoom.)

… and a simple, flat panoramic photo of the same thing.

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• Photo Editing for Photographers
• Websites for Community Groups

Register for a course with a friend, and one of you gets 10% off!

Photo Editing for Photographers

Back by popular demand after being offered last fall, this course is geared to beginners!

Learn how to edit your photos to improve composition, contrast and colour, to fix defects such as dust, scratches, redeye or incorrect exposure. Learn about key concepts including: dynamic range, resolution, file types, and workflow; and special techniques such as painting with light, restoration, photo montage, and more.

Together we’ll edit a variety of sample photos to create beautiful, powerful images. This is a great way to take your photography to the next level!

The lab will have PC’s and software available. We’ll use Adobe Photoshop CS2 in class, but the principles and techniques will apply to Elements, Lightroom, Aperture, GIMP, and other photo image editing applications.

Prerequisite: intermediate computer experience, including the ability to open, save and organize files.

Tuesday nights, for 6 sessions, from 23 March to 27 April, from 7:00 to 9:00 pm.

Web Sites for Community Groups

Turn over a new leaf!

Learn how to use a modern web system to build, maintain or renovate your community group website.
We’ll cover domain names, menus, static and dynamic pages, graphics, links, connecting to mailing lists, photo sites and promotional sites such as Facebook or MySpace.

The goal is to create or remodel your community group’s site by the end of the course.

Prerequisite: membership in a Salt Spring community group with permission to create or remodel the group’s site. Intermediate computer skills.

This is a great way to get a functional, easy to update and maintain website for your group, and to connect to local community groups on the web to share skills and resources.

Thursday nights for 6 sessions, March 25, April 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, from 7:00-9:00 pm

Details for both courses

About the Instructor: Charles Buchwald has 20 years experience as a creative professional, including graphic design, web development and photography projects for clients including BMW, Disney and Pillsbury. He enjoys sharing the experience of learning and has taught image editing and other classes in the U.S. and Canada.

Location: GISS Room S111 (the computer lab)

Note: the fees are primarily to cover use of the H.S. computer lab during the courses.

SPECIAL: REGISTER FOR THE SAME COURSE WITH A FRIEND, AND ONE OF YOU GETS 10% OFF

Please contact me if you have any questions about the course. Please contact Saltspring Community Education to register.

CB&F will be at the Salt Spring Island event to donate event photography and post the official photo. Check back to see the photo! Here’s the photo:

Climate Action Day on Saltspring Island, Canada

Here’s what Shoshanah Ray Waxman wrote about the event:

A critical mass bike ride and community rally was held on Salt Spring Island, BC with the theme “Ganges Underwater.” People are dressed up in snorkels, wetsuits and flippers to represent the result of climate change and rising sea waters on our island’s main village. A new water line was mapped out and marked with signs showing which local  businesses and landmarks would be submerged if waters rose 5 meters. Gathering at the high school gymnasium, we heard music from local artists, including a sing-along to a specially composed song “Be the Change” by Phil Vernon. The Raging Grannies graced us with their might, and high school student Geoff McFarlane shared a song titled “Let my World Revolve.” Child entertainer Raffi sang a world premier of “Sustainability”—a song form his forthcoming album “Communion”. We also introduced the idea of a Transition Initiative to make our community more self-reliant and carbon-neutral. Our message to our government is “Don’t let us sink at Copenhagen!”

Here’s more on the day and events, directly from 350.org:

On October 24, 2009, millions of people around the world will take action to spread the number 350, the safe level of CO2 in the atmosphere measured in parts per million, and make sure world leaders are on course to reach that target.

I’m attending a 350.org event near me because I want to be part of the solution. Please check out http://www.350.org to find or start an October 24 event near you.

It’s urgent that we act together and build a movement that will solve the climate crisis and ensure a safe and just future for the world. Please join me, and help build this movement at 350.org

350.org is an international grassroots campaign that aims to mobilize a global climate movement united by a common call to action. By spreading an understanding of the science and a shared vision for a fair policy, we will ensure that the world creates bold and equitable solutions to the climate crisis. 350.org is an independent and not-for-profit project.

350.org needs your help! To support our work, donate securely online at http://www.350.org/donate

Here’s the official 350.org Flickr page.

Rock Paper Scissors Show Invitation

Today I am a part of an art show again, for the first time in 24 years.

From the invite: “Rock Paper Scissors, an exhibit by four emerging Saltspring artists, Peter Allan, Heidi Cowan, Chris Leischner, Charles Buchwald, at Noble Studio.”

I’m entering six photographs, maybe seven if Peter and Lynda will consent to show the print of mine that they won at auction last year. There are four landscapes and two (or three) marine photographs.

It was meant to be an intimate little preview, a “pre-show” as practice for something more serious in the Spring, but it’s turned into something bigger, with gallery owners invited. I think we may have a hundred guests before the afternoon is over, but then again it’s raining today and maybe islanders are already in hibernation mode.

From my artists statement: “I’d like to dedicate these works to my partner, Jeannie Vasilakos, for her patient generosity and continuing support. Thank you to my teachers, professors Walter Zurko and George Olson, photographer Rudy Calin.”

Here’s the course description from Community Ed:

Learn how to edit photos with Adobe Photoshop. Improve composition, contrast and colour; fix defects such as redeye or incorrect exposure. Learn about key concepts and techniques including color space, resolution, file types, and image noise. The class will edit a variety of sample photos to create beautiful, powerful images. The lab will have PCs available. Contact the instructor if you wish to bring your own laptop. Prerequisite: intermediate computer experience; ability to open, save and organize files

8 Wednesdays
Oct 7, 14, 21, 28, Nov 4, 18, 25, Dec.2
7-8:30pm
GISS Room S111

The class filled quickly, but if you are interested please stay in touch, as it may be offered again in the Spring 2010 schedule.

If you are have registered for the course, please check this new section of  this site for class information, examples, tips and resources… or leave a comment below… and we’ll see you soon!

The effort began with a mobile photography studio setup in Peter’s beautiful South End studio. Lighting, background, color fidelity, and composition were all tweaked by working with a tethered camera setup that allowed the artist and photographer to review each shot on screen as soon as it was taken.

The “blackout” site theme was created to spotlight the intricate sensuality of the carvings. Navigation is straightforward and visual. A custom WordPress theme and database drive the site, allowing for quick and easy editing and additions, as Peter produces more of his remarkable work.

UPDATE: some photos are posted on Flickr.

Please leave a comment or two and let me know what you like!