Feb18
The Newness
Yup. I’ve gone and done it again. The site is redesigned – only this time it’s not just a redesign, I’ve combined my blog with my photography site (formerly http://jgardnerphoto.com). Why, you ask? A good question. (more…)
Archive for the ‘Photography’ Category
Mar11
The prodigal camera
In a plot twist that would have surprised even Grisham, my stolen camera has returned to the fold. Bonus points for the human race. The day after the camera was stolen we sent an email out through the same channels that sent the party invite asking whoever took the camera to please just return it, anonymously dropping it back on the porch of the house would be fine. And lo and behold after 3 weeks of mulling it over, that is exactly what that person did. Unmarked cardboard box on the porch with a single handwritten note saying “Very Sorry.”
Of course I’ll have to return the insurance money now but that’s fine too because Amazon will take everything back. Gotta love Amazon.
Feb20
Stolen Camera
I’ll be brief. My D200 and Nikkor 12-24mm f/4 were stolen last weekend. Yup, people suck.
But people can also be beautiful, warm and loving. I try to remind myself of that when I think of the ass-bag that walked into a house full of friends having a good time and walked out with my camera.
* The footnote to this is that I think my renter’s insurance is going to cover at least some of the value… hopefully it’s enough to replace at least the body.
Oct20
Alpinist is gone.
Alpinist, the best climbing magazine ever produced, has gone under. A brief statement on the website points to the current economic crisis as a factor. I’ve read elsewhere that the relcutance to publish shit is what really drove them down. Let’s be honest, Rock and Ice and Climbing are still in business because they publish the same reports of some 14 year old flashing some choss pile somewhere that no one cares about. Ok, I’ll give, that may be a bit harsh, someone, somewhere, must like that crap.
Unfortunately, the main problem for Alpinist is that the advertisers that pay the bills at magazines love pointless reports and big-breasted girls climbing in jeans, sports bras and beanies. And who has ever seen someone climbing a legitimate route in the mountains wearing a sports bra and nothing else, that’s right, you haven’t. This was the real death sentence for Alpinist, no advertisers = no money.
What about subscribers you say? Let’s take a look at the explosion of climbing in recent years. Sport, Bouldering, and to a increasing degree trad. How many people jump right into suffering in the mountains. Not many. Not too many “climbers” these days would willingly go and subject themselves to the freezing temperatures, rockfall, avalanches or having your buddy spooning you on a ledge that is smaller than the back seat of my volvo. “Why in God’s name would I go do all of those at once?”, most would ask. No, there never really was a large base to pull subscribers from for Alpinist. Especially at $12 an issue.
As a subscriber of four years, I bid you farewell Alpinist. All of us subscribers and readers will miss you dearly.
Oct6
James Nachtwey on XDR-TB
A very haunting three and a half minutes. James Nachtwey is a photojournalist that has been working in some of the most destroyed places on the plant. Wars, famine and disease are all old hat. He’s recently been shooting and reporting on Extreme Drug Resistant (XDR) Tuberculosis.
Check out the XDR-TB org site and see what you can do to help. http://www.xdrtb.org
Jul16
Blue Ridge Mountain Sports
So I received an email from a friend recently that informed me that the newest Blue Ridge Mountain Sports catalog uses one of my photos. Only problem, it’s not credited to me, it’s credited to someone else. This was news to me. Which is not normally what you want when you have photos published. Problem is, I can’t get my hands on one of the catalogs. There isn’t a BRMS in Blacksburg. I’ve tried looking on their site for a “Request a Catalog” button to no avail. What a pain! Anyone out there have a BRMS nearby that wants to burn 42 cents and mail me a catalog so that I have the evidence to build my case for payment?!
[Update] :
If you look at the comments of this post, you’ll notice an example of good customer service. I talked with Kurt yesterday and he was all help. Seth Godin had a great post recently about how small companies need to be better, and BRMS is certainly on the right track. Thanks Kurt.
Jul1
Nikon D700
What?! Did I miss a few iterations or something? At this point it doesn’t really matter, all my prayers have been answered! An FX sensor in a smaller body at almost half the price! Pretty damn sweet. We’ll see how the world wakes up to this one today, the supposed launch day for the new body.