Posted by Marc Ziccardi on Fri, Oct 23, 2009 @ 04:42 PM
PNY Flash Memory Products Used On the Back of a Humpback Whale
PNY is proud to announce successful flash memory card use on the back of a humpback whale to capture and store video, audio, and data on National Geographic Crittercam®.
National Geographic Crittercam is a scientific research tool designed to be worn by wild animals to capture rare views and invaluable animal behavior and habitat information. The Crittercam records measurements such as depth, acceleration, temperature, and time; along with awe-inspiring audio and video imagery. Crittercams enable scientists to study animals in their own environment and without human interference variables.
As a National Geographic Mission Partner, and the "Flash Memory of Choice" of the Emerging Explorers Program, PNY is dedicated to National Geographic's long-held mission in supporting exploration, education, and conservation. National Geographic's Crittercam team utilized PNY's 16GB OptimaTM Secure-DigitalTM High-Capacity (SDHC) flash memory cards in their latest projects.
Designed for serious photographers and videographers who demand fast, durable, and reliable memory cards, PNY's high-performance flash memory products were used on National Geographic's latest underwater expeditions on great white sharks, humpback whales, loggerhead sea turtles and Humboldt squid. The use of PNY's 16GB SDHC flash memory cards expands recording capabilities to 900 minutes of standard video at 18 frames per second on the Crittercam. During recent Crittercam deployments in Hawaii, humpback whales were regularly recorded with PNY flash memory cards at depths of 500 feet and achieved depths of 977 feet below sea level.
"The large capacity SDHC cards from PNY allow Crittercam to record more video than ever in a very compact size. Using this flash technology also makes the Crittercams tougher and better able to withstand the punishment that they often go through as they are carried by wild animals," said Kyler Abernathy, director of research, Crittercam's Remote Imaging department. "Additionally, PNY's solid-state hard-drives in our field laptops give those devices a better chance to survive the abuse they can endure at the hands of human animals."
Marine biologist and filmmaker Greg Marshall created the Crittercam in 1986 with hopes of a non-invasive way to track animals in the wild. Today, Marshall heads the Remote Imaging Department at National Geographic, which designs and deploys the Crittercams. The advent of compact video and recording devices, as well as flash memory technology, has enabled the Crittercam to reach new heights of animal exploration.
To view a brief video on the Crittercam, click here:
To adopt a Crittercam and help protect endangered wildlife, click here:
Posted by Marc Ziccardi on Fri, Sep 04, 2009 @ 01:40 PM
When most people hear that a Category 5 hurricane is bearing down to make landfall they'll want to head in the opposite direction. When you're a photojournalist like Chris Usher, you head into the eye of the storm. On August 28th, 2005 Usher set out on this journey from Washington D.C. on assignment for TIME Magazine outfitted with an assortment of cameras, a digital audio recorder, and his trusted "War Wagon", a 1985 Toyota Land Cruiser. What he thought would be a 3 or 4 day assignment, turned into a three week experience that would leave a long lasting impression on him.
© Chris Usher
"Everyone was covering the story--no one was documenting it," says Usher. "No matter where you looked, there was a picture of destruction. It felt hollow to just shoot it and leave. You were walking on people's lives."
This was the sentiment that Usher felt while covering this assignment, and would resonate with him during his subsequent visits to the city of New Orleans; especially during the follow-up trips to document the rebuilding (or lack there of).
When the first Mardi Gras post-Katrina came around, an editor told Usher, "We're so over that story." Hearing that response Usher took it upon himself to finance his own effort to document this story, and took out a $75,000 home-equity loan and began the project One of Us. New Orleans and the Gulf Coast region had become an island of lost and displaced souls, and that was the story he wanted to tell through his photographs.
© Chris Usher
Chris knew this was a story that needed to be documented, not just covered. And so, One of Us was born. Published with the help of Eastman Kodak Company in partnership with ColorCentric, One of Us tells the three-year Post-Katrina story. The book is available online for $40.00 US. Through the support of Kodak, Usher will donate 100 percent of the $40 sales price from One of Us to the Gulf Coast Fund and the Southern Animal Foundation, relief organizations that continue to provide post-Katrina aid and assistance in New Orleans and the Gulf Coast.
Born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, Chris Usher graduated from Indiana University at Bloomington with a degree in Journalism. Usher spent several years as a newspaper photographer, (Troy Daily News; Richmond Palladium Item; Louisville Courier Journal; Miami Herald; Orlando Sentinel) before going freelance and moving to Washington, DC in 1990. Currently living in Alexandria, Virginia, Usher's work appears regularly in domestic and international monthly and weekly publications. In between assignments, Usher is teaching workshops and experimenting with wet-plate processes. When he isn't working on assignments or projects, Chris would rather be fly-fishing in Montana.
To view photos and read more about Chris Usher's work, please visit: http://www.chrisusher.com/
Posted by Marc Ziccardi on Fri, Jul 17, 2009 @ 01:12 PM
Our partnership with the National Geographic Society has opened our eyes to a number of amazing projects that they have spearheaded and National Geographic's Photo Camp ranks highly among those. Photo Camp is a series of photography workshops for youth from underserved communities that operates in the United States and abroad. Photo Camp is sponsored by the National Geographic Education Foundation (through funding from the Ferguson-Judge Fund), Special Projects, and Mission Programs, in partnership with VisionWorkshops, of Annapolis, MD.
PNY is proud to support this initiative by providing memory cards for the cameras utilized during the camps, and open the world of photography to groups of children who may not have had any previous experience in digital photography. With over 40 domestic and international camps since 2003, Photo Camp has worked with young people in such locations as Uganda, Mexico, India, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, Pine Ridge Native American Reservation in South Dakota, Hawaii, Houston, and Washington D.C. Not only do the participants get to show their community from their perspective behind the lens, they are led by a host of world renowned National Geographic Photographers. These luminaries of the photography world have included such names as: Sam Abell, Annie Griffiths-Belt, Reza, Chris Rainier, David Burnett & Ed Kashi. This is truly a life changing program and we encourage you to explore more with the links below.
If you want to see what the Photo Camps are all about please take a look at a recent video, produced by VisionWorkshops Jim Webb.
The next Photo Camp takes place July 17-22 in the Florida Keys. To learn more about Photo Camp and explore photo galleries from previous camps, click here: http://photography.nationalgeographic.com/photography/photocamp
To make an online donation and help keep the kids behind the cameras, please click here. https://donate.nationalgeographic.org/SSLPage.aspx?pid=776
Teens from the 2008 Pine Ridge Indian Reservation Photo Camp -
Posted by Marc Ziccardi on Wed, Jul 01, 2009 @ 10:32 AM
For 88 years the White House News Photographers Association (WHNPA) has been hosting "The Eyes of History" awards gala: a black-tie dinner for nearly 1000 members, guests, industry executives, and Washington personalities. The event honors outstanding photojournalists who are at the frontlines of major news events in Washington and all across the world. "The Eyes of History" contest brings the best images of the President, political leaders, and major domestic and international news stories of the year to be judged by the finest photographers and directors of photography in the business.
PNY was chosen to present the "Political Photo of the Year" award, for the 2nd year in a row. Tony Gomez, VP of sales and marketing at PNY, presented the award to Charles Ommanney who captured an image of President-elect Barack Obama in a crowded hallway backstage at the Capitol moments before walking out to be sworn in as the 44th president of the United States. In addition to being given his award, Ommanney was presented with a PNY flash memory product assortment.
Photo by Charles Ommanney/Getty Images
This year's gala was emceed by CBS Chief Washington Correspondent, Bob Schieffer, who also performed with his country-band Honky Tonk Confidential.
To read more and to see all the 2009 Eyes of History winning photos, please visit the WHNPA website. Link to: http://www.whnpa.org/contest/eyes2009/stills/
Posted by Marc Ziccardi on Tue, Jun 16, 2009 @ 10:44 AM
Aside from my career as a professional photographer, I have been teaching photography at The Catholic University of America for the past 14 years.
Each semester I try new and different teaching techniques and assignments to keep my classes fresh. This past semester I ventured into the world of self-publishing.
Each of my classes had to produce a finished printed product that constituted 25% - 50% of their overall grade.
My intro to digital photography class had to create a portfolio in the form of a book. And for my advanced class, they needed to produce a finished book based upon a theme (project) of their choosing.
Each class seemed to be enjoying the project so much that I decided to get in on the fun. So I produced my own book of portraits entitled "iShots".
The catch that I gave myself was one week in which to get the project photographed and uploaded for printing. And... I shot the entire project using my iPhone.
When you have no camera adjustments at your disposal, you go back to the basics. Compose, point and pray!
I was amazed at the quality I got from the iPhone. As well, the printing quality from Blurb.com was right on the money.
From this one project has sprung more book projects and many more opportunities to explore. Stay tuned!
Matthew Barrick
Barrick Photography
http://www.barrickphotography.com/
