I know there have been a lot of photographers out there lately that have been using their art to give back to the community. Its awesome to see so many projects out there that are helping people out and really inspiring. From setting out on a few personal projects myself I know it can be a challenge to find ways to spread the word about your project and find information.
For any of you who have personal projects in the works to give back to your community or the world, check out this new project called OpenShade. OpenShade is a brand new blog that was created to give photographers with personal projects a place on the web to describe their projects, display images and distribute their message. Here is a little more info about the project:
Who is behind OpenShade
Seshu, a documentary wedding and portrait photographer based in Connecticut started the OpenShade project. You can view his work here – http://seshu.net/
Parris Whittingham is a NY-based wedding photographer. Check out his work here – http://pswhittingham.com/
A short history behind OpenShade
In early 2009, I launched Phases + Faces: The Kids of Connecticut, a portrait book project that will benefit the Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, in Hartford.
While I had my own ideas for launching this win-win-win project, I found few resources or nuggets of inspiration online to guide me. A couple of local photographers I know had their own personal projects, but they too appeared to be working in near isolation. I know they were eager to tell their peers about it; share their successes and images. I wondered if it was possible to bring every photographer who was working on a personal project under one umbrella and have them describe their projects, display their images and distribute their messages collectively across the most powerful medium in existence – the web.
Why OpenShade
For photographers, an open shade presents itself as a comfortable, if not a familiar space to photograph their subjects. OpenShade is a venue for photographers to express themselves through their metiér and discuss their personal and or socially relevant projects.
Visit them online at http://www.openshade.org
Also as a side note related to giving back, I started a sleeping bag drive earlier this week to help out some of the homeless in the bay area. If anyone would like to donate to help out these people who are out in the cold this holiday season, visit my blog here:
Stagi Imagery Blog. If you are local and have an extra sleeping bag laying around let me know and I am happy to pick it up from you.
